For a long time, ecodesign was seen as either a regulatory constraint or an approach reserved for large companies. Today, the reality is quite different. In response to new market requirements, growing expectations from clients and changes in European regulations, ecodesign has become a genuine driver of innovation, competitiveness and differentiation.  

This is precisely the approach behind the Ecodesign Diagnostic, a scheme funded by ADEME and operated by Bpifrance, enabling SMEs to receive support from a recognised expert to improve the environmental performance of their products, services or processes.

But concretely, what does this approach involve? 

What is ecodesign?

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A common misconception is that ecodesign simply means replacing plastic with a recycled material or reducing a product’s weight. In reality, a genuine ecodesign approach starts with a much simpler question: Where do the actual environmental impacts of my product lie?

Without this answer, any decision remains based on intuition. This is why Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the foundation of any ecodesign approach. It enables the assessment of environmental impacts across the entire life cycle. This multi-stage and multi-criteria approach helps avoid impact transfers: improving one indicator or one aspect of the life cycle should not lead to the deterioration of another.  

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The Ecodesign Diagnostic is not limited to carrying out an LCA. It follows a structured methodology that transforms an environmental assessment into an operational action plan. 

1. Understanding the product 

The first step consists of analysing the product or process concerned: 

• Its functions
• Its technical constraints
• Its regulatory requirements
• Its value chain
• Customer expectations 

This phase helps define a clear scope and identify the data required for the environmental assessment. 

2. Measuring impacts through LCA 

Life Cycle Assessment then enables the quantification of environmental impacts using internationally recognised methods. The objective is not only to calculate a carbon footprint. 

An LCA also makes it possible to assess: 

• Resource consumption   
• Energy consumption  
• Impacts on water  
• Climate change emissions   
• The main environmental hotspots

The results help support decision-making with objective data and identify the life cycle stages that genuinely require improvement.  

3. Designing solutions with teams

Once the impacts have been identified, the actual ecodesign work can begin. 

Experience shows that the best solutions emerge when the various teams involved in the product work together: 

• Design 
• Purchasing  
• Production  
• Quality 
• Sales   
• Management

Collaborative workshops make it possible to explore different levers: 

• Material developments   
• Material reduction   
• Assembly simplification  
• Improved repairability   
• Increased lifespan   
• Process optimisation   
• Improved recyclability   
• New circular economy loops

At WeLOOP, this co-creation phase is a key element of the approach: LCA becomes a decision-making support tool shared by the teams, while taking each party’s constraints into account.   

4. Prioritising actions 

Not all ideas can be implemented immediately. Each scenario is therefore assessed according to several criteria: 

• Environmental benefit   
• Technical feasibility  
• Implementation cost
• Industrial constraints  
• Market acceptance
• Comply with regulations  

This step makes it possible to focus efforts on actions offering the best balance between environmental performance and economic performance.

5. Building a roadmap 

The final deliverable is not simply an LCA report. The company leaves with a genuine roadmap including: 

• Priority short-term actions   
• Medium-term strategic projects  
• Long-term innovation prospects   
• Monitoring indicators   
• A reusable methodology for future developments

The objective is to gradually make ecodesign an integral part of the product development process, rather than a one-off standalone study. This is also one of the objectives of the Ecodesign Diagnostic: to raise team awareness and help the company build its expertise in these methods.  

Why start this approach now? 

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Beyond reducing environmental impacts, companies that embrace ecodesign gain tangible benefits: 

ADEME presents ecodesign as a value-creating strategic approach that enables the simultaneous improvement of the environmental, economic and user performance of products.  

A widely funded support scheme 

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The Ecodesign Diagnostic is aimed at eligible SMEs and benefits from financial support from ADEME. 

The assignment is carried out by a recognised expert according to a methodological framework defined by Bpifrance and the Pôle Éco-conception. The company’s remaining cost is significantly reduced thanks to the grant provided, subject to eligibility.  

Depending on your location and your project, this scheme can also be complemented by other regional support programmes. In the Hauts-de-France region, additional funding, particularly through REV3, may be available to support ecological transition and innovation initiatives. The opportunities available depend on the nature of the project and the company’s situation.

WeLOOP supports you from start to finish 

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WeLOOP is referenced by Bpifrance to deliver the Ecodesign Diagnostic. Our teams have been working for several years on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), ecodesign and circular economy projects across a wide range of industrial sectors.

Our support goes beyond carrying out the diagnostic. We can also: 

• Assess your company’s eligibility
• Support you in preparing your Ecodesign Diagnostic application
• Explore additional available funding opportunities, particularly schemes REV3 when your project is eligible for it  
• Carry out the LCA study and ecodesign workshops
• Help you sustainably integrate ecodesign into your development strategy  

If you would like to benefit from the Ecodesign Diagnostic, you can select WeLOOP from the list of experts referenced by Bpifrance when submitting your support request. We would be delighted to discuss your project with you and support you from the preparation of your application through to the implementation of your ecodesign roadmap.