Circularity starts at the design stage
The central challenge of a circular economy is to preserve the value of products and materials for as long as possible. This requires design decisions, business models and collaboration across value chains—not simply an end-of-life solution.
There is no universal solution
The appropriate strategy depends on the product, its materials, use patterns and available infrastructure. Durability may be the priority for a long-lived product; in other cases, repair, reuse, remanufacturing or recycling may play different roles.
Examples discussed in the Inspiration Guide – Circular Design include footwear designed for easier disassembly and recycling, flooring incorporating recovered materials, and identification technologies that can improve the sorting of plastic packaging.
Assess impacts and trade-offs
A circular solution should be assessed in relation to its function and the system in which it will be used. Questions include whether greater durability actually extends service life, whether collection logistics are viable, and whether recycling produces material of sufficient quality to replace virgin inputs.
Life Cycle Assessment can help identify impact shifting between life-cycle stages and environmental impact categories. Circularity does not automatically guarantee better environmental performance: results depend on the actual alternatives displaced and the conditions of implementation.
Circular design is therefore a process of informed choice. The best strategy is the one that preserves value and reduces impacts in the specific product context.