The role of ecodesign in the circular economy: perspectives from Ecodesign Centre

Dr Christopher HarrisCatalan Delegation to the EU, Brussels

16th June 2015

Circular economy: the good

• Engagement: circular economy rhetoric resonates outside of the usual eco-innovator and eco-entrepreneur typologies

• Business-orientated• Increased proliferation of tools that promote design (e.g. Circular Economy

Toolkit)• Catalyst for transformational change when new products and services are

created

Circular economy: the ‘less bad’

• Focus on diversion of resources from landfill, not changing the way people consume (assumes more consumption is good).

• Rebound effects.• Business as ‘slightly better than’ usual – reinforcement of infrastructure and

behaviour.• Tendency towards end-of-pipe solutions, encouraging incremental change• Growth always = Good. Therefore more consumption• Usefulness of diverted material not the key metric of success due to policy

background• Does not address areas that cannot be made circular or where there are not yet

sufficient drivers - (e.g. much that comes under the Ecodesign Directive)

So what is the role of ecodesign in the circular economy?

‘Obvious’ benefits of increased ecodesign in products and services:

• Increases energy efficiency• Reduces impacts on water, air

and Earth• Mitigates climate change• Decreases/excludes toxic

materials• Creates green jobs.

Todd McLellan

But ecodesign is much more than simply re-designing for disassembly, re-use, energy efficiency etc.

It is a strategic design management approach focusing on the reduction of environmental impacts through transformational innovation.

As such, there are many other benefits of ecodesign to the circular economy…

So what is the role of ecodesign in the circular ec onomy?

• Creativity – life cycle thinking vs. life cycle assessment

• Asks questions of the current status as a starting point. Behaviours, infrastructure etc.

• Addresses areas that cannot be made circular

• Tools, metrics and guidance• Allows us to be preventative, rather than

reactionary• As a design discipline, focussed on the

end user and aims to satisfy who it is aimed at.

Brezet and van Hemel, 1997

Case Studies

IQERiversimple

Case Studies

Orangebox Riva Lighting

www.edcw.org@ecodesigncentre

christopher@edcw.org@GreenerHarris