Transitioning to a circular economy
Designers and the design industry have a key role to play in transitioning to a circular economy, where the life, value and functionality of products (and materials) is prolonged.
Indeed, design for durability, repair and reuse can be seen as the ‘first responders’ when considering solutions and preventative measures that can avoid and reduce waste. Design for durability and repairability are preventative measures that effectively aim to design-out waste from the outset. Good design necessarily strives to create products that are fit-for-purpose, safe to use, durable, life-enhancing, repairable, accessible, and affordable without impacting on human health and the environment.
Simply adopting a ‘less harm’ approach will not deliver a sustainable or desirable future for Australia. A recent review of our Product Stewardship Act specifically recommends the objectives of the legislation be broadened to include product design improvements related to repairability, as well as durability, re-usability and recyclability.
The DIA believes that self-repair and professional repair services should co-exist in order to provide the market with diverse options for both domestic and business consumers. Increased reparability and durability, without compromising user safety, can deliver responsible prosperity and environmental benefit, solid waste avoidance and reduction, community empowerment and a greater sense of consumer control over the goods they purchase and use. Design for high levels of repairability can be the difference between easy and straightforward repair and difficult or impossible repair. Design can also help to make the repair process more affordable and safe by integrating specific design for disassembly/reassembly product features.
Additionally, when considered from the outset, design can help to prevent premature product obsolescence and early or unnecessary disposal of product, when they could otherwise last longer. This is especially relevant to product classes such electrical and electronic devices, which are proliferating in society and constitute one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. Increasing consumer distaste with premature and planned obsolescence is part of the reason for seeing great interest in self-repair.
Key design decisions may also impact on the longevity or lifespan of a product. Designers can contribute to waste avoidance and reduction by adopting a repairability mindset. Creating products with longer lifespans and allowing prolonged product life through repairability is an important step toward achieving a circular economy by diverting end-of-life products from landfill and maximising their functionality, value and environmental benefit. Designers have a leading role in shaping a sustainable future that includes paying greater attention to benign and renewable materials, waste avoidance, re-use, repair and recycling.
Denise Ryan
DIA Senior Policy Adviser
