A Conceptual Framework for Circular Design

Abstract

Design has been recognised in the literature as a catalyst to move away from the traditional model of take-make-dispose to achieve a more restorative, regenerative and circular economy. As such, for a circular economy to thrive, products need to be designed for closed loops, as well as be adapted to generate revenues. This should not only be at the point of purchase, but also during use, and be supported by low-cost return chains and reprocessing structures, as well as effective policy and regulation. To date, most academic and grey literature on the circular economy has focused primarily on the development of new business models, with some of the latter studies addressing design strategies for a circular economy, specifically in the area of resource cycles and design for product life extension. However, these studies primarily consider a limited spectrum of the technical and biological cycles where materials are recovered and restored and nutrients (e.g., materials, energy, water) are regenerated. This provides little guidance or clarity for designers wishing to design for new circular business models in practice. As such, this paper aims to address this gap by systematically analysing previous literature on Design for Sustainability (DfX) (e.g., design for resource conservation, design for slowing resource loops and whole systems design) and links these approaches to the current literature on circular business models. A conceptual framework is developed for circular economy design strategies. From this conceptual framework, recommendations are made to enable designers to fully consider the holistic implications for design within a circular economy.

Circular Business Models: Defining a Concept and Framing an Emerging Research Field

“…Sustainability 2017, 9, 1810 7 of 16 price, from adopting a PSS and selling access to a product [51], or from providing maintenance services [14]. Changes in the cost structure can be realised, for example, by substituting higher-priced primary production with secondary production or avoiding costs related to end-of-life disposal [17].…”

“…Additional revenue streams can stem from capitalising on markets for secondary production capturing value from redistributing, repairing and reselling of post-consumer products [7]. Revenue streams could also include profit either from selling a long-life product at a higher price, from adopting a PSS and selling access to a product [51], or from providing maintenance services [14]. Changes in the cost structure can be realised, for example, by substituting higher-priced primary production with secondary production or avoiding costs related to end-of-life disposal [17].…”

“…In recent years, circular business models have received attention from practitioners [11][12][13], policy makers [1] and researchers [7,8,[14][15][16][17]. However, despite the increasing use, few scholars provide a clear definition of circular business models, and no common understanding of the concept has been established.…”

The Involvement of Future Generations in the Circular Economy Paradigm: An Empirical Analysis on Aluminium Packaging Recycling in Spain

“…In this sense, Yong [7] affirms that "the 3Rs principle-well known as reduce, reuse, and recycle-is a good principle guiding how to implement the circular economy in practice". In this way, the implementation of circular economy facilitates that waste of some agents become valuable resources for others, achieving the recovery of materials and energy [8].…”

Cascade Use and the Management of Product Lifecycles

“…For example, Design for Environment and Design for Remanufacture are design principles that consider EOL options for a product during the BOL phase [11]; there are also products that were never designed following any of these principles. During the MOL phase, the product quality, the type of use (e.g., other than intended) or even misuse may influence potential reuse.…”