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Challenges When Including Sustainability Aspects in Product Development at Two Large Manufacturing Companies in Sweden

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Technologies and Eco-innovation towards Sustainability I

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Abstract

When including sustainability aspects in product development, challenges may arise. The aim of this paper is to expand current knowledge about challenges faced by manufacturing companies when including sustainability aspects in product development. To fulfil the aim, a multiple case study at two large manufacturing companies was conducted. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and complemented with data from the companies’ sustainability reports. The novelty of this research is an expansion of the existing knowledge about these types of challenges. Additionally, drivers for the companies’ inclusion of sustainability aspects in product development and meaning of sustainability for the companies are described. The results show that the challenges differ to a large extent between the two companies. Despite the differences, challenges caused by a lack of recourses, lack of knowledge and need to fulfil economic goals are the most commonly described challenges at the companies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Manufacturing Engineering, Department of Management and Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

    Fredrik Paulson & Erik Sundin

Authors
  1. Fredrik Paulson
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  2. Erik Sundin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fredrik Paulson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

    Allen H. Hu

  2. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan

    Mitsutaka Matsumoto

  3. Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Tsai Chi Kuo

  4. National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shana Smith

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Paulson, F., Sundin, E. (2019). Challenges When Including Sustainability Aspects in Product Development at Two Large Manufacturing Companies in Sweden. In: Hu, A., Matsumoto, M., Kuo, T., Smith, S. (eds) Technologies and Eco-innovation towards Sustainability I. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1181-9_18

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