How can you design a waste-free system?

A circular economy is an economic system designed to minimize waste and make the most of resources. It focuses on keeping products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible through recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. The goal is to create a sustainable loop where products are recycled or repurposed instead of being discarded, promoting environmental sustainability.

Missing from this list is the fourth 'R' Repair particularly important for clothing, electronics and white goods such as cookers, washing machines and the like. Like the reuse part of the circular concept, repair allows materials to be kept as products for as long as possible, extracting every bit of life out of that product before the materials are recycled. The concept of circularity is exactly that, raw materials are at their highest value when they form part of a functioning product, therefore, keeping products working for as long as possible is the aim, before then extracting those materials for reuse at the very end of life.

A crucial way of a circular economy also includes key collaboration between companies. One company may see a material as a waste product yet it may be a crucial raw material for another compan. For instance collaboration between a mango juicing company and a fibre fabric making company may be very effective.

one thing I ve found important and critical _ maintening Usability and Durability - Knowing the needs of the market and client needs

A circular economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and promote sustainability by emphasizing the continual use and regeneration of resources. In contrast to the traditional linear economy, which follows a "take-make-dispose" approach, a circular economy aims to close the loop of production and consumption. In this system, products are designed with durability, repairability, and recyclability in mind. Rather than discarding items after use, materials are recovered and reintegrated into the production cycle, reducing the demand for new resources. Key principles include extending product lifespan, encouraging reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling.

Réduire les déchets dans la conception des systèmes nécessite une approche proactive et intégrée. Cela commence par une conception éco-responsable, privilégiant l'utilisation de matériaux recyclés ou recyclables, la modularité pour faciliter les réparations et l'adoption de matériaux durables. L'analyse du cycle de vie du produit est fondamentale pour cibler les zones d'amélioration, favoriser la durabilité tout au long du processus et encourager le recyclage. La collaboration avec des fournisseurs partageant les mêmes valeurs, la sensibilisation des équipes à la durabilité et l'exploration de nouvelles technologies contribuent à créer des systèmes plus durables, réduisant ainsi leur impact environnemental global.

The process should encompass planning, design, and procurement, incorporating alternative solutions for materials that may already exist. While plastics were absent in the pre-industrial revolution era, they are prevalent today. Reverting to ancient design structures for products is a viable approach. Investing efforts in these phases can result environmentally friendly products, leading to the generation of bio-degradable waste.

To reduce waste in system design, prioritize efficient resource use, adopt modular and recyclable components, focus on energy efficiency, minimize packaging, consider digital alternatives, and assess environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle. Collaboration and lean design principles also play key roles in promoting sustainability.

If one was to design it in such a way that there isn’t any waste to begin with or the by-products can be used in another industry, then you won’t have a problem to begin with. Then you have to change the way people think about products. No more disposable products.

To reduce waste in system design, prioritize modularity for easy upgrades, conduct lifecycle assessments, optimize energy efficiency, choose recyclable materials, embrace circular design principles, implement lean manufacturing, use smart packaging, optimize software for resource efficiency, educate users on responsible practices, and collaborate with industry partners to adhere to environmental standards.

This point is phrased slightly incorrectly, reuse in the circular model does not mean the reuse of waste, it means designing products to be reused. In the linear economy the bottle that carries the milk is single use and in accountancy terms, a 'cost of sale' for that milk. In the circular model, the milk bottle is redesigned (note the purposeful irony of my example) to be a reusable bottle that is returned and cleaned many times, until it reaches a point either aesthetically or functionally where it can not be used any more, at which point it is recycled and all of its raw materials used again to make another milk bottle. Here the bottle is an 'asset' of the supplying company.

To reuse waste in system design, consider incorporating recycled materials into product components, adopt modular designs allowing for component repurposing, and explore innovative approaches like upcycling or remanufacturing to give discarded elements a second life within the system.

Reuse waste in system design by repurposing materials, implementing circular economy models, employing upcycling techniques, utilizing reclaimed components, and integrating waste-to-resource approaches in the design and manufacturing process.

Reuse waste in system design through upcycling, salvaging components, material recovery, repurposing, circular design, waste-to-energy, collaborative initiatives, and community engagement. These strategies promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

Care must be taken with the recycling approach, 100% recycling is being used as an example of a circular model, while in isolation, it is NOT a circular system. Recycling must only happen at the very end of life of a product after it has been reused and repaired as many times as practical. Recycling is not a clean process, it is also very rare that recycled materials can be used for the same grade of product, often they are downcycled into other products with less value. It is this point that needs to be addressed in system design, closed loop design and the initial design of products with a mind to not only the easy recycling of that product, but also what those recycled products can be made into and their intrinsic value to the system.

Recycle waste in system design by establishing closed-loop processes, incorporating recyclable materials, designing products for disassembly, partnering with recycling facilities, and advocating for responsible disposal and recycling practices throughout the product lifecycle.

Waste-free system design brings environmental conservation, cost savings, resource efficiency, circular economy contribution, regulatory compliance, positive brand image, innovation, long-term viability, and employee morale benefits. It fosters sustainability and responsible resource management.

Waste-free system design yields benefits such as reduced environmental impact, resource conservation, cost savings through improved efficiency, and increased market appeal due to growing consumer demand for sustainable products.

Benefits of waste-free system design: Environmental conservation, resource efficiency, cost savings, innovation opportunities, positive brand image, regulatory compliance, and positive community impact.

To start waste-free system design: assess current systems, set clear objectives, research sustainable practices, collaborate with stakeholders, provide training, conduct lifecycle analysis, apply design principles, choose eco-friendly materials, prototype and iterate, and establish ongoing monitoring for continuous improvement.

Begin your waste-free system design journey by conducting a comprehensive assessment of your product's lifecycle, emphasizing modularity, prioritizing recyclable materials, optimizing energy efficiency, and educating stakeholders. Implementing circular design principles and collaborating with partners committed to sustainability are key steps toward waste reduction.

In our experience with Veribli is that engagement with consumers is the most important part of the whole process. Product designers and design away, system designers can build closed loops, yet, if the consumer is not onboard either through ideology or ignorance the circular system will fail. That is why we build Veribli, to allow that engagement to be built with consumers using reusable containers. Success through engagement.