The Secret Life of Things is a set of short animated videos exploring the hidden environmental impacts of everyday things. Each video comes with a free pack of learning resources to inspire and engage budding designers and product developers with life cycle thinking and eco-design. Read more
Online Tools
Sustainable Minds LCA software - leading LCA online software for designers, manufacturers and engineers.
Eco-It -developed by PRe international this is a quick life cycle assessment tool for designers
Solidworks Sustainability Express- Integrated ecodesign information into Solidworks software
EcoDesign Pilot - Developed several years ago this online tool is in a more checklist style but includes some interesting eco design information
CES Eco Selector- A tool for estimating the energy usage and the CO2 footprint of a product design at each phase in the product lifecycle
AutoDesk Sustainable design- Integrated into the Autodesk software this helps asses a buildings environmental impacts across the life cycle
OPEN LCA- Open source and free LCA software developed by leading LCA experts
LCA Spreadsheet- allows you to calculate carbon footprints and other environmental impacts for given product systems. Use requires basic skills in LCA and matrix algebra, but rewards effort with professional analytical tools.
Online Ecodesign Manuals
Autodesk - Great short video series on all things sustainable design. These are especially good for an introduction to key eco-design strategies and approaches.
D4S, TU Delt - an extensive online manual on ecodesign. This is presented in several modules and covers a wide range of topics.
Powerhouse EcoDesign Compliance sheet - the powerhouse has developed quite a few ecodeisgn resources and this compliance sheet is useful in certain circumstances.
Design for Sustainability Guide- developed a few years ago, this is a very interesting read that covers some core ecodeisgn topics and academic research.
EcoDesign Guide- specifically for electrical and electronics design this guide covers ecodesign strategies and approaches
LeNS - developed at the PT Milan the Learning Network on Sustainability has a variety of ecodesign resources for educational use
Ecodesign How To Kit - By Design Victoria
Guide to eco electrical design
EcoDesign for educators
Eco Strategy wheel
ESP Design- Online guide to sustainable product design
Case studies
LG Global Group - consumer goods
Bic Products - pens
Wal Mart - one of the largest retailers in America
GE global - consumer goods and high end medical devices
Consultancy
Eco Innovators - Australian and founder of The secret Life of Things
Life cycle strategies - Australia
Eco Quantum - Australia
Eco Design Company- Vienna
EcoDesign- Austria
Product Ecology Consultants PRe - Netherlands
EcoDesign Group - Australia
LCA 2.0 Consultants - USA
Mcdonough and Partners - USA
Universities / Research
Centre for Sustainable Design, London
Centre for Life Cycle Assessment - Columbia university
Cumulus - Aalto University, Finland
Centre for Design- RMIT University, Australia
Design for Sustainability, TU Delft Netherlands
EcoDesign Centre Wales
Eco Innovation Lab- Melbourne University, Australia\
EcoDesign Centre of Excellence- France
Green Design Institute - Lund University
Institute for innovation, design and sustainability research
Swinburne University, Australia
Politecnico di Milano- INDACO departement
Government Agencies
Design Victoria - Australia
EPA Victoria, Australia - Life Cycle Thinking
European Commission- ecodesign
European Commission - Life Cycle Thinking
Envirowise- United Kingdom ecodesign and business sustainability
Sustainability Victoria - Product Stewardship
General Websites
LCA net - life cycle links database
Change Design Foundation - Australia
Lean-EcoDesign - Europe
LCA Resources Directory - European Union
EcoDesign Society
EcoSustainable Links
IDSA EcoDesign - International Design Society America
Eco Innovators - Australia
EcoDesign Info
EcoDesign Resource Society
UNEP EcoDesign PDF
O2 Global Network
Treehuger- Sustainability information supersite
Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology
The Buckminster Fuller Institute- An institute set up to honour one of the forefathers of ecodesign
DEMI- Design for Sustainability
H2 Ecodesign -
Information Inspiration
Worldchanging
Factor 10
EcoDesign Health Check- lets businesses select responses to see how eco their activities are
Green Profit -
Greener Design -
Design21 - Social Design Network
The Designers Accord - a global coalition of designers, educators, and business leaders working together to create positive environmental and social impact.
Core77- Industrial Design supersite
Designing for Humans -
Inhabitat -
Design Green Now
Life Cycle Thinking
Environmental Design Research Association
Manifesto for Sustainability
Natural Edge Project - sustainable engineering resources
Sustainable Design Update -
LCA links
Envimpact-
DCA Design - Design for sustainability practice
Project H Design - A non-profit social design organisation
UNEP Starting Life Cycle
Environmental Organisations
Total Environment Centre
Earthwatch Institute
Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)
Environment Victoria
Beyond Zero Emissions
Climate Institute of Australia
Global Footprint network
The Natural Edge Project
Online Interactive Games
Visy Environment game -
7 sins of Greenwashing game - will you be tricked by greenwashing?
EPA's Ecological footprint calculator - find out how bit or small your eco footprint is
EcoLogic - Games by the powerhouse museum
Ollie's world - interactive sustainability education for younger kids
Futurescapes
