Eco-design

New legislation, consumers’ increased sensitivity to environmental issues and the cost of energy are forcing product developers to consider eco-design.  It’s not about purely reducing eco-impact, but about balancing conflicting requirements to deliver great products, full functionality at a suitable price point and without costing the earth. 

We have already integrated eco-design into our new product development practises.  Whether you’re looking to reduce the eco-impact of your whole product through life cycle analysis or improve particular features, we have a variety of tools and the experience to help you. 

Case study: Xeros' virtually waterless washing machine
Xeros’ scientific founders discovered that polymers can be used to clean fabrics using dramatically less water and energy.  As a start-up without an in-house product development team, they looked to Cambridge Consultants to turn the scientific concept into a first working model washing machine.  From first principles, we took the science and developed a ‘wash process’.  We generated ideas and evaluated various novel washing machine concepts designed to address the key challenge - how to remove the nylon beads from the clothes.  The world’s first virtually waterless washing machine demonstrator, developed and produced by us, was exhibited at the Clean Show in June 2009.