Developing a Custom Design for Sustainability Program for Culligan
Transforming how sustainability is addressed in product development
The Situation
Culligan set an ambitious goal to assess 100% of its new products for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) aspects by 2030. With increasing pressure from customers and regulators to prioritize sustainability, the company recognized the need for a structured approach to integrate sustainable practices into product design without compromising performance.
To support Culligan’s goal, Anthesis developed a custom Design for Sustainability (DfS) program for their products. This program enables Culligan’s product design and development teams to identify and act on opportunities that enhance sustainable performance as seamlessly as they would address other critical design aspects like reliability or cost-effectiveness.
Anthesis developed a custom Design for Sustainability (DfS) program for Culligan’s new products. This program enables Culligan’s product design and development teams to identify and act on opportunities that enhance sustainable performance.
Company: Culligan
Sector: Food & Drink
Our Solutions
Key elements of the DfS program included:
Sustainability Opportunity Identification: We provided training and tools to help the design teams pinpoint where sustainability improvements could be embedded, such as reducing material usage, selecting better materials, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing recyclability of filter components.
Integration with the New Product Development (NPD) Process: The DfS program was strategically embedded within Culligan’s existing NPD process, ensuring that sustainability considerations were a natural part of each stage, from initial concept and design through to production and end-of-life planning.
LCA as a Decision-Making Tool:Lifecycle assessment (LCA) served as the core metric for assessing environmental impacts across a product’s lifecycle, from material sourcing and production to end-of-life disposal. By using LCA, teams were able to quantify impacts and make informed decisions on materials, processes, and design options.
True innovation isn’t about creating more; it’s about designing better—balancing progress, growth, responsibility, and efficiency with empathy for the planet. Guided by Anthesis, our product, design, and engineering teams have made our products more sustainable throughout their entire lifecycle.
Christina Beckman — ESG, Culligan
Impacts of the Project
Addressing Sustainability
The DfS program has now been fully integrated into the client’s NPD process, transforming how sustainability is addressed in product development. As a result, the design teams are better equipped to create products with a reduced environmental footprint while maintaining high standards of performance.
Leading the Way
This integration has also strengthened the client’s market position by allowing them to communicate tangible sustainability improvements, enhancing customer trust and aligning product innovation with broader ESG commitments.
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