Quality engineering challenges on the way to sustainability

The goal of this paper is to present the author’s thoughts on the possible contribution of quality engineering to sustainable development. It is indicated that in the product life cycle designers have the greatest potential to support this challenge. Arguments have been presented to abandon the commonly accepted paradigm, according to which the overriding goal of the designer is to achieve the highest market value possible measured by the prospected level of demand for the products designed. It is postulated to include the minimization of the risks brought to the natural environment and social relations as a criterion of product design quality. To this goal, it is necessary for designers to pursue both environmentally friendly materials and technologies and design concepts reducing consumers’ pressure on continuously increasing demand. Such an approach will allow for more effective control of consumption, the main cause of the negative effects of economic growth.