Design for a Circular Economy

This course delves into the creation of products in a sustainable, circular manner, emphasizing the critical role of initial design in determining a product's environmental impact. It explores how designing for recyclability, repairability, and reusability of components goes beyond mere material choice, requiring considerations of business models, recycling processes, and collaborative ecosystems. You’ll learn about circular and regenerative design principles, the importance of design in product and packaging development, and how nature and technology can inspire sustainable solutions. Featuring insights from design and biomimicry experts, along with speakers from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WRAP, packaging providers, and consumer goods companies, the course offers a comprehensive understanding of how to foster a circular economy through thoughtful design.

• What Is Design?
• Course introduction
• Introduction to design
• Introduction to circular design
• Designing circular products and packaging
• Other design topics – process, experience, systems
• Biomimicry
• Downloads
• Assignment Week 1
• Circular Design and Packaging
• Packaging – What's it ever done for us?
• Packaging – unintended consequences
• The regulatory context
• Thinking systematically about packaging
• Customer example – circular packaging
• Downloads
• Assignment Week 2
• How Is SAP Tackling Design for a Circular Economy?
• SAP Responsible Design and Production
• Responsible design features
• Wrap-up and new trends
• Downloads
• Assignment Week 3