Product Design for a Circular Economy
What is the circular economy?
The circular economy is an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design. In a circular economy, economic activity builds and rebuilds overall system health. The concept recognizes the importance of the economy working effectively at all scales—for big and small businesses, organizations, and individuals, globally and locally.
It is based on three principles:
1. Eliminate waste and pollution
2. Circulate products and materials
The second principle of the circular economy is to circulate products and materials at their highest value. This means keeping materials in use, either as a product or, when they can no longer be used, as components or raw materials. This way, nothing becomes waste, and the intrinsic value of products and materials is retained.
3. Regenerate nature
The third principle of the circular economy is to regenerate nature. By moving from a take-make-waste linear economy to a circular economy, we support natural processes and leave more room for nature to thrive.
Information Sources
-
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation – UK charity that promotes the circular economy
- Animated Video from the Wiki page of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Circularise – R-Strategies for a Circular Economy (excellent blog article)
- Het Groene Brein – interactive tool to explore facets of the Circular Economy
- EPA.GOV – what is a circular economy?
- edX – many free courses, including Circular Economy: An Introduction
- iFixit – Product repairability
- How iFixit Scores Repairability
Case Studies
- Space Hippie: These Nike Sneakers are Trash – Nike set out to create the lowest carbon footprint shoe ever
- Working Together to Get Every Bottle Back – America’s leading beverage companies are working together to reduce plastic waste.
- Design Out Waste – Agency of Design
Sustainable Design Tools and Guides
- Sustainable Design Handbook – simple overview of sustainable product strategies
- Circular X – worksheets and tools for guiding and developing circular business models
- Circular Design Guide – a deeper-dive design guide from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Plastic-Free Packaging Design Guide (pdf)
- How to Scale Repair Ecosystems 4Ps for Repair Partnership Success
- Sticky Notes: What Every OEM Should Know About Adhesives by Jeff Suovanen
Product Certification
- Circularise – Consumer-facing Product Passports for sustainability transparency
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The Power of Sustainability Certifications – A series of webinars from the Softly team about sustainable certification and ecolabels. Learn more at www.getsoftly.com/webinars.
Related Events
- Circularity – Accelerating the Circular Economy
May 22-24, 2024 | Marriott Marquis Chicago - Economist Impact 4th annual Sustainability Week US
June 12 – 13th 2024 | New York and virtual
Reading List
- Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
- Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet by Tim Jackson
- Endineering by Joe Macleod
- The Circular Economy Handbook by Peter Lacy, Jessica Long and Wesley Spindler
- Circular Design for Fashion by Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Sustainability Stories, Ideas and Innovation from Imagine5
- Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
- Waste-Free World by Ron Gonen
- Places to Intervene in a System By Donella H. Meadows (Whole Earth Winter 1997)
- Long-awaited common charger for mobile devices will be a reality in 2024 – News European Parliament
- The explosive problem with recycling iPads, iPhones and other gadgets: They literally catch fire. by Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Washington Post
- Executive Summary: An assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions and waste impacts from improving the repairability of Microsoft devices by Oakdene Hollins