Fundamentals for the Design of Products for a Circular Economy: Examples from Software Engineering To Motivate Efficient and Ethical Design of Physical Products

Abstract

Often research in information systems looks for reference disciplines, like information economics or game theory, that can inform and motivate our research. Here we reverse that paradigm and offer an area in which information system provides a reference discipline for the design of physical products. Design for the Circular Economy is a green initiative that goes beyond recycling and focuses on the design of products that can remain in use almost indefinitely, and thus are not replaced and are not recycled. This leads to products for which maintenance, repair, upgrades, and style enhancements are less wasteful. This usually requires breakthroughs in design and in manufacturing processes. There is a small set of design principles that enable Design for the Circular Economy, and that yield longterm benefits in the ownership and operation of products. Green design for the Circular Economy becomes relevant even for products with shorter lifetimes and lower costs.