An integrated framework for implementing sustainable product development

This paper presents an integrated framework to implement Sustainable Product Development (SPD). The focus is on integrating environmental sustainability in manufacturing firms with control over key product development processes, particularly the early phases, since they are the key players in designing and manufacturing products. From an analysis of the best available developments by researchers and industry, appropriate tools and activities are linked to three implementation levels as enablers for implementing SPD. The proposed approach combines strategic and operational approaches in a single framework. The aim of linking tools and activities to different implementation levels differentiates the proposed framework from other less comprehensive approaches.