A Catalyst Method for an Innovative Eco-Design Strategy Using TRIZ Approach

Today, in the context of product innovation, the environmental dimension takes a new dimension and cannot be separated from other product requirements which make it competitive. Tools are available but unfortunately proficiency levels required for their use are at the expert’s level. Those tools must also be able to clearly identify their benefits, strengths and weaknesses for a given multi-criteria environmental evaluation. In the present work we have adopted an approach using a qualitative evaluation matrix including parameters related to the ease of use of the product related to the organizational preparation for the appropriation of an eco-design approach, in addition to the standard factors of eco-efficiency. In order to help the designer to make a decision, an adapted TRIZ method is proposed (Téoria Rechénia Izobrétatelskikh Zadatch or theory of inventive problem solving). The applicability of this method is justified by the many contradictions in the choices in a study of the life cycle and can help designers and companies to choose an approach to attain a satisfying level of eco-design for the resources invested in it. An application, based on inventive principles, will be adapted and completed. This matrix can help the designer to reduce the scope of his creative investigations. The results of our methodological approach have been tested on cases of creative projects and a certain number of recently patented projects.