the organization shall determine the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that it can control and those that it can influence, and their
associated environmental impacts, considering a life cycle perspective. p. 9 [23].
Additionally, resource efficiency has increasingly become the focus of European
initiatives (e.g., the EU’s circular economy package) [24].
Therefore, it had been identified that the environmental analysis had to be
considered in all PD projects, but to be able to make this happen, the tool had to be
easier and faster to use. A reference group was put in place to develop and approve
the environmental screening tool. It was also acknowledged that the connection
between PD and production could be improved. The improvement work was
mainly done during 2015, together with the reference group with participants for
PD and production from the different parts of Volvo Group. This reference group
was important, since they had an opportunity to influence the development process
of the environmental design tool. As opposed to EIA, EnvS will need to be regularly reviewed and updated to secure that the most important environmental risks
are covered.
Moreover, in the effort to adapt ease of use and beneficial outcomes, two
Environmental Screening (EnvS) tools were developed, one for PD and one for
production, with a link in-between, so if a new component affected Volvo Group
production, the checklist for production would be filled in. The EnvS for PD is a
tool for collecting answers to all known, relevant environmental questions that are
important for PD. It may be so that another tool needs to be used to be able to
answer a question, [e.g., if a question regards Design for Recycling (DfRecycling)].
To be able to answer if a new part will be designed for recycling, the DfRecycling
checklist may have to be completed. The EnvS for production is a checklist on its
own, with no extra checklists to consider for answering the questions. For PD, it is
important that the start-up meeting is held early in the development process. If it is
held before a supplier is chosen, then requirements can more easily be added to the
supplier. The two EnvS tools have been tested and further developed in pilot
studies. During the pilot studies the enthusiasm from engineers was also crucial in
developing the tool, since they expressed their desire to make a difference.
4 Discussion
The first research question can be answered by how Volvo Group established a
reference group from different departments that also included users of the tool. The
case study also highlighted the importance of carrying out a pilot study for useful
feedback and refinement of the tool.
Regarding the identification of organizational needs and the determination of
how to manage them in order to adapt or create a tool to address environmental
performances, the case study showed that the context plays an important role not
only in shaping company’s core values, but also in its operations, use of tools and
ultimately decision-making. In this case study, the organisational needs were
Development of an Environmental Evaluation Tool …
385
associated environmental impacts, considering a life cycle perspective. p. 9 [23].
Additionally, resource efficiency has increasingly become the focus of European
initiatives (e.g., the EU’s circular economy package) [24].
Therefore, it had been identified that the environmental analysis had to be
considered in all PD projects, but to be able to make this happen, the tool had to be
easier and faster to use. A reference group was put in place to develop and approve
the environmental screening tool. It was also acknowledged that the connection
between PD and production could be improved. The improvement work was
mainly done during 2015, together with the reference group with participants for
PD and production from the different parts of Volvo Group. This reference group
was important, since they had an opportunity to influence the development process
of the environmental design tool. As opposed to EIA, EnvS will need to be regularly reviewed and updated to secure that the most important environmental risks
are covered.
Moreover, in the effort to adapt ease of use and beneficial outcomes, two
Environmental Screening (EnvS) tools were developed, one for PD and one for
production, with a link in-between, so if a new component affected Volvo Group
production, the checklist for production would be filled in. The EnvS for PD is a
tool for collecting answers to all known, relevant environmental questions that are
important for PD. It may be so that another tool needs to be used to be able to
answer a question, [e.g., if a question regards Design for Recycling (DfRecycling)].
To be able to answer if a new part will be designed for recycling, the DfRecycling
checklist may have to be completed. The EnvS for production is a checklist on its
own, with no extra checklists to consider for answering the questions. For PD, it is
important that the start-up meeting is held early in the development process. If it is
held before a supplier is chosen, then requirements can more easily be added to the
supplier. The two EnvS tools have been tested and further developed in pilot
studies. During the pilot studies the enthusiasm from engineers was also crucial in
developing the tool, since they expressed their desire to make a difference.
4 Discussion
The first research question can be answered by how Volvo Group established a
reference group from different departments that also included users of the tool. The
case study also highlighted the importance of carrying out a pilot study for useful
feedback and refinement of the tool.
Regarding the identification of organizational needs and the determination of
how to manage them in order to adapt or create a tool to address environmental
performances, the case study showed that the context plays an important role not
only in shaping company’s core values, but also in its operations, use of tools and
ultimately decision-making. In this case study, the organisational needs were
Development of an Environmental Evaluation Tool …
385