Networking and sharing of best practises in management of new advanced materials through the eco-design of products, eco-innovation, and product life cycle management

Specific challenge: The production, distribution, use and end-of-life management of materials is associated both with costs and important impacts on the environment, such as consumption of energy, (raw and other) materials and resources consumption, waste generation, emissions and possible generation/management of hazardous substances. It is estimated that approximately 80% of all product-related environmental impacts are determined during the design phase of a product (Aldersgate Group). Eco-design aims at reducing the environmental impact of products, including the energy consumption throughout their entire life cycle.

Scope: Projects should network actors (such as enterprises, academia and research institutions) to:

• share knowledge and practices on eco-design, eco-innovative solutions for manufacturing processes and eco-innovative business models in line with the Commission Communication “Innovation for a sustainable Future – The Eco-Innovation Action Plan” (COM(2