Resulting from long-term OVAM research towards customer demands, it appeared there was a stong need for a straight-forward tool that integrates sustainability aspects in an early stage of the design process. Industrial companies wanted to know how to put sustainable innovation and ecodesign into practice.

How does the OVAM SIS toolkit work?
The OVAM SIS (Sustainable Innovation System) tool combines three different perspectives on sustainability:
1. a value-creation perspective
2. a strategic and functional perspective
3. a lifecycle-perspective.

Five different levels of value-creation are integrated in the model: human capital, intellectual capital, financial capital, social capital and natural capital. The approach to innovation is based on system-thinking and includes the product lifecycle. This makes the SIS toolkit an excellent starting point to create value from ecodesign. It is a creative tool for people looking for sustainable solutions in all aspects of the designing process and business operations.   

Open brainstorm or classical ecodesignprocess
The SIS toolkit serves as a start-up for an open brainstorming session and also defines the project ambition in the classical ecodesignprocess. Besides a set of cards with inspiring questions, the tool exists of special Brainstorm Posters. This short video explains how the tool works: 
 

Between-us is officially authorized to use the OVAM SIS toolkit and is trained to help companies in implementing the toolkit. If you would like to hear more on how your company can create value from ecodesign and sustainable innovation, please contact Josée van der Hoek, senior consultant, at josee@between-us.nl or call +31 76 522 28 17.