The way we approach industry needs to change, and concepts like the Circular Economy are at the forefront of altering the way we approach design and business.
Morally Made embodies the principles of circular design and thinking in our practice, but what exactly does it entail to be part of this Circular Economy, and why is it gathering such widespread attention?
WHAT IS THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY?
DECODING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The notion of the Circular Economy began gaining momentum in the early 2000s, fuelled by mounting concerns about waste, CO2 emissions, and resource dependency. Unlike the conventional linear economy of 'take-make-dispose,' the Circular Economy aims to minimise waste, retain value, and rejuvenate nature.
Termed as an alternative mindset for both consumers and businesses, the circular economy rests on three fundamental principles:
Elimination of Waste and Pollution
Maintenance of Products and Materials at their peak value
Promotion of nature's regeneration
Each principle demands a shift in perspective and action:
Rethinking and redesigning manufacturing and consumption practices to minimise waste.
Crafting products with durability and repairability in mind, facilitating easy disassembly for reuse or remanufacturing.
Decreasing environmental impact by embracing more sustainable choices.
HOW DOES IT OPERATE?
Waste and pollution prevention; The circular economy advocates for economic activities that avoid harm to human health and ecosystems, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and various forms of pollution. I.e choosing materials and processes which have a lower carbon footprint at inception, and that have low toxicity or waste at its degradation or end of life stage.
Product and material longevity: The focus lies in designing products for durability, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling, ensuring materials remain in circulation for as long as possible.
Regeneration of natural systems; by prioritising renewable resources and nurturing soil health, the circular economy actively contributes to environmental regeneration and sustainability.
TECNICAL Vs BIOLOGICAL
The Circular Economy branches into two primary categories: Technical and Biological.
Technical focuses on preserving value in non-biodegradable materials for as long as possible. Such as products made from plastics & metals.
While Biological stresses designing products that can biodegrade and return to the soil. Such as products timbers and organic fibres.
ORIGIN & METHODLOGIES
To understand where the Circular Economy is heading, it’s helpful to know where its come from.
While the Ellen Macarthur Foundation has played a pivotal role in popularising the Circular Economy over the past decade, its roots delve into various design and scientific principles. These include:
Cradle to Cradle: Viewing waste as a resource and conducting life cycle assessments as common practice.
The Performance Economy: Concentrating on extending the lifespan of products.
Biomimicry: Drawing inspiration from nature for innovative solutions.
Industrial Ecology: Considering waste as a potential input.
Regenerative Design: Formulating solutions that enhance ecosystems.
DESIGNING FOR CIRCULARITY
Effective circular design demands a comprehensive approach, considering factors from material selection to end-of-life disposal. While recycling plays a role, it's often a last resort, as designing solely for recycling postpones waste inevitability.
In the realm of designing physical objects like furniture within the Circular Economy, several principles guide the process, such as;
Design for Durability: Craft products built to last, using quality materials and construction techniques to extend their lifespan.
Modularity: Design components that can be effortlessly disassembled and reassembled, allowing for repair, replacement, or upgrades without discarding the entire piece.
Material Selection: Prioritise materials that are renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable, reducing environmental impact throughout the product's lifecycle.
Resource Efficiency: Minimise material waste during manufacturing and assembly processes, optimising material use and reducing resource consumption.
Local Sourcing: Source materials and components locally whenever feasible to reduce transportation emissions and bolster local economies.
Design for Disassembly: Ensure products can be easily dismantled at the end of their life, facilitating material recovery and recycling.
An object or garment must be capable of breaking down into independent raw materials to stand the best chance of being repurposed or recycled. Many garments, for example, composed of multiple materials, are unable to re-enter the value stream as untangling and separating these threads is too complex. Consequently, clothing either ends up in landfills or is shredded and repurposed into less valuable products, such as filler material for acoustic insulation.
Circular Material Loops: Design products with materials that can seamlessly reintegrate into the production process at the end of their lifecycle, creating closed-loop systems.
At Morally Made, we strive to ensure individual components are likely to be of use in a future use case to what we have primarily designed for. For instance, ensuring timber components are not too narrow, providing a potential use case in the future when dismantled. Additionally, engraving rectangles and squares on the underside of surfaces provides straight lines/datums for future makers to reuse the material with maximum efficiency.
User Engagement: Engage users in the lifecycle of the product, encouraging maintenance, repair, and responsible disposal practices to prolong its usefulness.
Lifecycle Assessment: Conduct life cycle assessments to comprehend the environmental impact of design decisions and identify opportunities for improvement throughout the product's lifecycle. This involves assigning the correct materials and strategies appropriate to the value of the end product.
By adhering to these principles, designers can create physical objects that align with the goals of the Circular Economy, promoting resource conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable consumption patterns.
VALUE
Determining the worth of products is paramount in the Circular Economy.
High-value items, such as cars or furniture, require substantial energy to produce and should be kept in use for as long as possible. Therefore, every effort at the design stage should aim to promote value retention.
Conversely, low-value items, such as packaging, should be approached with the goal of incurring minimal energy from inception through to recycling or natural biodegradability. As we we want these types of product to re-enter the cyclical process as quickly, easily as possible via low energy processes.
INNOVATION IN THE CIRCULAR ECOMONY
Innovations in 3D printing, such as those by Aectural and Batch Works, showcase the potential of circular practices. Aectural's use of wood pulp and polymer-based materials demonstrates zero-waste production, while Batch Works aims to establish a closed-loop recycling system for their products.
MORALLY MADE’S CONTRIBUTION
At Morally Made, circular design principles take precedence in our approach. From designing for repair and disassembly to selecting non-toxic materials and finishes, every step is geared towards sustainability. We also encourage product return with plaques highlighting their circularity, ensuring materials can be reused or repurposed.
IN SHORT..
While achieving fully circular solutions may still be a work in progress for small and low-batch businesses, every effort counts towards contributing to a more sustainable economy. The Circular Economy offers a promising pathway to retaining value in everything we create and consume, paving the way for a more resourceful future.
A significant aspect of the circular economy is the adoption of consumers and changing of behaviour. It is our duty as a business to equip our customers with this knowledge and tools to promote positive change and progression.