Ecotechnologies and eco-design: concepts and implementation

Abstract

The ecotechnologies (or ecologically rational technologies) have less impact on the environment, use in a more sustainable way the resources and authorize the recycling of whole or part of their waste in a more acceptable way than the technologies they replace. The methodological problems raised by those are both upstream; it is the eco-design; and downstream, when concerning the definition of impact assessment criteria; it is the eco-assessment. This article focuses on eco-design techniques with a prior synthesis of various design methodologies, which contributed to its genesis. Principles, as well as the methods at the disposal of the designers, are reviewed. The approach is illustrated with a research project example about energy wood harvesting. During this project were implemented various methods within the concept framework of "integrated assessment" and analysis of "technological scenarios".