Avaliação da aderência aos princípios de sustentabilidade em desenvolvimento de produto à luz de abordagens ecoeficientes e ecoefetivas: uma aplicação no setor automotivo

Abstract

Product development is a key business process that contributes to the organization’s competitiveness and short-term economic sustainability, as well as generates impacts along the life cycle of products and processes from that organization. Under this perspective, ecoefficient approaches (Ecodesign and Design for Sustainability) and ecoeffective approaches (Cradle to Cradle, Industrial Ecology, Economy and Circular Economy Performance) may be used to guide the sustainable development of products. Given the diversity of concepts identified in the literature, this dissertation proposes a model for accessing the organizational maturity level on sustainable development of products. The method used was Design Research. A conceptual model was drawn from the literature review, and assessed by experts, leading to the construction of an instrument composed by a questionnaire and a maturity scale. The proposed maturity model was compared to the maturity model of Hynds et al. (2014), allowing to identify both similarities and differences. It was subsequently applied on Brazilian light vehicles automakers, due to the relevance, complexity and impact of this production link along the life cycle of products. The application of the proposed model allows identifying that the industry is focused strictly on a short term perspective, more specifically on the stages of manufacture and use of the product. There are structural barriers (laws and policies, consumer education) that discourage these organizations to invest into the development of sustainable products.