The Regulation on Environmentally Responsible Design of Energy Related Products, known as Eco-Design or eco design, was published by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology in 2010. This regulation lays down the conditions that must be complied with in the design of these products in order to offer energy-related products to consumers. In this way, it aims to increase energy efficiency, environmental protection level and energy supply security and contribute to sustainable development.
On the basis of eco design studies, criteria such as raw material efficiency, materials to be preferred in terms of environmental protection, efficiency in use and recycling, design, durability and longevity are adopted.
Eco design works first came to the fore as the years of 1980 ended. The first applications were in the Netherlands in furniture, automotive, packaging and similar sectors. This project is the basis for further studies on eco design. In 1997, the United Nations published a guide called Eco Design: A Promising Approach to Sustainable Production and Consumption.
Eco design has been used in different ways, at different places and at different times. For example, eco design is sometimes used in place of different concepts such as green design, sustainable design, design for the environment, nature-friendly design. But in terms of what they have in common, eco design means better product design. It means reducing the negative impact of the products on the nature throughout the life cycle. It means adapting the environmental perspective to the design and development of products in terms of quality, cost, safety and timing. Eco design includes the whole life cycle including obtaining the raw material required for the products planned to be produced, transforming it into a functional product and being a waste after use. The environmental interaction of the product has to be integrated during product design.
Almost one percent of the environmental impacts from the products occur in the design phase of 80. Therefore, the aim of eco design is to take into account the environmental factors at the beginning of the product development process and to minimize the environmental impacts that may occur in the whole life cycle of the product. In addition, the costs that will arise during the life cycle of the product can be determined at the design stage.
Before the eco design approach, only the functionality, price, quality, ergonomics, aesthetics and reliability of the product were taken into consideration in the production works. The raw material acquisition and usage stages of the products were not questioned, their interaction with the environment during the life cycle was not looked at and the product was not interested in what would happen after the use. When the protection of the environment was first discussed, factory waste was generally emphasized and legal arrangements were made in this direction. Obtaining, using and after the use of resources has not been very much concerned. Efficient use of resources, cleaner production and similar approaches have emerged later. Eco design studies are one of these approaches.
Eco-Design or eco design certification is carried out by accredited certification bodies. The legal regulations in force and the standards published by domestic and foreign organizations are complied with in the certification studies.