Electrolux has received the Excellence in Sustainable Design Award from Standards Australia at the Australian International Design Awards for its refrigeration collection.
The award was presented to Electrolux at the 2009 Australian International Design Awards last Friday night and was in partnership with Sustainability Victoria, the Design Institute of Australia and WSP Environmental.
The award is given to the finalist product that demonstrates the most environmentally responsible design.
John Gertsakis, senior sustainability consultant at WSP Environmental commented on the win.
“The collection demonstrates a sophisticated approach to design for sustainability. It shows how you can successfully combine good design with environmental performance and how design can effectively address functionality, aesthetic quality and affordability in a product that potentially has a significant environmental impact,” he said.
Another factor which impressed the judges was the fact that Electrolux offers a take-back service for previously owned fridges, product packaging recycling and a product life expectancy of 20 years or more.
The fact that its fridges are designed and manufactured in-house by Electrolux in Australia was another contributing factor to the win.
“With up to 80 per cent of a product’s environmental impact locked in at the design stage, designers are in a strong position to encourage environmentally-responsible actions. We believe it is important to recognise those designers and companies who are making practical design decisions that influence a product’s environmental impact in a positive way,” said Stephanie Watson, program director of the Australian International Design Awards.