Environment: A method for an environmentally sound product: PROMISE

This document gives an introduction of a method for developing an environmentally sound product called PROMISE - Product Development with the Environment as the Innovation Strategy. This comprehensive method prescribes changes in the total process cycle of a product, and is very useful as an example of the developments in the field of environmentally sound product development and design. Besides that, the method has been important for the development of other strategies based on the life cycles of products as Life Cycle Analysis, recycling and integral chain management.

The main objective of the PROMISE method is the development of an environmentally sound product, by assessing the entire product cycle from designing, input of raw materials, to product, to waste. It includes energy use during the different process-steps, and toxic emissions to water, soil and air. The aim is a win-win situation for the company as well as the environment.