Sustainable Products
Interdisciplinary research for the development of sustainable products and transition engineering
How can sustainability be incorporated into product development right from the start? How can basic principles of sustainability: human rights, circular economy, protection of nature and resources, and business viability be anchored in products? What methods and skills do developers, designers and managers need to implement sustainable products in all their complexity?
The consideration of the sustainability of products and services over the entire life cycle in the context of the addressed need. Absolute sustainability, transformation processes towards more sustainability and methods and skills for application in product development.
The Transition Lab supports the development of sustainable technical products. The name comes from the work of Prof. Krumdieck https://www.transitionengineering.org/ , who combines insights from research into occupational safety with the challenge of sustainable development. It is based on the insight that complicated challenges can be solved by continuous purposeful development rather than by attempting disruption. It relies on a continuous process of development-learning-improvement. Thus, it perpetuates the basic idea of ESD (Education for sustainable development) into the realm of synthesis of products.
In addition to providing training in sustainable product development strategies, IKAT's Transition Lab is also used for research on the implementation of sustainability of industrial products.
coming soon
The research on and practical implementation of sustainability in product development is substantially supported by student projects. Some of these projects will be presented here in loose order. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Development and design of an insect-friendly lawn mower - keeping an eye on species extinction
Development and design of plastic recycling machines - reuse of plastic can reduce our waste problems
Development and construction of small wind turbines - the energy turnaround for everyone.
First investigations on snail slime as lubricant - The vision of non-toxic biobased and biodegradable lubricants
Studies on biological adhesives, coatings and inks - bonding and coating without waste