The evolution of design for environment in electronics firms

The electronics sector is a recognized leader in developing and adopting design for environment (DfE) practices. However, there is no standard way of implementing DfE and few guidelines for designing successful DfE programs. Research was done to document and analyze existing DfE programs and the key external and internal drivers shaping the evolution of these DfE programs in several leading electronics firms. The goal of the research was to understand how and why DfE has evolved differently in different electronics firms. A combination of primary (interviews with managers responsible for DfE programs) and secondary research methods using published materials was used. The range of programs examined included companies that developed entirely new DfE programs, to others that modified existing environmental frameworks. Findings indicate that the strengths and weaknesses of a particular DfE program can only be judged by understanding the factors influencing its evolution and by examining how a particular program contributes to implementing the environmental strategy of the specific firm.