Eco-Design in Current Estonian Education and Industry

 

Liyan Wei
Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia)
Shandong     University  (China)

中文概述：
愛沙尼亞位于波羅的海地區(qū)，地處歐洲北部與芬蘭，俄羅斯相鄰。自從愛沙尼亞再次獨立以來，社會穩(wěn)定，經(jīng)濟迅速發(fā)展，IT業(yè)發(fā)達，所有這些為生態(tài)設計的發(fā)展提供了良好的條件。生態(tài)設計在愛沙尼亞有三種驅(qū)動力量：法律要求，市場需求，和生產(chǎn)成本。工業(yè)和教育部門都適時引入生態(tài)設計理念來提升可持續(xù)發(fā)展環(huán)境以及確保愛沙尼亞產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量和產(chǎn)品出口的增長。愛沙尼亞出臺了一些政策直接或間接的支持生態(tài)設計在愛的發(fā)展，同時歐盟的EuP指令也對其產(chǎn)生了法令效應。愛沙尼亞的設計教育主要在愛沙尼亞藝術學院(Estonian Academy of Arts), 產(chǎn)品設計系比較重視生態(tài)設計課程在設計教學中的作用，尤其是自從07年9月份日本教授Masayo Ave出任系主任以來。設計系的學生大多了解生態(tài)設計的基本知識，如生態(tài)材料，生態(tài)技術和生態(tài)策略，同時他們也清楚設計師對于生態(tài)設計的作用。愛沙尼亞的工業(yè)部門有食品加工，木材加工，機械設備制造，輕工業(yè)和能源工業(yè)等。盡管同德國和意大利等國相比，愛沙尼亞工業(yè)中生態(tài)設計的水平相對較低，但是已經(jīng)導入了生態(tài)設計的理念，并相應運用了生態(tài)設計的一些方式方法。

Keywords:
Eco-Design, Product design, Estonian Academy of Arts, EuP Directive, doc@home

Abstract:
Since Estonia regained its independence, its economy has been developing fast. The society is stable, and there is a very well developed IT industry. All this factors created good environment for the development of Eco-Design. The industry and education system need to improve Eco-design as a tool to be used to enhance the environmental performance of products in Estonia in order to further ensure the export growth and to improve product quality. Based on the existing literature material and published information the paper researched and analyzed Eco-Design in the present situation of the Estonian industrial enterprises and college level education. The author made sure to interview and consult related professionals in the field as well. The aim of the study is to gather and evaluate present situation in eco-design and product development in Estonia in order to identify promising strategies for the eco-design concept and to provide advantageous experience and feasibility study on Eco-Design in Estonia.

About Estonia and Estonian economy            
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region. It is bordered to the north by Finland across the Gulf of Finland, to the west by Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by the Russian Federation. The territory of Estonia covers 45,227 km2 and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. Estonia regained its independence on 20 August 1991. It has since embarked on a rapid program of social and economic reform. Today, the country has gained notoriety for its economic freedom, its adaptation of new technologies, and as one of the world's fastest growing economies.
Estonia is a well-developed networked society. Most of the workplaces in public administration are equipped with computers, the government itself being one of the first in the world to develop a functioning e-government system. Estonians spend 5% of their incoming on telecommunication services (3% on IT) every month, which is among the highest in the world in relative terms. Considering Estonian GDP per capita is definitely a remarkable figure.
On regaining independence in August 1991, Estonia was a relatively backward country technologically. State infrastructure (in situations and people) was absent and had to be built up from scratch, monetary reform in 1992 established the stable currency. Heavy industry machinery and infrastructure established during the Soviet era found almost no use after the privatization and technological upgrading by the new owners. The access to Russian market was increasingly more difficult due to the politically set trade barriers by the Russian Federation, and the quality of Estonian products was not good enough to compete in the Western markets.
In spite of these unfavorable conditions Estonian industrial structure started to depart form the factor-driven stage into the investment