Everyone interested in the LCA approach, in particular the role and application of eco-design, is invited on December 3, 2020 to the 3rd LCA4Regions Regional Stakeholder Meeting. The event will take place during the 13th European Economic Forum in Lodz. The main topic of the 3rd RSE will be an ECO-DESIGN IN THE FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS and it will also be one of the European Economic Forum issues. Anyone interested in this subject can participate in the online meeting and discussion and ask questions to experts.
Under the legislation, eco-design means "the integration of environmental aspects into product design and development". Eco-design therefore complements the main elements considered in the standard process, such as safety, functionality, ergonomics, strength parameters or costs, with two additional elements - environmental impact assessment and a life-cycle perspective.
Eco-design is also the basis for the development of the circular economy. According to the Circular Economy (CE) concept the impact of manufactured goods on the environment should be minimized through the selection of materials that enable their reuse and minimize the production of waste.
Recent years have brought significant changes in the field of waste management and the efficient use of natural resources, which may contribute to the development of new trends in eco-design. Many new regulations have been created, setting ambitious goals in terms of improving the use of resources, including by improving the functioning of the extended producer responsibility system, improving product design, using biodegradable materials, creating markets for the re-use of recycled materials and, above all, significantly reducing, and in the case of some products, even eliminating single-use items made of plastic from the market.
With the introduction of the above regulations, the industry has faced not only more stringent legal requirements, but also a changing opinion of consumers who are more and more aware and pay more attention to whether goods are produced in an environmentally friendly manner.
The aim of the meeting is to discuss and show opportunities offered by circular economy and the use of LCA and stimulate the discussion chaired by 5 experts.
Agenda:
- Introduction – LCA concept and projects
- Role of Eco-design and business models in a closed-loop economy
- What can be changed in existing products/packaging to increase their recyclability?
- Eco-design education – examples.
- Design and Eco-design - how fashion supports new markets and industries for the reuse of recycled raw materials and the benefits for business and science of a green approach to the production process, conclusions.
Experts:
- Prof. Katarzyna Grabowska, - Dean of the Faculty of Materials, Technology and Textile Design at the Lodz University of Technology, President of the World AUTEX Association (www.autex.org) and Vice President of the International European Textile Platform Association in Brussels (www.textile-platform.eu). Editor-in-Chief of an English-language magazine dedicated to textile and materials engineering - Autex Res. J. (www.autexrj.com).
- Prof. Joanna Kulczycka, - AGH University of Science and Technology - Deputy Dean for Cooperation and Development of the Faculty of Management and head of the Strategic Research Laboratory at the Institute of Mineral Resources and Energy Management of the Polish Academy of Sciences. President of the Management Board of the Waste Management and Recycling Cluster (National Key Cluster). Author of over 200 publications. Participant of numerous committees and councils in the EU and Poland. Organizer of many conferences and workshops on CE and LCA.
- Piotr Brzeziński - Director of Research and Development Office in VIVE Textile Recycling Company - one of the biggest european textile recycling companies. Expert in the field of investment consulting and enterprise restructuring. He has extensive experience in cooperation between enterprises and research units as well as transfer, development and implementation of innovative technologies.
- PhD Radosław Dziuba - Director of the Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibers “Łukasiewicz Research Network”. An expert in the field of knowledge commercialization, absorption of EU funds and regional specializations. Assistant professor at the Department of World Economy and European Integration at the University of Lodz, winner of the Polish Intelligent Development Award, author of many publications on sustainable development, CE.
- Bartłomiej Zgorzelski - founder of BZB Projekt - a multi-discipline design studio specializing in risk analysis for real estate and infrastructure investments. Participant in the process of area revitalization of the new centre of city of Lodz. project. Chairman of the "Urban Dialogues" Federation, member of the Management Board of ŁIPH (Lodz Chamber Industry and Commerce).
