Original post:
http://www.business.vic.gov.au/marketing-sales-and-online/business-sustainability/reducing-use

For related resources, Design for Disassembly, Eco-Design, Environment and AD Technology guidelines related to this can be downloaded for free at:
http://www.activedisassembly.com/strategy/


Heading:

Reduce Use

Help to cut your energy and water use and manage waste.

On this page

• Find programs to help measure, track and reduce your resource use
• Know what help is available to manage and reduce waste
• Get ideas to start being more sustainable

If you want to cut your energy and water use, as well as your waste, the good news is you don't have to do it on your own.

Assess your business energy, water and waste use

Measure, track and reduce resource use and waste production using the online program Grow Me The Money. It offers self-assessment and support and members will get an action plan to carry out the required changes. There are also schemes to help you manage specific energy, water and waste problems.

Reduce energy use

CitySwitch Green Office is a free service to support businesses trying to improve office energy efficiency. Fill out the Energy Action Plan to audit and track your resource use, your attempts to reduce use and any issues you have with your landlord.

Reduce water use

To perform a water audit, or if you're planning to reuse or recycle water, visit:

• savewater! Alliance, water and wastewater audit service. This service offers both a basic and a complex site water audit, depending on the size and water use of the business. Through this program you receive access to expert advice, training and help to follow industry benchmarks.
• EPA Victoria reusing and recycling water for ideas and frameworks to reduce water use and generate less wastewater.

Reduce and manage waste

To handle and recycle your waste access help from:

• Recycling Near You to search for local recycling information
• Waste Wise program to assess your waste production. It also helps you develop a waste reduction plan. Find out more by contacting the local Waste Management Group in your area.

How can I get started on being more sustainable?

Additional ways to plan and introduce sustainable practices in your business include:

• reading the advice on your council, energy or water retailer's website
• hiring a professional for a detailed environmental analysis, simply visit the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Airconditioning and Heating (AIRAH) website for a list of accredited energy auditors. The audit can involve a complete assessment, or help with just one aspect e.g. thermal performance assessment or refrigeration and air conditioning assessment
• contacting your industry association to find out if an active sustainability related project exists, or be the one to start a project for your industry
• investigating what grants and assistance are available in Victoria for your industry e.g. Re-Tooling for Climate Change is a grant for small to medium sized manufacturers to reduce their environmental footprint by improving the energy or water efficiency of their production processes.

For related resources, Design for Disassembly, Eco-Design, Environment and AD Technology guidelines related to this can be downloaded for free at:

http://www.activedisassembly.com/strategy/

Cut Costs: Become a more sustainable business and save your business money.

Original post:
http://www.business.vic.gov.au/marketing-sales-and-online/business-sustainability/cost-reduction


For related resources, Design for Disassembly, Eco-Design, Environment and AD Technology guidelines related to this can be downloaded for free at:
http://www.activedisassembly.com/strategy/


Heading:

Cut Costs

Become a more sustainable business and save your business money.

On this page

• Choose which initiatives to sign up to for incentives and assistance
• Consider your building design and energy supply
• Think about the product life cycle of your products and services

Cut costs and increase market share

Use less and save money. Most of your savings will come from finding ways to reduce these three:

• water
• energy: electricity, gas and fuel use (which means cutting carbon dioxide and greenhouse emissions)
• waste: recycle and use less materials.

Sustainability is best achieved by looking at all aspects of your business but if you don't have the time, focusing on one or two aspects of your business is a good start. If you want guided help visit the Grow Me The Money website.

While some of these ideas may cost initially, you should make your money back in the long term.

Sign up for the Energy saver incentive

The Energy Saver Incentive, also referred to as the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target scheme, is a Victorian Government initiative making energy efficiency more affordable and contributing to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Businesses selling or installing selected products and services that help households and selected businesses use less energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions may be eligible to receive financial incentives.

The scheme operates by placing an obligation on liable energy retailers in Victoria to surrender a specified number of energy efficiency certificates every year. Each certificate represents a tonne of greenhouse gas abated. Revenue generated by accredited businesses through the sale of these certificates to liable parties enables accredited businesses to offer discounts and special offers on selected energy saving products and appliances installed at homes, businesses or other non-residential premises. The bigger the greenhouse gas reduction, the bigger the potential saving.

For a list of energy saving activities currently available under the scheme or to find out more visit the Energy Saver Incentive website.

Build or renovate using eco-smart building design and materials

Architects, builders and some trades (e.g. plumbers) offer specialist 'green' services and materials. Something as simple as a external paint with a thermal paint additive can cut 40% of the sun's heat, reducing your need to run expensive air conditioners. For more information visit our Environmentally friendly building page.

Replace your energy supply with accredited renewable 'green' energy

This can include solar or wind power you buy from your energy retailer. Eligible businesses buying small renewable energy generators, such as solar, hydro or wind systems, will get Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The credits in the certificates can be used to cut the cost of installing the system. Run by the federal government clean energy regulator, visit the Clean Energy Regulator website to find out more.

Design products with their entire life cycle in mind

'Eco-design' and 'life cycle design' considers all the raw materials and energy used to manufacture, distribute and use a product to the end of its life. Sustainability Victoria offers useful resources on Lifecycle management

For related resources, Design for Disassembly, Eco-Design, Environment and AD Technology guidelines related to this can be downloaded for free at:

http://www.activedisassembly.com/strategy/

First Steps 2: Checklist: Designing Sustainable Products

Original work from:

http://www.business.vic.gov.au/marketing-sales-and-online/business-sustainability/checklist-designing-sustainable-products

For related resources, Design for Disassembly, Eco-Design, Environment and AD Technology guidelines related to this can be downloaded for free at:
http://www.activedisassembly.com/strategy/

Heading:

Checklist: Designing sustainable products

Know and implement processes for environmentally conscious product design

On this page

• Make intelligent sustainable choices early in the design process to reduce your overall environmental impact

According to the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA), 70-80 per cent of a product’s environmental impact is locked in during the design and development stage. By investigating the potential impacts of your product and then finding ways of reducing these issues through eco-design, you can create functional, aesthetically pleasing and successful designs without locking in unnecessary environmental impacts.

Identify key outcomes in the design and concept development process

Decisions made here impact upon the entire design process and the environmental impacts of the job.Ask the client to identify in the brief the most important to the least important items so you can accommodate these with eco-preferences. In responding to a brief provide the client with an eco-design option to consider.

Consider the impact of your product throughout its life cycle - can design solutions be developed to make it last longer, use less materials or totally recyclable?

Produce prototypes sustainably

Develop prototypes that can be modified if design changes are made to reduce the amount of prototyping required. Prototyping until you are happy with the design is a better approach than having to mass produce it more than once because the design is changed slightly

Selection of materials

Select low impact materials that will promote longevity in your product.Avoid coupling materials that cannot be recycled. Preference materials that can be recycled in the country the product is intended for. Use design techniques such as honeycombing to reduce the amount of material used.

Reduce inefficiencies in manufacturing, packaging and transportation

Select manufacturers who have environmental management certification systems in place.Try to ‘close the loop’ by reusing waste materials and minimising virgin material inputs. Ask suppliers to provide you with environmental information and look for those that have a low environmental impact.

Flat packing your products reduces cargo space and the cost of transporting them.Choose recycled materials for packaging products that can in turn be recycled. You can also talk to sustainable packaging designers about new packaging options. Think about ways to reduce the amount of packaging and still protect the product.

For related resources, Design for Disassembly, Eco-Design, Environment and AD Technology guidelines related to this can be downloaded for free at:

http://www.activedisassembly.com/strategy/

First Steps: Environmental Impact Reduction, Eco-Design and Sustainability Strategies.

Original work from:

http://www.business.vic.gov.au/

http://www.business.vic.gov.au/#70831

http://www.business.vic.gov.au/marketing-sales-and-online/business-sustainability/designing-sustainable-products


For related resources, Design for Disassembly, Eco-Design, Environment and AD Technology guidelines related to this can be downloaded for free at:
http://www.activedisassembly.com/strategy/

On this page

• Know the environmental impacts of your product
• Design products with the environment in consideration
• Reduce the environmental impacts of your design and sourcing process

Heading: 

Designing sustainable products
Source, design, and create products that are environmentally friendly.

Reduce your environmental impact

When designing your products, considering the environmental impacts of the whole lifecycle of that product is known as eco-design. Eco-design not only improves the environmental outcomes it may also reduce your costs in the long term.

What are the impacts?

The design and creation of products can require the extraction of natural resources, manufacturing, transportation and waste disposal at the end of life. As a product goes through these stages, energy and water are used, and waste, pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are created. The impacts are outlined below.

Resource extraction and manufacturing

The extraction of natural resources – whether through mining, harvesting or land clearing – generates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, uses water and land, and produces waste products that have to be disposed of in the environment. Transforming materials into products often requires complex manufacturing systems and this means there is a need for resources such as energy, water and materials, which will all contribute to the product’s environmental impacts.  Generally, the main impacts of manufacturing are due to the energy used to create the product and the emissions (air, water and waste) generated during the process.

Transport

Transportation is vital yet it also causes environmental impacts. The biggest issue is the production of carbon dioxide which contributes to climate change. Generally, products that are distributed by road or air have a larger impact than those transported by sea or rail. One issue with transportation is weight and wasted space.

Product use

Additional energy, fuel, water, cleaners, covers, attachments or other materials required for a product to achieve its function (for example, razors are pointless without blades) must be included in eco-design considerations. If a product needs services or other extras during its life, then these must be considered, as they will contribute further to the product’s environmental impact.  Both function and form – efficiency and quality – are important factors when considering a product’s use impacts. Durability and extended product life can reduce the impact of replacement and disposal, which links back to material selection, as discussed above. Equally, if the look and feel of a product is part of a passing fad, or the product isn’t convenient or effective, then even if it is durable it may not last long and be quickly replaced.

End of life

Will the product go into landfill or will it get recycled? While it may be impossible to know, eco-design can make recycling easier and landfill less damaging. If your product has to be thrown away (for example, the packaging) then make sure that it is more likely to be recycled. As a general rule, it is best to avoid organic materials (such as wood) going into landfill, because in a landfill site the materials are not exposed to oxygen and so, instead of disintegrating, tend to mix with other substances and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Tips to design products that reduce environmental impacts

By investigating the potential impacts of your product and then finding ways of reducing these issues through eco-design, you can create functional, aesthetically pleasing and successful designs without locking in unnecessary environmental impacts. There are a number of ways you can design your products so they are sustainable, here are some tips:

• think eco-fibre: choose a fabric that will enhance durability and longevity, suit functionality, and allow for low impact maintenance
• less is more: reduce the ecological footprint of your product by designing patterns to use up as much of the fabric as possible. Also reduce hems and seams etc. where possible.
• think life cycle: try to find innovative ways of reducing the impacts of your product throughout its life, from packaging to the washing and care, and end of life
• label it: labels are an essential part of a garment and a great way to communicate eco-options to consumers
• make it last: select materials and design styles that will promote durability and longer use of the garment
• enhance recyclability: select materials that can be easily recycled, or design your product so it has timeless style.
• be efficient: select manufacturers and production processes that are energy efficient, use green, renewable energy and make efforts to reduce inputs such as water and chemicals.
• look for certification: ask your suppliers, manufacturers and contractors to provide you with independently verified certifications 
• make it multifunctional: encouraging customers to do more with less through multifunctional design promotes overall environmental benefits
• zero waste: find ways of using offcuts, scraps and damaged stock so that it minimises waste to landfill.
• offer a service: why not take your product back or let customers trade it in when they are finished with it? Then you can re-construct it into something new or donate it to charity? By offering a full service you can guarantee a closed loop – and your clients will keep coming back!
• reduce your VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds are the funny smell you get from dyes and inks, and they are potent greenhouse gases so check with your supplier.