Abstract

FILIPPONE, J.G.; CANDELA, N.; LOPEZ, A.  and  ORIHUELA, R.. Ecoefficient Design of Non-reusable Bottling and Packaging. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2005, vol.16, n.3, pp.57-61. ISSN 0718-0764.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07642005000300008.

In this article, a method to evaluate and optimize the environmental quality of products and processes during the design step, is analyzed. An indicator inspired in the dematerialization concept known as MIPS, developed by the Wuppertal Institute (Germany), has been used. This method evaluates the environmental impact of a product taking into account only the amount of material and energy used in its manufacture. The MIPS criterion allows the designer to establish levels of environmental quality for different design alternatives. Due to their special characteristics, packaging and bottling processes show interesting environmental improvement possibilities not only through savings in raw materials but also by materials substitution. As an example, a comparison between glass and polyethylene therephthalate bottles is presented.

Keywords : ecoefficiency; dematerialization; materials intensity; MIPS; packaging.