Ecodesign is relatively new to the family medicine practice. It consists of a pro-active approach in order to reduce harmful environmental impacts from an organization or a product. These environmental impacts, such as climate change, clearly represent major public health concerns. It seems legitimate for the medical community to question its role in « preventing » rather than « curing » through its contribution to the protection of the environment. This review lays some definitions and explains the current situation. It tries to gather the existing ecodesign initiatives in the outpatient area. At last, some lines of thought and of progress are presented, with a focus on the Swiss context.