Drivers & benefits

 

Cost savings from reduced life cycle environmental impacts

In addition to compliance with product environmental legislation, EcoDesign aims to minimise the materials, utilities and wastes involved in, and therefore environmental impact of, product manufacture, use, service & repair and ultimate disposal and recycling at end of life. EcoDesign is an aspect of good design practice and overlaps with many other design approaches such as lean manufacturing, design for assembly/disassembly, cost down etc.

The Design Council estimates that over 80% of the quantities and costs of materials and utilities required to manufacture medical devices are locked in at the design stage. By embedding EcoDesign in the new product design process as part of ‘good design practice’, companies can make significant cost savings. For example, the table below provides examples of some of the cost savings that Siemens Medical Solutions has achieved by applying the EcoDesign processes in IEC 60601-1-9.

Example cost savings achieved by applying IEC 60601-1-9 EcoDesign processes at Siemens Medical Solution
Product
Savings
STRATON X-Ray Tube
  • 66% reduction in material consumption
  • Use of up to 40% recycled parts in new tubes
  • 33% improvement in scan performance
SOMATON Definition X-Ray Device
  • Modular product architecture (easier to maintain)
  • Energy savings of 30% for standard examinations and 50% dose reduction for heart examinations
  • Over 80% reduction in lead content (from 110kg down to 19 kg)
  • Use of more then 95% recyclable materials

Other examples of EcoDesign cost savings include manufacturing cost savings at Smiths Group and recycling cost savings at ABB.

For further information, please contact Dr Aidan Turnbull
Head of WEEE, RoHS & EcoDesign on +44 (0)1225 748420