Infuse circular principles into product development through sustainable materials that are recyclable and biodegradable by design.
Materials are the building blocks of the products we make and consume daily. However, the choice of materials has a significant impact on the environmental footprint of a product.
Today, to fulfill the economic demands of a rising population, industries are relying on new virgin materials almost exclusively, which leads to rising material extraction and usage. As outlined in the 2023 Circularity Gap Report by Circle Economy, around 90% of materials are wasted, lost or unavailable for reuse and recycling.
In Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s butterfly diagram, the circular economy system “illustrates the continuous flow of materials in a circular economy through two main cycles — the technical cycle and biological cycle.” In the technical cycle, materials are kept in circulation through reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycling processes. In the biological cycle, biodegradable materials are returned to the soil through composting and anaerobic digestion.
Have you always selected materials based on cost, availability and performance?
In a linear economy, traditional material selection often falls short in addressing the entire lifecycle of a product. Instead, you should adopt a more comprehensive outlook. At least 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined during the design stage, according to research by UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Decisions made at the design stage influence how long the product lasts, what it’s made of, if it can be repaired, and what happens to it at the end of life.
By integrating circular economy principles, you can improve the product development process to emphasize durability, reparability and ease of disassembly with an extended lifespan while simplifying recycling and remanufacturing stages. This shift requires a collaborative platform where your design, engineering and manufacturing teams work in tandem to use renewable materials that are not only innovative but also environmentally responsible.
The journey towards a circular economy beckons companies to push the boundaries and pioneer new materials that leave a minimal ecological footprint. Why? The reason is traditional materials, while functional, can pose challenges during material separation and recovery. The way forward is to optimize materials for biodegradable and technical cycles.
A circular economy transition necessitates a comprehensive overhaul of existing practices, extending beyond the materials’ design. You can catalyze change by revamping chemical processes to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of materials that are hard to recycle. This involves developing new technologies and improving existing chemical processes to separate and recover materials from complex products, such as electronics or batteries.
Cutting-edge advancements in modeling and molecular simulation enable the transformation of complex materials into reusable components. When discarded materials are upgraded into valuable resources, companies can extract greater value from their existing inventory. Furthermore, innovative chemical processes can streamline recycling management and the remanufacturing of these materials, which reduces energy consumption and waste generation.
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Turning circularity plans into action is potent for risk mitigation and future-proofing. As the regulatory landscapes evolve and environmental concerns intensify, companies proactively embracing circular practices are better positioned to navigate shifting compliance requirements, boost supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on volatile raw material markets.
The shift towards a circular economy hinges upon material selection, design and innovation. With the right circularity strategy incorporating sustainable materials, you can secure tangible results and make a circular economy achievable and profitable.
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