As the company states: “As a result of the strategic partnership announced in Oct. 2010, Autodesk and Granta Design Ltd. have built new design methods into Autodesk Inventor 2012 software that help designers estimate a product’s environmental impact and make more sustainable design decisions. The new Eco Materials Adviser in Inventor 2012 addresses sustainable design requirements early in the design process — when it matters most — enabling manufacturers to choose materials that minimize environmental impact without compromising on cost and performance. Powered by Granta’s expert materials database and proven sustainable design methodology, Eco Materials Adviser helps guide material selection and generates eco-impact reports so engineers can record and communicate the benefits of their sustainable design decisions.”
Earlier in the year at the Autodesk Sustainability Summit, Product Manager Sarah Krasley spoke about the future of sustainable design for manufacturers and provided a “sneak peek” at the sustainability software being developed in partnership with Granta. In an earlier post, we also highlighted this event, and looked forward to the official release of the software.
Of course, what really matters – as Krasley is quick to point out – is what customers think. Does this new tool really help product designers to create more sustainable products? Is it easy to use and implement? At first glance, it certainly appears to have tremendous potential – and we sincerely believe that Autodesk is moving in the right direction with its sustainability initiatives.
It’s all part of next-generation product design, a topic that is explored in greater detail in our upcoming research study, “Sustainability and the Product Lifecycle: A Report on the Opportunities, Challenges and Best Practices for Sustainable Product Design and Manufacturing.”
So - do you have what it takes to design sustainable products? Or wish you did? Tell us more. By taking this short survey, you’ll be helping to shed light on this very important – and often highly debated – topic. Whether you’re a sustainability expert or just beginning your journey – your feedback is invaluable.
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