The Sustainable Systems Research Center is dedicated to enhancing the environmental and economic performance of products and processes. The center develops and applies tools for sustainable design, a holistic approach to creating high quality products with minimal environmental impact.

There is a growing awareness that environmental problems are best addressed at the point of product and process development rather than attempting to control them end-of-pipe. SSRC is developing tools and methods to assist companies in creating closed-loop, environmentally and economically sustainable product systems that maximize product reuse and remanufacturing.

The center's team of faculty and staff experts have worked with numerous companies to implement sustainable practices at all product life stages — from design to recovery.