This paper discusses a methodology to estimate the potential product return, recycling and disposal costs incurred as a consequence of European takeback mandates, corporate leasing arrangements and volunteer takeback initiatives. Furthermore, this paper illustrates the use of these end-of-life costs to estimate the economic benefits of design for environment (DFE). At Hewlett-Packard, the end-of-life costs were estimated for a particular product line. Using this information, the economic benefits from DFE were also estimated. This information assisted the product line management in justifying expenditures on DFE. This paper describes the methodology used to estimate the end-of-life costs, as well as the role of an end-of-life cost estimate in a DFE investment analysis.
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