In the context of Design for Environment, the choice of materials assumes strategic importance. The extension of the materials characterization, integrating conventional characterization for the definition of physical-mechanical properties with a complete environmental characterization, is crucial for the development of methodological bases and tools directed at the optimum choice of materials.

To allow the designer a choice of materials which is optimal in that performance characteristics are reconciled with properties of eco-compatibility, the selection process must take account of a wide range of factors: form and size constraints, performance requirements, technological and economic constraints linked to a material’s suitability for processing, together with economic and environmental impacts of all the phases of the material’s life cycle.