Ecodesign
Description
Achieve your environmental goals through responsible innovation
We help you achieve your environmental goals
The environmental impact of product life cycles calls for a responsible approach to design. Regulatory requirements and user perceptions are evolving accordingly, calling for the adoption of sustainable practices.
To broaden our scope of action in the face of environmental challenges, Alto is teaming up with Think Plus agency to offer a combined expertise service in eco-innovation strategy and eco-design. Based in France and Quebec, the Think Plus agency has been helping companies in all sectors to adopt responsible innovation practices since 2014. This environmental expertise, combined with our long experience in product creation, enables us to better support companies in their sustainable development approach.
This combination of expertise broadens the scope of eco-design activities to include environmental performance analysis and responsible communication. Design choices are supported by verified data on material properties, consumer perception, value chain analysis and organizational structure. Advice on changing regulatory requirements also helps you comply with European and North American legislation.
Ecodesign activities include:
- Identification of eco-innovation opportunities
- Ecodesign strategy
- Formal and functional design
- Life cycle assessment (LCA)
- Technology watch (materials and processes)
- Environmental performance assessment (technical indicators)
- Regulatory support
- Responsible communication
Alto produces a diverse range of products and has had the opportunity to design alternative packaging for various players in the agri-food sector. To enhance these efforts, we are now part of the ÉcoEmballage+. program, approved by the Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD). This subsidized program helps bio-food companies secure funding for professional support in their eco-design packaging processes.
Eco-innovation opportunities assessment
The environmental impacts of products stem from systemic factors depending on the contexts of sourcing, production, distribution, use, and end-of-life management. Solutions that reduce these impacts without compromising product quality are not always straightforward. An assessment of environmental performance allows for the identification of pressures and opportunities for eco-innovation early in the design process. An action plan and specifications can then be established, taking into account the company’s vision in the short, medium, and long term.
The assessment of environmental performance is carried out using various tools, including life cycle analysis (LCA), value chain analysis, business activities, and material properties, enabling the identification of eco-innovation levers and design criteria.
Ecodesign
We design innovative and user-friendly products while respecting predefined environmental criteria. Our extensive expertise in industrial design and mechanical engineering supports your eco-responsible mission.
Industrial design enables the development of responsible products by influencing impact factors throughout the entire life cycle of the item. Design can help reduce the amount of material or energy needed for production and promote the use of sustainable and recyclable materials.
Depending on the usage context, a mono-material design or a disassemblable and repairable assembly can be different approaches to combat premature obsolescence and improve recyclability. Analyzing the usage scenario may even lead to a reduction in the number of components needed to fulfill the product’s functions.
We also assist you in implementing new solutions within more conservative sectors by proposing a gradual evolution of products (e.g., gradual introduction of new materials, new methods). By considering market perceptions, we tailor our approach to your operational constraints.
Responsible communication
Responsible communication highlights the environmental approach of your project and explains the real impacts of new products. Responsible marketing enhances brand perception among your target market by conveying clear, simple, and honest information.
This service also ensures that your promotional content complies with current regulations, including European guidelines on green claims.
Media materials showcase the competitive advantages of products while incorporating the company’s initial vision. The deployment of communication materials strengthens product recognition and solidifies the brand image of emerging companies or new product lines.
The expertise gained from designing your products enables us to create visual materials tailored to your communication strategy (renders, infographics, and animations). Do you need to demonstrate how your product works at an event? We can also prototype a functional proof of concept or a mock-up.
Would you like your product development to be part of a sustainable development approach? Call us to find out how we can help you realize your ambitions.
