• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.334-342
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• 2016

Conventional eco-design has been implemented based only on the environmental aspects of a product. Key components of a product identified from the analysis of the environmental aspects have been the target for improvement in the conventional eco-design. The use of eco-design index (EDI) considering both the environmental and economic aspects, and utility value (UV) of a product can be envisaged as an alternative way of implementing and assessing the eco-design. The objective of this study was to propose the logic of the EDI and apply it to the components for performing printing function of the multi-function printer. The EDI was formulated by quantifying the UV, life cycle environmental impact (LCE) and life cycle cost (LCC) of the components of a product, here components of the printer. Of the eight components investigated, roller was identified as the best performing consumable in both the environmental and economic aspects. However, its UV was the lowest among the eight. The EDI of the roller was mere $4^{th}$ in ranking out of the eight. Transfer belt ranked $8^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ in the environmental and economic aspects, respectively, while $2^{nd}$ in the utility value with its EDI ranked $3^{rd}$. This indicates that not only the environmental aspects but also economic and utility value aspects should be considered when identifying the key components for improvement in the eco-design.