In the long run, the manufacturing paradigm has to shift from non-sustainable mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal to sustainable environmentally conscious ones [UMED12]. The eco-efficient layout of manufacturing processes and products will be a core competency for engineers in the future.
It is important to integrate all the life cycle phases from the product development phase to the end-of-life phase, including closed-loop supply chain management [UMED12]. A holistic life cycle management aims to minimize costs, optimize revenues and reduce risks and impacts on environment in all product life cycle phases and beyond individual enterprises [HERR10, p. 96]. The tool manufacturer can act as a life cycle partner for the tool user. The manufacturer can support process ramp-up, monitor tool condition and process performance, and support production output [SCHH10].
9.2.3.1 Service Options, End of Life and Incentives
Grinding tool manufacturers could offer a “greener” tool option, which might cost more than the comparatively not so green version, but have a certified smaller impact on environment and society. Green in this context would be a tool with less hazardous ingredients or less sintering energy needed.
Several studies have investigated the environmental behavior of consumers. For example, in hotels, it was found that in-room signs and messages could create awareness and induce environmentally friendly behavior such as reusing towels [BACA13]. Even more, letting the consumers choose to sign a commitment statement or receiving a pin as symbol for environmental commitment increased the positive behavior, here reusing towels [BACA13]. Abrasive tool manufacturers could offer to display the name of companies, which buy the “greener” tools. The tool users could also pride themselves with using greener abrasive tools.
Rickli and Camelio [RICK10] investigated how incentives affect the consumer’s decisions on the product’s end of life. Buy-back incentives, such as a monetary amount, encourage consumers to voluntarily return a product [RICK10]. This is an easy means to be implemented for abrasive tools and take-back options.