Optimizing Sustainability in Products and Services

Definition of criteria for optimizing sustainability in product and services is discussed in this chapter. An integrated strategy is thus a strategy where the focus has changed to include not only the traditional costs and service considerations, but also the social and environmental impacts. Thus, the responsibility of greening the supply rests on everyone in the supply chain; from design of products, supply of materials and components, through production processes and delivery to the customers, and finally the return recycling processes. The measurement of supply chain efficiency—such as costs, dependability, quality, reliability, and speed—can be captured with measures of environmental and social impacts