What is Circular Economy?
Circular economy is a system that is restorative and regenerative by intention and design, which supports ecosystem functioning and human well-being with the aim of accomplishing sustainable development. It replaces the end-of-life concept with closing, slowing and narrowing the resource flows in production, distribution and consumption processes, extracting economical value and usefulness of materials, equipment and goods for the longest possible time, in cycles energized by renewable sources. It is enabled by design, innovation, new business and organizational models and responsible production and consumption.
Source: Product-Service Development for Circular Economy and Sustainability Course (katche.eu)
Circular economy and sustainability
Circular economy is often closely linked to sustainability. The links between circular economy and sustainability are, however, subject to debate, and at least two different views on the links exist. Some believe that circular economy surpasses sustainable development because sustainable development is rooted in linear thinking strategies, while others see circular economy as a tool to reach sustainability and thereby circular economy becomes a tool to operationalize sustainable development principles (Merli et al., 2017), especially from the environmental perspective.
Source: Product-Service Development for Circular Economy and Sustainability Course (katche.eu)
Design and innovation for a circular economy
Design is a key instrument for establishing a circular economy. A large proportion of environmental impacts from products, services and systems – be they settlements or transport systems – is already defined in the design process. The design will decide whether a product has a long lease of life, whether it can be serviced and possible defects repaired, whether regular technical overhaul is possible and whether components or materials can be recovered with reasonable expenditure at the end of the product’s life. The selection, use and processing of materials play a decisive role, as they determine over and above the longevity of products to what extent damaging impacts on humans and the environment can be avoided during the extraction and processing of raw materials, as well as during product usage. They also determine to what extent the materials used can be retained through several cycles in order to protect natural resources in the future.
Design for a circular economy aims at using products for a long time and maintaining their function and reliability, retaining the value of products, product parts and ultimately the material in closed-loop cycles, while ensuring that the smallest possible burden is put on the environment per utility unit. At product level, this means design for reuse and recycling on the one hand, and on the other to ensure the most enduring product integrity possible.
Game-changing approaches in product design either optimise certain aspects, such as energy consumption in the use phase, or reduce negative environmental impacts of a product along its life cycle, which is generally preferable. Another criterion for good design in a circular economy is optimal recyclability and the use of recyclates in line with the objectives. Easily separable materials that are free from pollutants and impurities and as homogenous as possible, as well as fulfilling the technical requirements for reprocessing, facilitate recycling.
Design can have an effect beyond this technical level by increasingly taking the socio-cultural context into account and focusing on users. Their needs must be considered and become the starting point for product design. A maxim in design says “form follows function.” Accordingly, function and purpose of a product must be the main consideration and result in the appropriate form. It is therefore necessary to find out if at all and how urgently a product is needed and what factors contribute to a prolonged use of the product. Stronger emotional attachment to products generates appreciation and prevents short-term fads. Furthermore, design approaches can help to promote more sustainable behaviour by flagging up high energy consumption or encouraging users to collect products for recycling or reuse.
New, circular flow-oriented business and usage models are needed to establish a circular economy. These models are subject to an overarching design process that can be shaped by all participants on the producer as well as the user side. Examples include product service systems that are centred around the lease of products and thus set incentives for low-maintenance, high-value products with a high use value. There is, for instance, a scheme that combines particularly durable products with services such as maintenance, repair or upgrades and innovative reusable packaging systems for products, product parts or materials so that these can be reused or recycled.
All these design approaches for a circular economy also apply to large systems with circular flow potential and contribute to successful implementation. As the perspective shifts from the product level to system innovation, from small-scale technical improvements to a holistic perspective, the design process becomes ever more complex.
Design for a circular economy is a multi-disciplinary task that can only be accomplished satisfactorily if the players involved such as users, producers and the recycling industry come together and freely exchange information. What is needed is a different, iterative approach to design beyond the classical model of idea – prototype – product development, so as to adapt to rapidly changing requirements and conditions. Producers in particular are required to take more responsibility.
Source: Principles for a Circular Economy (umweltbundesamt.de)
