Sustainable Product Development

New and shifting legal, market and financial dynamics have increased the pressure on firms in manufacturing industries to implement processes for developing and marketing sustainable products. The environmental and social impacts of products and services depend on how they interact with the surrounding socio-economic and technical systems, sectors and actors along their life cycles. A number of actors need to be involved in the drive toward greater sustainability in the development, commercialization and use of products and services. Businesses, particularly larger and more established firms, can play a significant role in making changes in product design and functionality and then using their positions in the marketplace to communicate with customers and supply chain members about the importance of optimizing sustainability throughout the product life cycle. Consumers can also contribute by changing their preferences and decision-making patterns to demand more responsibility with respect to environmental and social impacts in the products and services they purchase; however, changes in consumer attitudes require more investment in education and raising awareness. If consumers do show legitimate interest in sustainability, retailers need to exert pressure on their suppliers to develop and market sustainable product and service offerings and provide easily assessable information about those offerings to consumers. Media outlets must also be involved in disseminating information and providing opportunities for sustainable advocates and trendsetters to get their message out to consumers. Researchers in the corporate and academic communities must be able to provide the requisite technical innovations necessary for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing waste and pollution and eco-design