This 1992 study by the OTA finds that better product design offers new opportunities to address environmental problems, but that current government regulations and market practices are not sufficient to fully exploit these opportunities.

US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). Washington, DC: US Govt. Printing Office, October 1992

http://policy.rutgers.edu/andrews/courses/9221.pdfhttp://policy.rutgers.edu/andrews/courses/9221.pdf