© The au ho ; licensee Uni e sidad Nacional de Colombia.
DYNA 82 (191), pp. 137-146. June, 2015 Medellín. ISSN 0012-7353 P in ed, ISSN 2346-2183 Online
DOI: h p://dx.doi.o g/10.15446/dyna. 82n191.43263
MGE2: A amewo k o c adle- o-c adle design
Ma ía-Es ela Pe al a-Ál a ez
a
, F ancisco Aguayo-González
b
, Juan-Ramón Lama-Ruiz
c
& Ma ía Jesús Á ila-Gu ié ez
d
a
. Enginee ing Design Depa men , Uni e si y o Se ille, Se ille, Spain. [email p o ec ed]
b
, Enginee ing Design Depa men , Uni e si y o Se ille, Se ille, Spain. aguay[email p o ec ed]
c
Enginee ing Design Depa men , Uni e si y o Se ille, Se ille, Spain. j la[email p o ec ed]
d
Enginee ing Design Depa men , Uni e si y o Se ille, Se ille, Spain. [email p o ec ed]
Recei ed: May 2
h
, 2014. Recei ed in e ised o m: Decembe 1
h
, 2014. Accep ed: Decembe 17
h
, 2014.
Abs ac
Design and ecology a e c i ical issues in he indus ial sec o . P oduc s a e subjec o cons an e iew and op imiza ion o su i al in he ma ke ,
and limi ed by hei impac on he plane . Decisions abou a new p oduc a ec i s li e cycle, consume s, and especially he en i onmen . In o de
o achie e quali y solu ions, eco-e ec i eness mus be conside ed, he e o e, in he design o a p ocess, i s p oduc de elopmen and associa ed
sys em. An o de ly me hodology is essen ial o help owa ds c ea ing p oduc s ha mee bo h use needs and cu en en i onmen al equi emen s,
unde pa adigms ha c ea e en i onmen al alue. To da e, he indus y has de eloped echniques in an a emp o add ess hese expec a ions
unde C adle- o-C adle (C2C), which is loosely s uc u ed a ound he concep ual amewo ks and design echniques. The p esen wo k desc ibes
a new amewo k ha encompasses all s ages o design, and enables in e ac ion unde a se o p inciples de eloped o C2C. Unde his inno a i e
new pa adigm eme ges he Genomic Model o Eco-inno a ion and Eco-design, p oposed as a me hodology o designing p oduc s ha mee
indi idual and collec i e needs, and which enables he design o eco- iendly p oduc s, by in eg a ing hem in o he amewo k o he ISO
s anda ds o Li e Cycle Assessmen (LCA), eco-design, eco-labeling, and C2C ce i ica ion.
Keywo ds: Eco-design, Sus ainabili y, Indus ial Ecology, Li e Cycle Assessmen , Eco-e ec i eness, Eco-inno a ion
MGE2: Un ma co de e e encia pa a el diseño de la cuna a la cuna
Resumen
El diseño y la ecología son emas c uciales en el sec o indus ial. Los p oduc os es án some idos a e isiones cons an es pa a sob e i i
en el me cado y a op imizaciones que los man ienen bajo los lími es de impac o sob e el plane a. Las decisiones ace ca de un nue o
p oduc o a ec an su ciclo de ida, los consumido es, y sob e odo el medio ambien e. Con el in de log a soluciones de calidad, Eco -
e icacia debe conside a se, po lo an o, en el diseño de un p oceso, su desa ollo de p oduc os y el sis ema asociado. Una me odología
o denada es esencial pa a ayuda a la c eación de p oduc os que sa is agan an o las necesidades de los usua ios y los equisi os
medioambien ales ac uales, bajo los pa adigmas que c ean alo ambien al. Has a la echa, la indus ia ha desa ollado écnicas en un
in en o de abo da es as expec a i as bajo la cuna a la cuna (C2C), que es á agamen e es uc u ada al ededo de los ma cos concep uales
y écnicas de diseño. El p esen e abajo desc ibe un nue o ma co que aba ca odas las e apas de diseño, y pe mi e la in e acción bajo un
conjun o de p incipios desa ollados po C2C. En i ud de es e nue o e inno ado pa adigma su ge el Modelo de Genómica de Eco-
inno ación y el diseño ecológico, p opues o como una me odología pa a el diseño de p oduc os que sa is agan las necesidades indi iduales
y colec i as, y que pe mi e el diseño de p oduc os espe uosos del medio ambien e, median e su in eg ación en el ma co de las no mas ISO
de Análisis de Ciclo de ida (ACV), el ecodiseño, ecoe ique ado y la ce i icación C2C.
Palab as cla e: Ecodiseño, Sos enibilidad, Ecología Indus ial, Análisis de ciclo de ida, Eco-e ec i idad, Eco-inno ación.
1. In oduc ion
To mee p esen needs wi hou comp omising he abili y
o u u e gene a ions o mee hei needs is he mos widely
used de ini ion o sus ainabili y. This concep has become
highly ele an , now ecognised as he basis o indus ial,
business, economic, go e nmen al o social ac i i y.
Sus ainabili y is buil on h ee ec o s ha de ine and de elop
Pe al a-Ál a ez e al / DYNA 82 (191), pp. 137-146. June, 2015.
138
“3E” sus ainable s a egy: Economy, Equi y and Ecology [1].
O e ecen decades, hese ec o s ha e occupied a ious
posi ions, bo h while being aimed a eaching hei ull
in e ac ion, and in indus ial ac i i ies conside ed o be
sus ainable. These dimensions o ec o s o sus ainabili y a e
deployed sequen ially in o de o a ain business goals,
o ming a py amid whose economic base needed
gua an eeing be o e aking in o accoun any social and
ecological c i e ia. Th ough inno a ion and cons an a emp s
and p oposals o change owa ds sus ainable de elopmen
[2], he indus y has buil a ious amewo ks (pa adigms in
he design), all based on a g oup o p inciples, echniques and
ools, among which he mos signi ican a e Na u al
Capi alism, he Na u al S ep, C adle- o-C adle (C2C), and
Pe macul u e. These app oaches all lay ou a new dis ibu ion
o he h ee ec o s o 3E sus ainabili y, a anged a he
e ices o a iangula mesh whe e sus ainabili y is
add essed equally om any poin o iew. By aking he
inno a i e c adle- o-c adle (C2C) pa adigm [3] as he o igin,
and by conside ing i as he mos signi ican amewo k o
he ad ancemen o sus ainabili y in he con ex o
enginee ing p ojec s in iew o i s ope a ional and eco-
sys ema ic cha ac e , his pape p esen s a new model o
design and de elopmen o indus ial p oduc s (MGE2). Ou
p incipal goal is he ealiza ion o heo e ical con ibu ions,
by es ablishing he ounda ions and p inciples o bio-inspi ed
C2C; ollowed by ou goal o de elop a speci ic and p ac ical
me hodological p oposal o bionic design which can be
suppo ed by Concu en Enginee ing and PLM (P oduc Li e
Managemen ) en i onmen s [4], whils aking in o accoun a
con inuous e iew based on Li e-Cycle Assessmen . In his
p oposal, new ideas o he C2C pe spec i e a e coo dina ed,
he eby cons i u ing a way o implemen he basic p inciples
o his new pa adigm, which e lec he lessons lea ned om
he eco-e iciency and eco-inno a ion app oaches. In his
new pe spec i e o eco-e iciency, he model can suppo all
he ISO s anda ds equi emen s in oduced o da e, i can
ex end he ange o solu ions in o de o imp o e he
pe o mance o impac minimiza ion, and i can help o
esol e, h ough he design o sus ainable p oduc s, he
en i onmen al p oblem ha cu en indus y is causing on he
plane .
2. Ma e ial
Sus ainable design in ol es a s a egy ha encompasses
echnological, economic, cul u al, social, echnical-
p oduc i e, aes he ic, and en i onmen al ac o s. The
conside a ion o his se o issues wi hin design implies ha
hose indus ial o ganiza ions ha ca y ou eco-design
p ojec s ob ain a se o bene i s as a consequence o he
in oduc ion o an inno a i e ac o in hei business policy.
To da e, design o sus ainabili y and en i onmen al
managemen in indus y ha e e ol ed in o he ollowing
s ages:
a) Reac i i y: Knowledge and eac ion. Mass p oduc ion in
indus y has ma ked he u u e o he plane h ough i s
high consump ion o esou ces and excessi e pollu ion.
Faced wi h his si ua ion, and wi h he ala m aised by
expe s and en i onmen al g oups, go e nmen s began o
ake measu es and o demand ce ain ac ions om heads
o indus y. Socie y began o become awa e o he
p oblem.
b) Ga e o Ga e: End-o -pipe echnologies (1). A e his i s
pe iod o awa eness, public adminis a ion in oduced he
i s legisla ion ha demanded pollu ion con ol, o
which hey began o implemen he End-o -pipe
echnologies, based on pollu ion-con ol (once i is
igge ed) a he end o he p oduc ion line. This in ol ed
an addi ional demand o ene gy, ma e ials and
specialized equipmen .
c) C adle o Ga e: Op imiza ion (2). The eco-e iciency idea
was ex ended when he indus y ealized ha he
op imiza ion o ac i i ies and p ocesses was he nex bes
op ion. To his end, he ision o p e en ing pollu ion
a he han igh ing i was inco po a ed, and ocused
mainly on he manu ac u ing phase and on he educ ion
o aw ma e ials.
d) C adle o G a e: Eco-e iciency (3). A s ep beyond
op imiza ion, he idea o eco-e iciency as a basis o
indus ial s a egy was expanded, and was de eloped no
only in he manu ac u ing phase, bu also o co e all
s ages o he li e cycle, om he ex ac ion o ma e ials o
he end o he li e o p oduc s. This in ol ed
comp ehensi e supe ision and ac ion in all s ages o he
li e cycle o he p oduc based on ISO 14000 s anda ds,
he implemen a ion o legisla ion and BREFs, Bes
A ailable Techniques and op imiza ion o echnologies,
in o de o imp o e he con ol p ocess and pollu ion
p e en ion.
C adle o C adle: Eco-e ec i eness (4). As he la es
ad ance, he C2C pe spec i e is unde de elopmen . I s aim
is no only o ensu e he e iciency o p ocesses h oughou
he li e-cycle s ages, bu also in ol es a ho ough s udy o
ma e ial low, essen ial o he end o he use ul li e o
p oduc s, since hey can be eused o ecycled (wi hou
en ailing educed quali y). This would elimina e he cu en
sys em o was e land ill o pollu ion o he a mosphe e by
means o he many exis ing eco e y sys ems.
The i s no ewo hy men ion o C2C was wi h he
publica ion o "C adle o C adle: edesigning he way we do
hings," w i en by Michael B aunga and William
Figu e 1. E olu ion o he li e cycle o p oduc s owa ds sus ainabili y;
Sou ce: The au ho s
Pe al a-Ál a ez e al / DYNA 82 (191), pp. 137-146. June, 2015.
139
McDonough [1], which in oduced he i s ounda ions o a
new pa adigm o ecological indus y. The au ho s
conside ed his inno a i e pe spec i e as he s a o he "nex
indus ial e olu ion." Thanks o he conside a ion o he
design o p oduc s and sys ems unde he pe spec i e o
sus ainabili y du ing hei whole li e cycle, an a chi ec u e is
concei ed o he p oduc and associa ed sys ems
(manu ac u ing p ocesses, use and disposal), seamlessly
in eg a ed wi h he lows o ma e and ene gy o he na u al
ecosys em (na u esphe e) and echnical ecosys em
( echnosphe e). The h ee a o emen ioned dimensions o
sus ainabili y a e a ailable h ough C2C, simul aneously
a icula ed and unde a ac al design [1]. Sus ainabili y is
placed in a iangula domain whe e none o he h ee
concep s (economy, ecology, equi y) is i ial, since all h ee
a e conside ed as equal in size, alue and in e es , he eby
cons i u ing he sus ainable me hodology o wel a e
economics. When ackling he design o a new p oduc , each
e ex o he ac al iangle and he in e ac ion o each
concep wi h he o he wo e ices a e aken in o accoun ,
wi hou o ge ing any o he quali ies ha will ully sa is y
( hanks o he p oduc ) he o e all needs ha socie y demands
(p esen o u u e), he en i onmen , o p ojec iabili y. This
app oach elimina es he ollowing si ua ions o
unsus ainabili y:
1) An economic and inancial capi al ou look, sui able
only o p oduc p o i (capi alism): based exclusi ely
on p o i s wi hou conside ing en i onmen al and social
aspec s.
2) A ision o equi y and o social capi al, wi h a en ion
paid o he ma ke sec o s o disad an aged g oups and
o cul u al sus ainabili y. This app oach ails o conside
bo h economic and en i onmen al aspec s.
3) An ecological and na u al capi al pe spec i e o he
sus ainable in eg a ion o he p oduc in o he
en i onmen wi hou conside ing social and economic
c i e ia.
This new s and o esea ch is cu en ly unde de elopmen ,
wi h high expec a ions o i s ull implemen a ion in he u u e,
whe eby i will se a new pa adigm o design, and will de elop
p oduc s and indus ial sys ems based on he sea ch o eco-
e icien solu ions (quali y) wi h a closed li e cycle. This
si ua ion is suppo ed by he Eu opean p ojec C adle o C adle
Ne wo k (C2CN) [23], app o ed in Feb ua y 2010 o he
de elopmen o he C2C pa adigm and i s dis ibu ion in Eu ope,
wi hin he INTERREG IVG (Inno a ion and En i onmen
Regions o Eu ope Sha ing Solu ions). The C2C amewo k is
insu icien ly de eloped o he u he inco po a ion in o he
p oduc design equi emen s ha he p oduc s can also be
egene a ed a he end o hei use ul li e, and ha hey gene a e
en i onmen al alue wi hin hei li e cycle. This de e mines he
need o he design and de elopmen o p oduc s, which, in
addi ion o concei ing sus ainabili y in a sys emic manne , also
in eg a e li e-cycle analysis (LCA), cleane p oduc ion and
indus ial ecology, and eco-e iciency and eco-e ec i eness [5],
all wi hin he amewo k o Bes A ailable Techniques. To his
end, we p opose and de elop he “Genomic Model o Eco-
Inno a ion and Eco-design, MGE2.” This is a new p ocess o
he design and de elopmen o p oduc s ha con e s C2C in o
a p ac ical and applicable echnique.
3. Me hodology
3.1. C adle o C adle - C2C
The co e o he C2C pa adigm [1] consis s o eco-inno a i e
design solu ions inspi ed by na u e, in hei closed cycles o
ma e ials and eco-e icien indus ial me abolism (in he absence
o xenobio ic subs ances). The objec i e is o inco po a e eco-
e icien solu ions ha add alue in o de o help minimize he
use o na u al esou ces, by placing alue on esou ces
manu ac u ed in successi e cycles, which in ol e a pa allel
educ ion o en i onmen al deg ada ion. To his end, he
me hodology mus be designed in such a way ha na u e is seen
as: a model ( h ough imi a ion o o ms, p ocesses, lows,
in e ac ions and sys ems); uni s o measu e ( ia compa ison o
designs wi h na u al e e ences and e i ica ion o whe he he
solu ions a e as e ec i e, e icien , simple, and sus ainable as
hose ound in na u e); and men o ( h ough he accep ance ha
human ac i i y and indus ial p ac ice is pa o na u e, and
ac ing acco dingly). App oaches ha a ise in ela ion o he
concep o eco-e ec i eness in C2C [26], p o ide he sea ch o
quali y solu ions, by doing “mo e wi h less” wi hou slowing
down he en i onmen al p oblem (which does no jus minimize
esou ce consump ion, emissions and was e, bu ac ually
elimina es hem), all acco ding o he concep o Biomimic y,
o he wise known as Inno a ion inspi ed by na u e [6].The
au ho s o his idea [3] p opose a se ies o ideas ha we ha e
o ganized in o nine p ac ical p inciples, (Pi), which ensu e
p oduc s a e ob ained ha inco po a e closed loops, no was e
gene a ion, and eco e y o all ma e ials wi hou any loss o
quali y, he eby keeping he na u al capi al o he plane in line
wi h he cha ac e o a sys em ha is open in ene gy and closed
in ma e ials.
P1. P oac i e e ocus (posi i e impac s). As opposed o
he eac i e app oach o en i onmen alis s o " educe,
eu ilize and euse" ha only slows down deg ada ion
wi hou esol ing he p oblem, his p inciple p oposes
p oac i e ac ion be o e he gene a ion o impac s. I ejec s
he assump ion ha he indus y mus ine i ably des oy he
en i onmen , and i ecognizes he po en ial o inno a ion,
ingenui y, c ea i i y and p udence, and imagines sys ems
which pu i y wa e , ai and soil, he eby helping o egene a e
he en i onmen al alue los in ecen decades.
P2. Sys emic and in eg a ed concep ion o p oduc
me abolism (sys emic app oach). This p inciple includes a
sys emic pe spec i e o he li ecycle o p oduc s by in oducing
closed me abolic p ocesses o echnical and biological nu ien s
o he na u esphe e and echnosphe e. This se up o closed cycles
con e s he ou pu in o inpu (was e = ood).
P3. F ac aliza ion o sus ainabili y (eco-inno a ion). The
3E s a egy ans o ms he p oblem- esolu ion p ocess and
ob ains solu ions based on oppo uni ies o alues wi h a
iple calcula ion o esul s (economic, social, and
ecological).
P4. Bio-inspi ed eco-inno a ion (biomimic y). The sea ch
o quali y solu ions based on e ec i e bio-inspi ed
inno a ions[6]. This will ule ou ine ec i e solu ions (such as
con inuous op imiza ion which minimizes bu ails o elimina e
he p oblem o eco-e iciency), by endowing p oduc s and
Pe al a-Ál a ez e al / DYNA 82 (191), pp. 137-146. June, 2015.
140
indus ial sys ems wi h added en i onmen al alue, and by
helping educe he use o na u al esou ces and educe
en i onmen al deg ada ion, which di ec ly o indi ec ly
con ibu es owa ds he minimiza ion o en i onmen al impac .
P5. The p oduc as a li ing being and i s sys em,
associa ed as an ecosys em (en i onmen ally iendly).
P oduc s a e conside ed and de eloped as he me apho o a
li ing being wi h i s complex ela ionships wi h he en i onmen ,
whose me abolic lows o biological and echnical nu ien s a e
included wi hin closed cycles wi hou any loss o alue and
wi hou damage o he en i onmen .
P6. Eco-in elligence (maximiza ion o he na u al alue).
Ecological in elligence is he concep ha desc ibes he abili y o
design and de elop sus ainable p oduc s o se ices. F om he
ini ial concep ion o he design, he ca ying capaci y o he
ecosys ems associa ed o i s li e cycle is conside ed, and hence
he ne wo k o in e ac ions is ende ed en i onmen ally iendly
and bene icial o he en i onmen and he agen s in ol ed. In his
way, he los en i onmen al alue on he plane can be
egene a ed.
P7. Respec o and p omo ion o di e si y ( esilien
design) Di e si y (genes, o ganisms, popula ions, ecosys ems)
p omo es esilience and obus ness o he p oduc and associa ed
sys ems, he eby ensu ing secu i y in a changing wo ld.
The e o e, he a ie y belonging o he na u al en i onmen , and
ha o he echnosphe e, which is in luenced by he manu ac u e,
use and disposal o p oduc s, should no be ad e sely a ec ed.
This implies espec ing and enhancing na u al and echnical
di e si y, and he a oidance o xenobio ic p oduc s and
subs ances [27].
P8. Eco-e ec i eness e sus eco-e iciency (quali y
solu ions). Eco-e ec i eness is associa ed wi h quali y solu ions
and di ec ly add esses he concep o main aining (o imp o ing)
he quali y o esou ces and p oduc i i y h ough closed cycles.
Ra he han elimina ing was e, we ad oca e a cyclic me abolism
o a comple e closu e o ma e ial cycles ( e use is non exis en )
whe e was e o one sys em becomes a nu ien o o he sys ems.
This idea is aken om na u e, whe e he e is no was e and
he e o e all echnical o biological cycles a e closed (was e =
nu ien ).
P9. Use o enewable ene gy (Exe gy app oach). The
ene gy o sus ain he me abolism o he ood chains o
biologicaland echnical nu ien s should p e e ably be ob ained
om enewable sou ces, a he han h ough he exploi a ion o
esou ces ha p o ide ene gy om ossil uels, which, o
millennia, has de as a ed he a eas whe e hese ma e ials ha e
been p ocessed [28].
3.2. Ma e ial Flow Analysis (MFA) and Subs ance Flow
Analysis (SFA)
The pa ag aphs abo e s a e ha he design o a p oduc
wi hin he C2C con ex mus deal wi h he concep o closed
lows o ma e ials and subs ances. This implies including an
eco-sys emic pe spec i e in he design and de elopmen p ocess
whe e we will de ine new ules ha con e was e ma e ials in o
nu ien s, in such a way ha hey a e allowed o low wi hin wo
me abolic cycles, as shown in Fig. 2 ( he biological cycle,
associa ed wi h he na u esphe e, and he echnical cycle,
associa ed wi h he echnosphe e). This is made possible hanks
o MFA (ma e ial low analysis) and SFA (subs ance low
analysis) wi h which we can simula e he p inciple o
conse a ion o ma e ca ied ou by na u e, whe e he low o
ma e ial, subs ance and ene gy is cons an [7]. Wi h hese wo
me hods, all lows wi hin he li e cycle o he p oduc can be
aken in o accoun h ough Ma e ial Flow Accoun ing, (MFA).
In e es in hese wo ypes o analyses due o hei di e en
ophic le els and o hei associa ed ene gy, appea s he
momen when he aim becomes ha o con e ing he lows
gene a ed by he indus y in o he me apho o he ophic chain
which is ollowed by na u al ecosys ems. To his end, ma e ials
mus coexis exclusi ely in he wo me abolic ou es o achie e
he closed na u e o he cycles o lows (hence he name, om
c adle o c adle). This elimina es he concep o was e, and
enewable ene gy esou ces a e chosen o he me abolic
eac ions. Wi hin he C2C design, he ollowing ypes o
me abolism associa ed wi h he p oduc ha e been es ablished:
Me abolism associa ed o Na u esphe e. These a e a
esul o p ocesses linked o biological nu ien s o
biodeg adable ma e ials ha could be me abolized and
egene a ed by na u e. In his cycle, he ma e ial may e u n o
he biosphe e (li hosphe e, hyd osphe e and a mosphe e) only as
o ganic ma e ial (nei he syn he ic no oxic). Disca ding a chai
made en i ely om wood is one example. This me abolism is
ep esen ed in Fig. 2, BN.
Figu e 2 Cyclical Me abolisms in C2C (adap ed om [17,21,24])
Pe al a-Ál a ez e al / DYNA 82 (191), pp. 137-146. June, 2015.
141
a. Me abolism associa ed o he Technosphe e. This
consis s o echnical ma e ials and p ocesses ela ed wi h
p oduc li e cycle, o ming he se o echnical nu ien s o
be me abolized by he Technosphe e (in Fig. 2, TN),
di ided in o: B1- Downcycling is he pa h whe e he
ma e ials lose quali y and alue. Wi h use, hei elimina ion
o disposal is only pos poned, and hei des uc i e cycle is
ex ended, o example, he manu ac u e o shee s o
he mo o med, plas ic lumbe , palle s o he mal ille s
om PET (polye hylene e eph hala e) bo les. These
ha ing ul illed hei ini ial goal a e inco po a ed in o a
p ocess whe e hey su e a loss o ce ain p ope ies, and
can be exploi ed i hey a e used in he manu ac u e o only
hose p oduc s ha do no equi e he ea u es o e ed by he
p ima y ma e ial. And B2 - Upcycling ans o ms he
unused ma e ial o p oduc , o he wise des ined o become
was e, in o ano he ma e ial o p oduc o equal o g ea e
u ili y o alue. These pa hs lead o ma e ials o g ea e
alue, h ough being ans o med in o p e e en ial ma e ials
in he eco-design o p oduc s and indus ial ecology. An
example can be ound in he ca indus y [8], whe e once
each ehicle becomes obsole e, many engine pa s could
easily be eused in o he applica ions. Bo h he MFA and
he SFA a e ca ied ou h ough he s udy o low diag ams,
ma e ial balance, and simula ion p ocesses o he alues o
en i onmen al impac [9]. Thei use enables us o also
unde s and he me abolic lows desc ibed abo e and he
ene gy inhe en in he p ocesses, he oxic subs ances and
hei lows wi hin e e y phase o he li e cycle (ex ac ion,
manu ac u ing, use, wi hd awal, and end o li e), cu en ly
included in he ield o s udy o eco oxici y.
Clea ly, he pu pose o he design wi h C2C is o imp o e
lows associa ed wi h he p oduc in ela ion o he me abolic
capaci y o he plane : he Na u esphe e and Technosphe e. The
C2C pa adigm also desc ibes he need o imp o e he
me abolism o he Technosphe e, h ough he implemen a ion o
indus ial ecology sys ems wi hin which he e ec i e
managemen o nu ien s is ca ied ou . Se s o in elligen
ma e ials a e o med ha enable upcycling, he eby lea ing
downcycling as obsole e, depending on he echnology a ailable
and he de elopmen o new ma e ials. Fo he p ese a ion o
me abolic ou es in closed loop cycles, main enance om ene gy
lows is needed, which in u n equi es a su plus o esou ce
consump ion and pollu ion gene a ion o hei p oduc ion. In
o de o minimize his impac , he eplacemen o ossil uels by
enewable ene gy sou ces has become a p io i y.
3.3. Indus ial ecology and cleane p oduc ion
The e a e h ee ypes o indus ial sys ems [10], which co-
exis oday. Type I is he con en ional and unsus ainable sys em
ha was bo n in he indus ial e olu ion and is abou o become
ex inc . Those companies and o ganiza ions ha ha e begun o
become awa e o sus ainable de elopmen and en i onmen al
ca e a e ma ched o ype II. Finally, ype III is no s ill conside ed
by many sys ems (al hough some a e unning cu en ly, such as
he Eco-indus ial Pa k in Kalundbo g, o a e unde de elopmen ,
such as he Eco-indus ial Pa k in Dallas Texas). The e a e many
s udies and esea ch p ojec s abou indus ial ecology’s dynamic
and models h ough which p ojec s a e being p oposed o c ea e
indus ial ecosys ems and eco-indus ial pa ks. Adop ing his
sys em wi h i s cha ac e is ics o e s companies he abili y o
minimize he en i onmen impac and educe p oduc ion cos s
h ough an ene gy and esou ces e iciency plan. I s applica ion
p e en s con amina ion, allows esou ce eco e y and
econs uc ion o damaged esou ces in deg aded ecosys ems.
Indus ial ecosys ems a e a powe ul economic ool, bo h o
indus y and close communi ies ha may achie e bene i om
pa k’s clean managemen .
This has been made possible hanks o MGE2, which
guides planning and p oduc i e indus ial ac i i y in o de o
achie e sus ainabili y in manu ac u ing p ocesses. MGE2
allows indus ial plan s o manage in lows and ou lows
e icien ly. Good planning will op imize he manu ac u ing
phase whe e indus ial sys em quali y will be s eng hened.
3.4. Applica ion Tools
The C2C pa adigm and amewo k ha e de eloped a se o
echniques and indi idual ools, which ha e ye o be in eg a ed
in o a model o p oduc design and de elopmen . F om among
o he su ey echniques, possible applica ions could be ound o
biodeg adable ma e ials, analysis and assessmen o ma e ial
lows (MFA), subs ance low analysis (SFA) [25], li e cycle
analysis (LCA), Sankey diag ams o ene gy balances, a s udy o
biological and echnical me abolic ou es, he design o a closed
nu ien cycle, exe gy analysis, design and de elopmen o
me abolisms o he p oduc , p oduc disassembly ees, chemical
design, iple E s a egy (o ac al py amid), X-lis , g ay-lis , P-
lis , eco-e ec i eness, he edisco e y o en i onmen al
concep s, he i e s ages o edesign (no use o ha m ul
pollu an s, moni o ing epo s, posi i e passi e lis , ac i e
posi i e ac i e lis , and edisco e y o inno a ion), and bio-
inspi ed design [11]. The s ages o p oduc design and
de elopmen a e complex, non-in ui i e, and ail o gua an ee
good en i onmen al pe o mance, all due o his si ua ion o
isola ed echniques wi h no speci ic es ablishmen o he way in
which hey should be applied. Based on C2C, a new design
model (MGE2) is p oposed in o de o in eg a e pa adigm
p inciples and echniques in he design and de elopmen p ocess.
3.5. Genomic Model o Eco-inno a ion and Eco-design -
MGE2.
The aim o he p oposal o he genomic model o design and
de elopmen is o in eg a e he C2C pa adigm, he ma e ial and
subs ance low analyses oge he wi h all aspec s p esen in he
analysis o he li e cycle o p oduc s. To his end and h ough he
achie emen o a low o adequa e nu ien s (simula ing he
ophic chains ha li ing beings ollow in hei ecosys ems), he
objec i e is he inco po a ion in o he p oduc s o a se ies o
cha ac e is ics ha designa e hei sus ainabili y du ing
manu ac u e and use, and a he end o hei use ul li e, whe e
hey epea edly es a he p ocess as echnical nu ien s, he eby
ende ing hem au opoie ic [12], and sel -healing.. The design
equi emen s ha MGE2 inco po a es in o p oduc s a e de ined
in o de o ensu e eco-compa ibili y, by enabling in eg a ion o
he nu ien s in o successi e edesigns (new gene a ions o

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142
p oduc s), while aking in o accoun he e olu ion o he
associa ed ecosys em p oduc (ma ke , Technosphe e,
Na u esphe e, e c). The model e lec s he equi emen s o
complexi y and lexibili y o he new en i onmen s o he
de elopmen known as PLM - P oduc Li e Managemen [4],
and is con igu able in esponse o he complexi y o he p oduc ,
he eby o ming an open e e ence a chi ec u e o concu en ,
collabo a i e, and dis ibu ed enginee ing en i onmen s.
Bea ing hese aspec s in mind, he ollowing dimensions a e
p oposed o he cha ac e iza ion o he p oduc s:
S a ic dimension, which inco po a es a sus ainable
cha ac e in o he p oduc (sel -compa ible) de ined as:
 Au opoie ic (sel - egene a ing): he p oduc egene a es
i sel .
 En i onmen ally iendly: he di e en solu ions a e
designed based on he capaci y o he ecei ing
en i onmen .
 Me abolizable: he lows o subs ances and ma e ials
a e designed in esponse o biological and echnical
me abolic p ocesses.
 Sys emic (holis ic): di e en p ojec i e scena ios,
cyclic in e ac ions o he p oduc , and me abolic lows
gene a ed in i s li e cycle a e all s udied, o bo h
biological and echnical nu ien s.
Dynamic dimension, which de e mines he a ia ions in he
di e en gene a ions o p oduc s, endowing hem wi h an
e olu iona y cha ac e ( esilien and obus ), di e en ia ed by:
 Na u al selec ion (en i onmen al p essu e): esul ing
om he in e ac ion o he genome (in e nal
cha ac e is ics o he p oduc ) wi h he en i onmen
(which selec s he bes adap ed) leading o he
pheno ype. This cons i u es he lea ning ac o be ween
gene a ions o he p oduc .
 Recombina ion and mu a ion ( he combina ion o wo
di e en geno ypes): bo h co espond o he andom
p ocesses o gene ic ansmission be ween gene a ions and
o s a egies o hyb idiza ion be ween p oduc s in he
company's po olio.
In o de o co ec ly analyse and syn hesize hese
dimensions o he sus ainable p oduc wi h he app op ia e
conno a ions, a se ies o s eps is de ined ha guide he
Figu e 3 The Genomic Model o eco-inno a ion and eco-design; Sou ce: The
au ho s
whole design and de elopmen p ocess and which ende he
p oduc sus ainable.
Taking he s a es and e olu ion o na u al sys ems as a
e e ence, he p ocess is di ided in o wo sec ions: geno ype, he
s age o ges a ion o he p oduc (design and de elopmen ); and
pheno ype, which de ines he associa ed sys em o he p oduc
(manu ac u ing, use, wi hd awal and end o li e, ma ke , policy,
legisla ion, and compe ence). The e ms “geno ype” and
“pheno ype” a e cha ac e is ic o gene ics, whe e he duali y o
o ganisms is ep esen ed. These ha e been chosen as an analogy
o desc ibe he in e nal cha ac e is ics o a p oduc , o i s “genes”
(geno ype) and i s exp ession o in e ac ion in a ce ain
en i onmen o "ecosys em" (pheno ype). The wo p ocesses
(geno ype and pheno ype) need a s a egy (sus ainable) ha
de e mines hei e olu ion, and equi e cons an analysis and
in e ac ion managemen , achie ed wi h a Li e-Cycle Analysis
[13]. Hence he MGE2 has a i e- old s uc u e:
<MGE2>=
<<P oduc S a egy><Geno ype><FoodChain><Pheno ype>
<Li eCycle Analysis>>
< P oduc S a egy > (1) In his s age, he objec i es a e
de ined unde C2C p inciples, which design o edesign a
new p oduc and manage i s li e cycle. These aims es ablish
he p oduc s a egy o a sys emic, au opoie ic, eco-
inno a i e, eco- iendly, and me abolizable cha ac e .
<Geno ype> (2) Based on p oduc s a egy, a ious
echniques and design ools associa ed wi h C2C a e applied in
o de o es ablish he "genes" ha de ine he ma e ials
(nu ien s), me abolic ou es, and he ypes o ene gy (possibly
enewable) which will sus ain he p oduc s om c adle o c adle.
The genomic design o he p oduc es ablishes he domains o
needs, unc ions and concep s, and ma e ializa ion. In hese
domains he e is a se ies o echniques o ensu e eco-inno a ion,
eco-compa ibili y and me abolism [14]. The main ool o he
assessmen o design solu ions ha es ablish hese "genes"
consis s o he basic s a egies o eco-design, suppo ed by
biomime ic design s a egies o ien ed owa ds eco-
e ec i eness, all wi h he in en ion o ob aining he closed-loop
cycle cha ac e is ics o he C2C pe spec i e which a e o be
applied in each domain ( iew Fig. 5).
<Food Chain> (3) A e de ining he "genes" ha
cha ac e ize he p oduc , he p oduc begins i s phase o
g ow h and de elopmen , ha is o say ha i is eady o be
manu ac u ed and ha i will la e become pa o i s
associa ed sys em. A his s age, he wo k o o he ac o s
begins ha will ende he es o hei li e cycles eco-
e ec i e, wi h decisions on logis ics o managemen o he
end o li e. These s ages, conside ed in he design (genomics
phase), can be comple ed and op imized a his poin . Hence,
in he design s age, ce ain decisions a e made ha ease his
wo k and help o minimize he en i onmen al impac once
he ne wo k o ela ionships, which ensu es he eco-
compa ibili y and me abolism, a e es ablished.
The e o e, i is necessa y o conduc a s udy o possible
in e ac ions by conside ing wo key elemen s: Na u esphe e (6),
which cons i u es he en i onmen whe e he indus y ex ac ed
he na u al esou ces and whe e he biological nu ien s a e
e u ned; and Technosphe e (7), as a means o a aining he low
o echnical nu ien s, which mus be aken in o accoun o he
ma e ial low analysis (MFA) and subs ance low analysis (SFA).
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143
Figu e 4 Toolbox MGE2. De ini ion and De elopmen o MGE2 S a egies and ools; Sou ce: The au ho s
<Pheno ype> (4). This phase cons i u es he de elopmen
o he analysis o he eal and po en ial in e ac ions o he
p oduc wi h he en i onmen as an exp ession o i s genes
(geno ype + en i onmen al in e ac ions = pheno ype). The
expec ed ou come o he p oduc on he ma ke
(en i onmen ) is de e mined. This s age akes in o accoun
ma ke analysis, legisla ion, use analysis, ma e ial esou ces
a ailable, adi ions, o wa d and e e se logis ics,
s akeholde analysis, p ocesses o he end o use ul li e, e c.
The equi ed pe o mance o he p oduc is analyzed unde
he C2C sus ainabili y c i e ia, based on da a ob ained om
he sys em in o which he p oduc will be in eg a ed and
associa ed.
<Li e Cycle Analysis> (5). The objec i e o LCA is o
de e mine he en i onmen al impac ha is associa ed wi h
he pheno ype o a p oduc o wi h i s new design (geno ype),
so ha he impac can be conside ed wi hin he p oduc .
<S a egy: This ool is pa icula ly signi ican in he
model p oposed since i pu sues he quali a i e and
quan i a i e knowledge o he lows o ma e ials, ene gy,
emissions, and e luen s and o hei impac on he
en i onmen . LCA can be applied a a ious s ages (on he
pheno ype - p oduc o be edesigned - o on he genomic -
design o a new p oduc .
4. Ve i ica ion and Recogni ion
The MGE2 model is designed o be applied in all hose
design p ojec s and p oduc de elopmen wi h sus ainabili y
goals unde C2C. Once he design and de elopmen p ocess
is comple ed, hen e i ica ion and ecogni ion o he wo k is
pe o med by some o he exis ing eco-labels, wi h which he
added en i onmen al alue is awa ded o he p oduc s [13].
Thanks o he s uc u e o he p oposed model, he c i e ia
demanded by eco-labelling schemes a e included in he
p oduc once hey ha e unde gone he design s ages.
Toge he wi h he cu en ISO eco-labelling p og ams [15], a
new ce i ica ion sys em associa ed wi h C2C eco-
e ec i eness [16] has been de eloped, adminis e ed by he
au ho s o his new pe spec i e and which di e en ia es
p oduc s acco ding o he sus ainable objec i es achie ed,
in o quali ica ions o pla inum, gold, sil e , and basic. The
c i e ia o he achie emen o hese labels ange om he
basic le el (whe e he p oduc in en o y and s a egy is
alued), h ough o he sil e le el (achie ed wi h a p oduc
o a leas 50% eusable ma e ials), ia he C2C gold le el
(p oduc s consis ing o 65% clean ma e ials, p oduc ion and
ene gy), and inally eaching he Pla inum le el (which
includes all he abo e equi emen s and also a ains good
wa e managemen in he li e cycle). The s uc u e o MGE2
allows all aspec s equi ed o he implemen a ion o he
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144
C2C-ce i ied p oduc s o be aken in o accoun , once he
necessa y ools o enable he es ima ed equi emen s o be
me a e inco po a ed.
5. Case s udy: implemen a ion o MGE2 in he edesign
o o ice chai
The implemen a ion o MGE2 is lexible, and a ies
acco ding o he ype o p ojec , p oduc complexi y, and he
p oposed objec i es. The e o e, he indus y can ei he
edesign an exis ing p oduc o design a new one, adap ing o
di e en ope a ing modes in he di e en s ages o he model.
Tha is o say, he MGE2 model o e s lexibili y o
applica ion and lexibili y in he choice o echniques and
ools des ined o he a ainmen o C2C p ojec s. The exac
na u e o his me hodology is applied by way o an
illus a ion, and de ines he s a egy and s eps o ollow in he
edesign o an o ice chai [17,18]
STAGE 1: Li e cycle analysis o exis ing p oduc s: Li e
Cycle Analysis is an objec i e p ocess o he e alua ion o he
en i onmen al impac associa ed wi h a p oduc , p ocess o
indus ial ac i i y by iden i ying and quan i ying no only he use
o ma e ial and ene gy, bu also he emissions o he
en i onmen , bo h in o de o de e mine he impac o esou ce
use and emissions, and o e alua e and implemen
en i onmen al imp o emen s a egies [19]. The s udy co e s
he en i e li e cycle, aking in o accoun all s ages om he c adle
o he g a e o he p oduc in ol ed. Fo his case s udy, by
ollowing MGE2 and hanks o he s udy o ma e ial and
subs ance low, his LCA now co e s he li e cycle om he
c adle o he c adle. The main objec i e o his ool wi hin he
model is o de e mine he en i onmen al impac o p oduc
pe o mance in ela ion o he 3E ec o s. F om his s age,
imp o emen s a e es ablished ha de e mine he p oduc
s a egy. The LCA esul s ob ained a e shown in Fig. 8 in he
inal sec ion.
STAGE 2: Es ablishmen o p oduc s a egy unde
C2C: Once he LCA da a and possible applicable imp o emen s
a e known, hen a sys emic, au opoie ic, en i onmen ally
Figu e 5 Applica ion o he 3E p oduc py amid; Sou ce: The au ho s
compa ible and me abolizable s a egy o he p oduc is
es ablished h ough he explo a ion o he alue and inno a ion
o he 3E py amid, which cons i u es he basic ool o eco-
inno a ion. The gene a ion o he se o 3E alues enables he
es ablishmen o he p emise ha de ines he p oduc s a egy;
his si ua ion in u n enables he pa ame e iza ion o he
en i onmen o he gene ic design, h ough echniques and
ools o his pa icula p ojec . This s a egy ocuses on: (1)
Sys emic (o holis ic) in eg a ion o bio-inspi ed design; he
di e en scena ios o he chai h oughou i s li e cycle a e
conside ed in his phase wi h he aim o p omo ing and
equi ably in eg a ing all h ee aspec s o he 3E py amid. (2)
Sus ainable and eco- iendly. Imp o emen o he me abolism
by dec easing he a ios o en i onmen al impac on he
Na u esphe e, in o de o minimize he impac on he
en i onmen (o ende ing he ecological oo p in
assimilable). This is achie ed by inc easing he lows o
ma e ial on he Technosphe e by means o upcycling
(minimizing hose lows ela ed o in a- ecycling as much as
possible), elimina ing possible oxic o pollu ing subs ances
wi h he inco po a ion o inno a ions om g een o sus ainable
chemicals. Finally, ea u es ha a e coope a i e wi h
Na u esphe e a e inco po a ed, he eby c ea ing en i onmen al
alue. (3) An au opoie ic cha ac e is ob ained by aking he
concep o "gene ic in elligence" in o accoun and by supplying
i o he p oduc wi h he aim o acili a ing asks o use,
manu ac u ing, logis ics ( o wa d and e e se), and o i s
egene a ion a he end o he li e cycle. In a pa icula way,
his in elligence inco po a es inno a ion in o pheno ypic
in e ac ions, he eby enabling egene a ion, euse, and
eco e y in successi e gene a ions o p oduc s.
STAGE 3: Design and De elopmen o he p oduc
geno ype. S udy o he Pheno ype and associa ed c i e ia:
Once he da a o LCA, he pheno ype equi ed, and he
p oduc s a egy a e all de e mined, hen he edesign is
pe o med unde he p inciples o C2C. To his end, he
genomic design is ca ied ou , wi h he de ailed s udy o each
domain, (need, unc ional, concep ual, and ma e ializa ion),
and in he ields o Eco-inno a ion, Eco-compa ibili y, and
Me aboliza ion [20]. In each domain, a se ies o indi idual
eco-design s a egies is applied, as a e he ools necessa y o
he de ini ion o all he equi emen s ha ende he p oduc
sus ainable.
STAGE 4: Valida ion o geno ype and pheno ype
op imiza ion: Concu en wi h he p e ious s age, he
e i ica ion and alida ion o he genomic design o he
p oduc is pe o med based on he equi emen demanded by
he sys em ha i be associa ed wi h he li e cycle o he
p oduc , which in u n de e mines he p ocedu es o
in e ac ion o he genome wi h he en i onmen . This esul s
in he ini ial pheno ype which de elops and op imizes o e
he li e cycle and hose o successi e gene a ions o p oduc s.
The s ages o manu ac u e and o he end o use ul li e hold
special in e es , since he me abolic pa hways and biological
and echnical nu ien s a e in es iga ed and de ined, and ix
he associa ed p ocesses om he disassembly diag am o he
geno ype. The inal solu ion is he ECOS o ice chai [17,18].
STAGE 5: New LCA o he p oduc wi h he
objec i e o En i onmen al P oduc Decla a ion C2C.
The las s age in he implemen a ion o he MGE2 model
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145
co esponds o he comple ion o a new LCA o he edesign
o he p oduc . The objec i e o his analysis is he
con i ma ion o he p oposed imp o emen s in he design
p ocess and he knowledge o all he in o ma ion necessa y
in o de o ob ain an eco-label o he p oduc om any o
he exis ing ce i ica ion p og ams (including C2C
ce i ica ion). In he case s udy ca ied ou , he second
applica ion o LCA e i ies whe he he p oduc mee s he
c i e ia o quali y o C2C ce i ica ion [16]. The esul s
awa ded a GOLD eco-label o he chai . All he in o ma ion
is collec ed o he w i ing o he En i onmen al P oduc
Decla a ion in which he en i onmen al in o ma ion o he
chai is p esen ed. I is also quan i ied h oughou i s li e
cycle o allow o i s compa ison wi h o he p oduc s ha
ul il he same unc ion, all o which cause a g ea e impac
on he en i onmen .
6. Resul s and Discussion
Fig. 6 p esen s he esul s o he MFA, SFA, and LCA,
as well as he p ope ies and cha ac e is ics o he lows o
ma e ials, oge he wi h a compa ison whe e he esul s and
impac educ ion a e desc ibed. The inal syn hesis is
summa ized in his igu e, which e lec s he cha ac e is ics
ha ende he p oduc sus ainable unde he C2C pa adigm,
since hey i he c i e ia equi ed o achie e he
a o emen ioned ce i ica ion.The MGE2 model can be used
o he design and de elopmen o any p oduc and sys em;
da a ela ing o geno ype and pheno ype, i.e., all ha is
equi ed a e he inpu s and ou pu s o each p ocesses
in ol ed in he li e cycle s ages, p ope ly de ined in he
sys em limi s o LCA p ocess. The MGE2 model p o ides
an app op ia e s uc u e o design and p oduc
de elopmen om C2C pa adigm, unlike o he models
p oposed in he li e a u e which do no con empla e an
o ganiza ion o ac ua ion om he T iple Bo om Line
pe spec i e and do no in eg a e quan i a i e ools and
me hodologies ha acili a e he applica ion o he C2C
p inciples, such as he Ma e ial Flow Analysis (MFA),
Subs ance Flow Analysis (SFA) o li e cycle assessmen
(LCA). Fu he mo e, he MGE2 model conside s he
di e en ou es o p oduc ce i ica ions. The MGE2 model
is cu en ly unde alida ion, conduc ed by he company
ESINOR Ins alaciones o ene gy sys em design and
de elopmen . In ellec ual exploi a ion igh s we e gi en up
in o de o e i y i s applica ion in he indus ial sec o .
The de elopmen o he en i e li e cycle s age is a speci ic
amewo k o achie e sus ainable in eg a ion in he design
and p oduc de elopmen om 3E pe spec i e (economic,
ecological and social). Fo his eason, he scope o his
model is open o u u e upda es. We a e cu en ly wo king
on he de ailed design p ocess o indi idual p oduc li e
cycle s ages. I is in he manu ac u ing s age ha di e en
me hods o design and de elopmen o sus ainable
manu ac u ing p ocesses a e being conside ed, om new
pa adigms such as G een manu ac u ing o Clean
P oduc ion [29] o he Ma e ializa ion Domain ha is being
comple ed wi h he s udy o indus ial p oduc me abolism.
Figu e 6 Summa y o li e cycle analysis and c i e ia o C2C ce i ica ion o
he p oduc ; Sou ce: The au ho s
7. Conclusion
The wo k p esen ed p o ides p e iously unexplo ed join
epis emological ideas o he C2C pe spec i e and a model o
design and de elopmen which in oduces an a icula ed o m
o implemen ing he basics o his new design pa adigm. By
compiling lessons lea ned om he app oach o eco-
e iciency and eco-inno a ion, we de elop a new bio-
inspi ed a chi ec u e o he p ocess o eco-e icien design
and de elopmen unde he C2C p inciples, known as MGE2.
This model can suppo all egula o y equi emen s o da e,
and can ex end he ange o solu ions in o de o imp o e he
pe o mance o he minimiza ion o impac and o sol e he
cu en en i onmen al p oblems caused by indus y
wo ldwide. Fu u e wo k is aimed a de eloping design and
de elopmen en i onmen s wi h PLM ools and CAD
sys ems ha p o ide compu a ional suppo o he MGE2
model, by alida ing and e i ying in o ma ion and o e ing
eedback. This wo k p oposes a me hodology o design
sus ainable p oduc s and sys ems wi hin he C2C pa adigm.
I s main objec i e is o op imize any sys em in e ac ions wi h
he en i onmen , aking in o accoun he Th ee Sus ainable
Dimensions: economic, ecological and equi y (3E). The
Genomic Model o Eco-inno a ion and Eco-design is a
me hodology o sus ainable p oduc design and
de elopmen . I can help enginee s and hei p oduc s,
sys ems o ac i i ies o ha e an in e nal ope a ion in line wi h
i s associa ed sys em. The model guides decision making
p ocesses wi h bo h quali a i e and quan i a i e assessmen s