Life cycle assessment analysis of design variants for automatic washing machines

In the case of washing machines, Miele & Cie. KG has so far opted for a design based on a higher proportion of metallic materials compared with machines from competitors. This design is currently being revised for part of the product range. Specifically, it is planned that in the future, instead of stainless steel, a reinforced or filled plastic will be used for the lye tank and concrete instead of cast iron for the counterweights. These design variants are also associated with changes in the environmental impact, since the manufacturing costs of the materials used and the various manufacturing processes, as well as recycling and disposal at the end of the life cycle, are different from the current design. Against this background, Oeko-Institut developed an eco-balance analysis in which different design variants for washing machines were compared. The basic methodological principle of life cycle assessments were followed, i.e. the entire life cycle and all relevant environmental indicators were considered.