Circular Design: Round and Round We Go

A deep dive into the structure of a circular economy, and how it differs from the linear economy we have today.

Technology is rapidly growing at rates that are unfathomable. Just a couple of years ago, our handheld devices had home buttons. Yet, this rapid growth is not only contributing to the successes of our generation but also the destruction of our environment and ecosystem. Therefore, the quicker we make changes to the production and recycling of these products, the better the outlook for our future. Circular design and growth are among one the many ways to do this within the technology industry.

What is circular design?

Circular design refers to an ecosystem that, theoretically, can achieve the bounds of zero waste. Now, in any given ecosystem, there will be some surmountable waste. But, the idea of a circular design uses the constructs of reusable products in order to reduce e-waste. Essentially, a product that has found the end of its life can be repurposed to either its initial purpose through repair or something entirely different through certain adjustments.

How can circular design be implemented?

From what we know, there are some aspects of circular design that are specifically for manufacturers, and some specifically for consumers.

Here are the specific aspects for manufacturers:

1. Modular Design: This type of design refers to the individuality of each specific component of a piece of technology. This design makes replacing specific parts much easier in a device. Therefore, waste is minimized by only changing one part rather than the entire device itself.
2. Material Selection: Today’s technology often finds itself using hazardous and non-environmentally friendly materials such as lithium for batteries and other harmful trace metals. Finding alternatives wherever possible can help increase the recyclability of a product.
3. Design of Disassembly: A lot of products today use adhesive glues and other methods of assembly that make it difficult to remove specific parts. By using methods that are efficient such as universal screws on the device, it would be easier to replace these parts that would rather require the whole device to be discarded.
4. Extended Product Lifespan: The more time a product can last, the less overall e-waste produced. Products such as the iPhone release models every year, but if companies focus on models that are built for durability, the need for premature disposal is greatly reduced.

Now, it’s not a guarantee that a lot of these companies oblige by these standards. After all, from a business standpoint, it’s not the most feasible solution. But, as consumers, we can control certain things, like the products we buy, and the messages we spread.

Here are the specific aspects to keep in mind for us consumers:

1. Recycling Programs: Machines such as the EcoATM have provided a formidable recycling option for technology in many stores around us. With the recycling of an old technology product, the consumer has the incentive of receiving some monetary value, depending on the condition of the device.
2. Consumer Education and Awareness: Sometimes, words speak greater than actions. Simply spreading the word could be the difference between someone throwing away an old device and someone recycling it. Educating people on the proper techniques of e-recycling is crucial to the goal of zero waste.

Now, the idea of a circular design is not an end-all-be-all solution. There’s no world in which we have zero waste. But, if we all take the small steps to ensure that we’re monitoring our own individual e-waste, we can ensure the stability of our planet. We’ve seen how the linear economy has disrupted the environment in various ways. And now it’s time to make a change in how we look at the bigger picture of e-waste.