Life cycle design guidance manual. Environmental requirements and the product system. Final report

The document seeks to promote the reduction of environmental impacts and health risks through a systems approach to design. The approach is based on the product life cycle, which includes raw materials acquisition and processing, manufacturing, use/service, resource recovery, and disposal. A life cycle design framework was developed to provide guidance for more effectively conserving resources and energy, preventing pollution, and reducing the aggregate environmental impacts and health risks associated with a product system. The framework addresses the product, process, distribution, and management/information components of each product system.