Design for product integrity in a Circular Economy

Bakker, Conny; Balkenende, Ruud; Poppelaars, Flora

doi:10.4324/9781315113067-14

Cited by 15 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Long life [3][4][5]8,9,31,36,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54] Ensuring long product lifetime by promoting long use and reuse of the product as a whole, through manufacturing physically durable products, resisting ageing, fatigue and corrosion, able to sustain wear and tear without failure. Extending the time in use through maintenance, repair, technical upgrading or adapting, by users or service personnel.…”

Section: Circular Strategies [References] Description From the Literature Quotes From Expert Consultationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It aims to prevent waste by design and to preserve economic and environmental value [3]. Product integrity is a key concept in the circular economy [4] and maintaining product functionality has preference over material recovery [4,5]. Product value can be preserved through long life, lifetime extension, and product recovery approaches, while material value can be preserved through recycling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Circular Design of Composite Products: A Framework Based on Insights from Literature and Industry

2021

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Composite materials are an attractive material choice as they enable lightweight, low-maintenance products with a long lifespan. Recycling these materials, however, remains a challenge. Homogeneous material composition and the use of thermoset matrices complicate reprocessing, and result in low-grade recyclate. This means that closing the loop for these materials in a circular economy remains challenging, especially for glass fibre-reinforced thermoset composites. For a circular economy, products need to be designed to preserve product functionality, material properties, and economic value for as long as possible. However, recovery strategies, design aspects and their interconnectedness are currently largely unexplored for products containing fibre-reinforced polymers. The aim of this study was to identify circular strategies and determine design aspects for products containing composites. To achieve this, we conducted a systematic literature review and consulted experts. The circular strategies are largely similar to generic circular economy strategies as far as product integrity is concerned. However, on a material level, we identified additional approaches, the most notable of which is structural reuse, which preserves the material quality and thereby value. The design aspects were clustered and positioned along the product design process to support implementation. Finally, the strategies and design aspects we identified were brought together in a framework to support product design and design research for products containing composite materials in the context of a circular economy.

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Section: Circular Strategies [References] Description From the Literature Quotes From Expert Consultationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circular Design of Composite Products: A Framework Based on Insights from Literature and Industry

2021

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“…Circular economy focused research has grown quickly and is seen to hold promise to stimulate a sustainable transition. However, many contributions are conceptual and focus upon 'what' changes are required to product design [5,71], business models [12,72], and the required value-network [73,74]. Studies that explore 'how' to operationalise and implement such changes, especially collaboratively, are needed but are lacking [4,75].…”

Section: Research Gapmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation?

2020

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Collaborative innovation is necessary to explore and implement circular economy strategies. Yet, empirical investigations into such collaborations are scarce. It is unclear whether the circular context creates differences or represents adaptions within how collaborative innovation is conducted. We draw upon strategic management and open innovation literature to highlight what is known about collaborative innovation and the types of innovation conducted. We use these insights to investigate explorative qualitative case research into how practitioners in the Netherlands have conducted collaborative circular oriented innovation. Our findings show that open innovation criteria can aid our understanding and analysis. Key managerial considerations relate to the incremental or systemic nature of the innovation pursued, which induce different collaborative projects and knowledge management structures. For incremental innovation, we observe phases of collaboration, whereas for more systemic innovation, we observe a more collaborative portfolio and layered approach. Furthermore, the more radical innovation pursuits that explore slowing or recovery strategies, especially beyond business-to-business arrangements, challenge companies. A crucial challenge remains related to how to develop and assess collaborative and system-oriented business models in the transition towards a circular economy. Finally, future research is needed to assess whether the current modes of collaborative innovation are sufficient to deliver a circular economy transition.

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“…Another aspect relates to the driving force behind the transition to a circular economy, which could be motivated by companies or citizens. Bakker (Bakker et al, 2018) outline two alternate circular economy scenarios that have different implications for consumers. On the one hand, a scenario that is driven by companies characterised by services in which companies own and maintain products that consumers can gain access to.…”

Section: Challenges For Consumption In the Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as the providing companies retain ownership of the products this scenario would need some form of safety net for consumers to prevent debt accumulation and loss of essential services in times of unemployment and difficulty (Cherry and Pidgeon, 2018). In the second scenario, Bakker et al (Bakker et al, 2018) outline a circular economy that is actively propelled by consumers, through local initiatives such as repair cafes and peer-to-peer sharing. In this scenario consumers retain control over, and responsibility for, their products.…”

Section: Challenges For Consumption In the Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers in the circular economy

Camacho-Otero¹,

Tunn²,

Chamberlin³

et al. 2020

Handbook of the Circular Economy

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The circular economy is poised to transform economic systems and contribute to sustainable development. Most of the attention has focussed on how production can become circular by developing innovative business models, processes and products that close material loops. However, although these solutions are required to inspire radical changes, the lack of demand for such offerings (both perceived and real) has been highlighted in literature as a significant barrier. Enabling such demand necessitates a deep understanding of the consumer and the processes by which consumption patterns, and the social practices they result from, are transformed. It requires an understanding of the actors that need to be involved in such processes, as well as tools and design interventions that will contribute to a circular economy. In this chapter, we provide insights regarding these aspects based on existing and ongoing research that focuses on consumption-related aspects of the circular economy. We first introduce some consumer behaviours in a circular economy, and examine factors which may influence adoption or acceptance of circular products and services. We then describe some strategies and concepts for introducing circularity to consumers, in the form of business models, design and communications strategies, and finally we discuss some of the challenges of circular consumption.

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Design for product integrity in a Circular Economy

Cited by 15 publications

References 1 publication

Circular Design of Composite Products: A Framework Based on Insights from Literature and Industry

Circular Design of Composite Products: A Framework Based on Insights from Literature and Industry

How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation?

Consumers in the circular economy

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