The Green Option Matrix to Characterize Green Products and Practices

Abstract

Hybrid cars, recycled products, photovoltaic cells, bioplastics: why so different products can be called ‘green’? Which practices companies willing to develop green products should implement? How companies can easily and effectively communicate to stakeholders the environmental features of their green products?

This paper tries to answer these questions, by developing a Green Option Matrix (GOM), which characterizes green products and practices along different dimensions. This matrix is then used to analyze the different features of green products as well as related green practices developed by a sample of companies belonging to two manufacturing industries, namely upholstered furniture and footwear. Green products and practices developed by each company in the sample are positioned in the matrix and results are presented and discussed for each industrial sector. The proposed matrix can be used by companies as a market tool to analyze competitors’ green products and practices and as a communication tool to effectively communicate to stakeholders the specific green features of their products and practices.

This paper is based on Dangelico, R.M., Pontrandolfo, P. (2010) From Green Product Definitions and Classifications to the Green Option Matrix, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 18, No. 16–17: 1608–1628.

Appendices

Appendix A

Steps to characterize green products and practices

Appendix B

CHECKLIST to guide the characterization of green products and practices

• STEP 1

In which one(s)³ of the following focus areas does the product/practice display improved environmental performance compared to industry standards or determines environmental benefits?

• Materials (including water) → go to the section ‘materials’

• Energy → go to the section ‘energy’

• Pollution/toxic waste → go to the section ‘pollution/toxic waste’

1.1 Section ‘Materials’

• STEP 2

In which phase(s) of the product life cycle does the product/practice display improved environmental performance compared to industry standards or determines environmental benefits?

• Before product usage → go to the section ‘before product usage’

• During product usage → go to the section ‘during product usage’

• After product usage → go to the section ‘after product usage’

1.1.1 Before Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice and derive the corresponding type of impact.

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Eco-efficient production processes	Less negative
Reduction of product or packaging’s size and weight	Less negative
Use of recycled materials for product or packaging	Null
Use of materials not containing harmful or toxic substances for product or packaging	Null
Use of renewable materials for product or packaging	Null
Use of environmentally certified raw materials for product or packaging	Null
Production waste recycling/reuse	Positive
Production water recycling/reuse	Positive

1.1.2 During Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Product with extended lifecycle/high durability	Less negative
Eco-efficient products, requiring/allowing the use of less materials	Less negative
Products using renewable raw materials (where competitive products use non renewable ones)	Null
Products that during use are in contact with peoples’ skin and are made of natural/certified materials	Null
Products allowing to extend lifecycle of other products	Positive

1.1.3 After Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Product or packaging partly made of biodegradable materials	Less negative
Product or packaging partly made of recyclable materials	Less negative
Product or packaging completely made of biodegradable materials	Null
Product or packaging completely reusable, remanufacturable, or recyclable	Positive

1.2 Section ‘Energy’

• STEP 2

To which phase(s) of the product life cycle the improved environmental performance of the product or the environmental benefits determined by the product refer?

• Before product usage → go to the section ‘before product usage’

• During product usage → go to the section ‘during product usage’

• After product usage → go to the section ‘after product usage’

1.2.1 Before Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Products requiring less energy to be produced or installed	Less negative
Reduction of product or packaging’s size and weight	Less negative
Use of practices reducing energy consumption in production plants	Less negative
Transport optimization	Less negative
Use of more efficient energy generation systems in production processes	Less negative
Use of renewable energy sources in production processes	Null
Use of cogeneration plants to provide electricity, heating, and cooling in production processes	Positive
Generating energy from exhaust hot gas/waste in production processes	Positive

1.2.2 During Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Energy efficient products, attachments, components	Less negative
Size and weight reduction of products used for transport	Less negative
Thermal insulating products/materials	Less negative
Energy conserving products	Less negative
Products working through energy coming from renewable sources by themselves generated	Null
Products increasing energy generation efficiency	Positive
Products generating energy from renewable energy sources	Positive

1.2.3 After Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Products or packaging that can be recycled with high energy efficient processes	Less negative
Reusing products or packaging without any processing	Null
Waste products recyclable into fuel	Positive

1.3 Section ‘Pollution/Toxic Waste’

• STEP 2

To which phase(s) of the product life cycle the improved environmental performance of the product or the environmental benefits determined by the product refer?

• Before product usage → go to the section ‘before product usage’

• During product usage → go to the section ‘during product usage’

• After product usage → go to the section ‘after product usage’

1.3.1 Before Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Reduction of emissions in production processes	Less negative
Reduction of emissions due to transportation	Less negative
Use of renewable energy sources in production processes	Null
Avoidance of the use of hazardous materials and chemicals in production processes	Null
Redevelopment of brownfield land/cleaning up of contaminated sites	Positive
Transforming production waste in fuel	Positive

1.3.2 During Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Energy efficient products, attachments, components	Less negative
Size and weight reduction of products used for transport	Less negative
Products with reduced electromagnetic waves emissions	Less negative
Products reducing pollution/release of toxic substances during their use	Less negative
Products avoiding pollution/release of toxic substances during their use	Null
Products avoiding/reducing pollution/release of toxic substances of other products	Positive

1.3.3 After Product Usage

• STEP 3

Select the description that better reflects the product or practice:

Product or practice description	Corresponding type of impact
Products with reduced amount of toxic substances – e.g. CFCs, radioactive materials, PVC – (thus generating a reduced amount of toxic waste)	Less negative
Products avoiding the use of toxic substances (thus not generating toxic waste)	Null
Products that reduce the pollution in the environment wherein disposed	Positive