Design for Environment and Environmental Certificate at Mercedes-Benz Cars

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is used as a tool for design for environment (DfE) to improve the environmental performance of the Mercedes Car Group products. For new models a brochure including an environmental certificate and comprehensive data for the product are published. This environmental certificate brochure reports on processes, data and results based on the international standards for life cycle assessment (ISO 14040/44) [1,2], for environmental labels and declarations (ISO 14020-21) and for the integration of environmental aspects into product design and development (ISO TR 14062), which are accepted by all stakeholders [3]. Furthermore, the DfE process is representing the key element of the environmental management system (ISO 14001) of the R&D organisation at Mercedes-Benz Car Group. The compliance with these international standards and the correctness of the information contained in the certificate are reviewed and certified by independent experts. In 2005, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class became the world’s first automobile to receive an environmental certificate. It has now also been granted to the C-Class, the A-/BClass, the GLK, the E-Class, the new CLS and SLK, and the S 400 HYBRID [4].