Increase material efficiency

The potential for material savings is enormous. According to a study, the efficiency potential is 15% of the material used. However, in this analysis, other accompanying advantages such as increased capital and labor productivity of the systems used due to improved production output in terms of both quantity and quality were not taken into account. Reduced transport and energy costs were also not included. These secondary effects can be significant and reach similar magnitudes to the direct efficiency potential.74

Improving material efficiency can occur at all levels of the value chain. In general, the earlier in the production process the savings potential is greater.

With the support of value analysis, the usability and validity functions of a product that are necessary to fulfill its tasks can be improved. Over-dimensioning can thereby be reduced, which leads to a further improvement in material efficiency.