Training for sustainable innovation

By Alto, April 15th 2025

Eco-design takes place throughout the product development process, from the initial concept phase through to technical development. For our team, eco-design is as much about design as it is about engineering.

To keep abreast of the latest technological and regulatory developments, Richard Paré, Vice President of Engineering, recently participated in training courses offered by the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec on the evolution of responsible design practices. This coursework focused on key issues in rethinking products and services in a more sustainable way.

Here are a few highlights that are already inspiring us in our thinking:

Evolving waste management technologies

Evolving end-of-life management technologies influence material slection and packaging design to promote recycling and reuse.

Responsible sourcing

Analyses of the energy impacts of raw material extraction and recycling enable informed material and component selection at the design stage.

The ESG criteria, a paradigm shift

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria engage companies and their engineers in the green transition by defining performance criteria that differ from traditional financial metrics.

Business models focused on sustainability

Turnkey subscription models that integrate repair and end-of-life management are redefining the value of products. They encourage the creation of systems that facilitate the repair, adjustment and replacement of components.

Evolution of regulatory levers

Regulatory levers for product reuse and waste reduction are evolving and influencing the design of future products, from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to European standards on repairability.

Eco-design is a powerful lever for innovation that is constantly evolving. Through ongoing training, we are able to incorporate the latest knowledge into our eco-design services.

Thanks to speakers Nicolas Turgeon, Pierre Baptiste, Ph. D., Pierre-Olivier Pineau, Ph. D., Denis Brisebois and the OIQ for this rich and stimulating content.