Thus the neo-classical focus in research/investigation, development and design has been on the market and customer's requirements. However, looking at the products life cycle, from infancy to mortality (call it "Life Cycle"), it only, briefly, passes through a customer's hands--perhaps much like currency, until it disappears! Products, based on that matter can't be created or destroyed, starts out as an Earth resource which ultimately becomes waste thus impacting soil, air, and water. "Agenda 21" (declaration from the "92' Earth Summit") requires that these impacts be minimized, mitigated or prevented thus maximizing resource. For this to happen products and services, after conceptualization, must include consideration to environmental impact. This issue of environmental consciousness after conceptualization, provides a trend that in the 21 ^st century will be a norm.

The Earth's resources in meeting "customers' demands" is a challenge we must face, with a growing population. Earth has a limited capacity to manage and mitigate the wastes and residues processed by community, industry, government, et all. It is within the panorama that the issue of productivity (resultant of quality and efficiency) takes a turn considering environmental impacts, to make matters more challenging economically feasibility also becomes an issue.

Beginnings

The best we can advise, without our team being on site, take a look at Guides ISO 14040 and ISO 14031, respectively Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Performance, and on the basis of the  principles therein develop a methodology such that environmental responsiveness becomes a vehicle to prevent during conceptualization . In maintaining the organization's brand / organization image, this methodology may comprise of a series of iterations that are mutually inclusive (a product or activity life cycle) and includes materials for consumption, energy, affluent ("consumption, input into the "black box"), and effluents... and ask... Are we missing any (or many)?... Then consider each progressive stage of the cycle in relation to consumption and affluent (whether gas, solid, liquid, plasma...). Creativeness to innovate is of essence, creativity with out resultant innovative may be waste!

There are avenues to explore after conceptualization, thus R & D and others can begin having fun in exploring possibilities resulting in a product/service to meet market demand, discontinuance of technology, and evolutionary social and environmental responsibility (ISO Kaizen-Blitz^© principles).

The purpose is to incorporate environmental consciousness, environmentally - health - safety considerations, and responsibility into the investigative, research, development and then the designing processes concurrently with knowing the best available technology, economical viability, legal, regulatory, social, and aesthetic requirements. These requirements shape the outcome whether is a tangible product or a service. 

The Process, an Overview

In order to appreciate life cycle integration within the planning of an EMS, it is useful to review what are the issues (or sub - cycles within realization activities) to consider: