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Consumer Goods, Manufacturing,
Designers and others interested in Circular Design.
This article explains what Circular Design entails, provides tools to apply Circular Design principles in your design practice and provides a list of useful publications that are interesting for anyone who wants to learn more about Circular Design and the Circular Economy.
In the Dossier Circular Design we explain what Circular Design entails, provide tools and a reading list of relevant publications for further reading.
Circular Design focuses on creating a product that can be reused at a high level for as long as possible, without the need for additional raw materials. This product no longer has a life cycle with a beginning, middle and end, but a closed cycle instead. The designer who (re)designs circularly, does not only design a product. No, he designs a whole system, as well as a service or business model. The whole chain is included in the design process.
At its core, Circular Design is a concept of systems thinking that considers cycles of all sizes and speeds. Where previously the design process did not include what happens to products when they break down or are no longer wanted, the designer who (re)designs circularly already considers what will happen to the product after use in order to close the cycle in the design process itself.
Circular Design contributes as little as possible to the waste mountain. The value of products, used materials and resources is preserved for as long as possible, while also keeping this value as high as possible.
A product made from recycled materials, or made from materials that are recyclable or biodegradable, is not necessarily Circular Design. Circular Design is about the whole chain; it is a system.
Do you have ambitions to design in a circular manner, but could use some help or insight? Then check out these two online tools!
The Circular Design Guide, developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in partnership with IDEO, contains 24 steps on implementing circular design, divided into 4 categories: understand, define, make and release. It is complemented by interviews with designers, worksheets, case studies and links to useful technical resources.
Developed with input from leading companies, specialized design institutions and more than 400 students, the guide aims to encourage companies and designers to examine their way of working and identify areas where they can innovate their products and services.
To calculate the environmental impact of your products you can make a life cycle analysis using the free Self Assessment Tool from CIRCONNECT partners TNO, CIRCO and LBP | Sight. This allows designers, manufacturing companies, logistics providers and repair companies to gain insight into their environmental impact. Companies can use the tool for a quick and easy basic screening of their products and services. From materials, operations, and distribution to use and end-of-life: the tool can model and analyze one or more life phases. This gives the user insight into the origin of a product's environmental impact.
The Self Assessment Tool also offers the possibility to compare different scenarios. For example, you can map out the impact of life extension or clarify the difference between two product designs. Read more about the tool here or download the Self Assessment Tool here.
Do you want to delve deeper into Circular Design and the circular economy? Please check out the following publications:
Photo: Launching program COco | Photographer: Tim Meijer
An inspiring programme on Circular Design.
For decades the Association of Dutch Designers (BNO) has focused on sustainable and circular design. This has been an important topic all along but is now more important than ever.
Through our Circular Design programme (COco) we are bringing this topic to the fore, informing designers and offices about new developments and possibilities. For more info on our program and activities, visit our website.
For more info on our program and activities, visit our website.
bno.nl/COco You go to a Dutch versionBNO, the Association of Dutch Designers, is the largest community of designers and design agencies in the Netherlands. We offer expert legal and business advice, provide an extensive professional network, organize inspiring workshops and events, lobby on behalf of our industry, publish Dd (Dutch designers News, Magazine and Yearbook), and so much more.
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