Eco-design
What is eco-design?
Eco-design is an approach that integrates environmental protection from the design stage of a product or service. The idea is simple: reduce environmental impacts at every stage of its life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to recycling or end of life.
The concept of eco-design emerged in the 1990s, at a time when companies began to measure the ecological footprint of their activities. At the time, the focus was mainly on reducing waste and energy consumption. Today, the approach has been expanded to include sobriety, circularity and sustainable innovation.
Unlike recycling or simple carbon offsetting, eco-design focuses on the cause rather than the consequences. Whereas recycling comes at the end of the chain, eco-design acts from the very beginning of a product's life cycle to avoid generating waste or negative impacts.
What are the principles of eco-design?
Why do some products have a lower environmental impact than others? The answer often lies in their initial design. Eco-design is based on principles that allow action to be taken directly at source and throughout the product's life cycle.
Taking the entire life cycle into account
A product's environmental impact begins with the extraction of raw materials and continues until the end of its life. Eco-design involves considering the entire life cycle: extraction, manufacturing, transport, distribution, use, maintenance and end-of-life treatment. Each stage can be optimised to reduce energy, water and natural resource consumption.
Analyse the life cycle (LCA)
To measure these impacts in concrete terms, organisations use LCA (Life Cycle Assessment). This scientific method makes it possible to quantify, for example, CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions, water consumption, energy use and waste generated. The aim is to identify the areas with the greatest impact and prioritise reduction measures.
Think simplicity from the design stage
Eco-design is directly linked to sobriety. This means designing simpler products, limiting superfluous components, reducing packaging weight, or optimising features so that they meet a real need. Every design choice directly influences the carbon footprint.
Extend product life
A product that lasts longer is a product that pollutes less. Eco-design therefore encourages the creation of robust goods that are easy to repair and maintain. This means thinking about the availability of spare parts, ease of repair and compatibility with future developments right from the design stage.
Enabling a second life for the product
Eco-design also aims to prepare for the future: giving products a second life through reuse, reconditioning or recycling. This means favouring materials that are easily separable and recyclable, but also providing suitable collection channels. The value of raw materials is preserved instead of ending up as unused waste.
Applying the same principles to digital technology and services
Eco-design is not just about physical products. Services, software and digital platforms also have a carbon footprint: energy-intensive data centres, interface design, terminal usage cycles, etc. Integrating digital sobriety and Green IT (Green Information Technology) is also part of eco-design.
Why adopt eco-design?
Adopting eco-design is a response to environmental challenges, but it is also a way of fundamentally rethinking how we produce and consume. Reducing impacts at source, optimising resources, innovating sustainably... these are all levers that enable organisations to be more efficient.
Reducing environmental impact at source
Eco-design tackles the problem before it arises. By integrating environmental considerations from the design stage onwards, we avoid generating avoidable impacts, whether in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption or waste production. This preventive approach is much more effective than simply correcting problems at the end of the chain.
Achieving savings through optimisation from the design stage
Less raw materials, less waste, less energy consumption: eco-design saves money. Smart design reduces production costs, extends product life and limits expenditure on after-sales service, waste and logistics. It is a profitable investment in the medium and long term. Ultimately, everyone wins: the planet, the organisation and the end consumer.
Anticipating regulatory changes
Regulations are becoming increasingly stringent:
- The AGEC (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy) law, which bans certain single-use plastics.
- European regulations on eco-design, which set certain environmental standards for manufacturers.
- The obligation to display environmental information, already being trialled in several sectors.
- The ecological bonus-malus system, applied according to the environmental performance of products.
By adopting eco-design today, organisations are anticipating these constraints and turning regulations into a competitive advantage.
Innovating intelligently
Eco-design is not a constraint: it is an opportunity for innovation. It encourages us to think differently about the usefulness, use and sustainability of products or services. By integrating circularity principles (reuse, repair, recycling), companies are finding new creative solutions that combine performance, sustainability and customer satisfaction.
Meeting the expectations of customers, employees and partners
Expectations are changing: consumers want responsible products, employees want to work for organisations that align with their values, and partners favour sustainable collaborations. Eco-design is a response to these expectations. It helps to build trust and loyalty among stakeholders by demonstrating a real and measurable commitment.
Taking action on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
Finally, eco-design is a natural component of any CSR policy. It links economic performance, respect for the environment and social responsibility. Integrating eco-design means ensuring consistency in your commitments and strengthening your positive impact over time.
How to implement an eco-design approach
Implementing an eco-design strategy requires structuring your approach from A to Z.
Clarify your objectives and define your product or service scope
Any eco-design project begins with a clear framework: which product or service is involved? What are its uses, volumes, and technical or regulatory constraints? This phase allows you to set realistic objectives and prioritise issues.
Practical tip: use an issues/impacts/stakeholders matrix to map priorities and identify the most relevant levers.
Measure your current impact and identify areas for improvement
It is impossible to take action without measuring. An initial environmental analysis helps identify the areas with the greatest impact: raw materials, transport, use, end of life. This initial snapshot is essential for defining areas for improvement.
Method tip: use LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) to quantify your impacts.
Common metrics include: kg CO₂e (kilograms of CO₂ equivalent), MJ (megajoules) of primary energy, litres of water consumed, and PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) score.
Mobilise your stakeholders
Eco-design must involve product teams, suppliers, customers and even end users. The more stakeholders are involved, the more relevant and realistic the solutions will be.
Practical tip: organise design thinking workshops to generate ideas. Define KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and clear governance to track progress.
Challenge every component, every step of the process, every feature
Eco-design is a process of continuous questioning: do we really need this component? Can we reduce the weight of the packaging? Is a feature essential? This systematic questioning drives the optimisation of the product or service.
Useful tools: apply the 5R rule (Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle, Reuse) and carry out a material assessment to measure your margins for optimisation.
Surround yourself with responsible suppliers and favour sustainable materials
Partners and suppliers are important in an eco-design approach. Choosing certified materials, committed service providers and sustainable solutions helps to limit the impact at source and enhance the value of the supply chain.
Sourcing tip: favour paper from sustainably managed forests, recycled plastic or reuse channels.
See also: our page on responsible economy.
Think about the life cycle and what comes next
An eco-designed product is not only simple to manufacture, it must also be designed with its end of life in mind: is it easy to dismantle? How can it be repaired? Which components are recyclable? Thinking about the "after" prevents the product from becoming worthless waste.
Practical tip: include a QR code on the product that links to a video tutorial explaining how to repair, dismantle or recycle each component.
Measure and improve
Eco-design is a process of continuous improvement. Once the product has been launched, it is essential to measure the results obtained and identify new areas for improvement.
Monitoring indicators: PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) score, eco-design score, post-project LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), or EcoIndex for websites. These metrics allow you to track impact and compare over time.
Concrete examples of eco-design at Upcoop
For several years now, at Upcoop, we have been undertaking a profound transformation of our media, processes and partnerships to reduce our environmental impact and support our customers in their own responsible initiatives.
Recycled and sustainable materials for physical media
Our déjeuner Upcoop cards and cadhoc Upcoop cards are now made from 100% recycled plastic sourced from industrial printing and packaging waste. The card bodies selected by Upcoop offer significant carbon savings: - 36% carbon emissions compared to a standard PVC card body (7 g CO2equivalent).
Our ambition is clear: to achieve a target of 100% of cards made from recycled PVC by 2030.
This process is already underway in our subsidiaries: in Brazil, for example, we have reduced our CO₂ emissions by 46%, our water consumption by 75% and saved 46% in energy thanks to the use of recycled materials.
Our cheque books and cheques are printed on paper sourced from 100% sustainably managed forests, made from certified virgin fibres.
Recyclability of paper and card media
We incorporate eco-design into our paper and card media in order to maximise the use of components. At the end of their useful life, our cards, cheques and cheque books are fully recyclable. We have set up a simple and free collection system for beneficiaries and funders to facilitate their return.
In Saint-Lô, our subsidiary Alios provides a complete recycling process: recovery of valuable materials contained in chips, grinding of plastic to produce new objects. The result: 100% recovery of the materials used.
French manufacturing
We have chosen to produce locally. Our cards are produced in France, at our subsidiary Alios, which also has a processing line for end-of-life cards.
The Origine France Garantie label certifies that our paper tickets are manufactured in France, using French raw materials. This choice supports local employment and reduces the impact of transport.
Production powered by green energy
At Upcoop, all our industrial processes are powered by 100% renewable energy. Our sites are also ISO 14001 certified, guaranteeing rigorous environmental management and continuous improvement in our performance.
Sustainable and eco-friendly packaging
Because every detail counts, we have designed our shipping kits and packaging to be fully recyclable after use. All paper used for customer communications comes from sustainably managed forests.
Network of committed partners from production to end use
We do not view eco-design as an isolated approach. It is part of an ecosystem of committed partners: responsible suppliers, transport companies invested in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable shops and restaurants.
Our Store Locators platforms also include a "Consume responsibly" filter, allowing beneficiaries to identify and favour committed partners. In this way, we make eco-design a collective tool, serving our customers and our regions.
Practices for more responsible digital technology
Eco-design also applies to our digital tools. In April 2024, we signed the Responsible Digital Charter. This commitment marks our desire to reduce the impact of our digital solutions, while promoting inclusion and sustainable and ethical uses. In concrete terms, this involves optimising our platforms, raising awareness among our employees and partnering with associations such as Emmaüs Connect, Silver Geek and ANLCI (Agence Nationale de Lutte contre l'Illettrisme).
We are also developing Green IT in our tools for our customers, such as the UpDéjeuner simulator and the carbon calculator, which allow users to compare the environmental impact of different formats and make responsible choices.
And after eco-design... other concepts are emerging
There is increasing talk of eco-design, but new concepts are emerging. These approaches pave the way for more circular, sustainable and responsible models. What are these new concepts?
Cradle-to-cradle
Following on from eco-design, the concept of cradle-to-cradle proposes designing products whose end of life is not waste, but the beginning of a new cycle. Unlike the "cradle-to-grave" model, where resources are extracted and then discarded after use, cradle-to-cradle is based on circularity.
Every material must be able to be reused, recycled or reintegrated into nature without harming the environment. In this model, packaging, cards or textiles made from recyclable materials become a resource for new production.
Upcycling
Upcycling involves giving materials or products a second life by transforming them into objects of greater value. Unlike traditional recycling, which often degrades the raw material, upcycling seeks to enhance it.
Examples include using fabric scraps to create fashion accessories or transforming advertising banners into sustainable bags. This approach is attracting more and more consumers who are concerned about waste reduction and responsible innovation.
Regenerative design
Regenerative design goes beyond preservation or eco-design: it aims to restore and improve natural ecosystems. The idea is no longer just to limit negative impacts, but to generate a positive impact.
In this context, products and services are designed to promote biodiversity, regenerate soils, improve air quality and contribute to the well-being of communities. It is an ambitious but necessary vision to address current and future environmental challenges.
Eco-innovation
Eco-innovation refers to all technological, organisational or social innovations that reduce our ecological footprint, such as the development of new sustainable raw materials, the optimisation of manufacturing processes, the implementation of responsible digital solutions, etc.