Domestic appliances are taking a toll on the environment and as a result are affecting the rate of climate change. This is due to the inefficient use of natural resources - linked to inefficient product energy and material use for product components. Current and emergent legislation is now ensuring that manufacturers take responsibility for this by designing more environmentally benign products to conserve natural resources. This paper identifies the origin of these problems, how they intend to be minimized, how design for the environment will affect industry and it also outlines the objectives of the research undertaken.