Circular Design: Make a Start - ism BNO

"We will have to redesign virtually every aspect of our lives - and let that be exactly what we designers are good at."

- BNO Sustainability x Design Working Group

Designing with impact

The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Design plays a crucial role in finding solutions: 80% of a product's environmental impact is already determined in the design phase. Circular design helps to preserve value throughout a product's life cycle - from idea to end of life - and to strengthen collaboration in the chain.

Moreover, circular design principles are becoming increasingly important due to new European regulations, such as:

• Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) - aimed at more sustainable, repairable and recyclable products.
• Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) - to make packaging fully reusable or recyclable by 2030.

Structural part of your design approach

The afternoon is aimed at designers who want to make circularity a structural part of their design approach. During this session you will be introduced to two Circonnect tools and get to work with them in practice. These tools will help you integrate circularity in your process and comply with (future) legislation.

• Circular Filter Schedule of Requirements toolThis tool helps you incorporate circular requirements directly into the Schedule of Requirements (PoR). You get structure, direction and support in formulating circular requirements for your design.
• Circular Laws and Regulations Guide: This guide helps you identify relevant European and Dutch regulations and translate them into concrete design questions. You will gain insight into sustainability strategies per sector (such as construction, plastics, consumer goods and manufacturing), and how to align your design with what is needed now and later.

Looking for tools that help you make informed choices, and that align with new rules and expectations? Then don't miss this session!

Costs
BNO members: € 150. Non-members: € 225.
All amounts are exclusive of VAT and transaction fees.

Professionals working in the cultural and creative sector can apply to the Permanent Professional Development Program (Werktuig PPO). On the Werktuig PPO website you can find more information and apply for co-financing of the costs for this training.

* On November 19, 2025, BNO and Circonnect are co-hosting an afternoon around Circonnect's Environmental Impact Tool especially for designers. More information about that program can be found here.