Eco product development combining eco design and life cycle assessment

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to propose the development of an eco product to replace the traditional cotton swab that meets the expected needs, besides having a bias based on sustainability and economic viability.

Design/methodology/approach

The applied nature article opted for an exploratory and descriptive study, with the objective of seeking a solution to a real problem: to reduce the environmental impact in the disposal of cotton swabs. To test this hypothesis, the exploratory stage evaluated the literature on the principles of eco design and environmental marketing to understand market viability and environmental impacts. The descriptive phase presented a comparative analysis between the original product and the proposed one, in terms of production processes and impacts of the product life cycle. Thus, an alternative product was conceived and validated applying the life cycle analysis (LCA).

Findings

The paper provides a comparative analysis between the eco product and the traditional product in order to validate the hypothesis that the new proposal reduces the environmental impact. It was found that both productive processes have similar impacts; however, the raw material of the proposed eco product demonstrated a significant reduction in the impact caused on the environment, considering cradle to cradle analysis.

Originality/value

This paper conceives an eco product as an alternative to traditional cotton swab, presenting an innovative potential in line with worldwide sustainability trends.

Citation

Barbosa, A.J.D., Santos, V.H.d.P., Araújo, P.C.d., Medeiros, F.L.d. and Otaviano, L.Y.d.S. (2021), "Eco product development combining eco design and life cycle assessment", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 28 No. 2, pp. 502-516. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-04-2020-0160