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Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 42799

Special Issue Editors

Department of Engineering and Architecture, Parma University, 43124 Parma, Italy
Interests: engineering design; eco-design; life cycle engineering; product development; design methods; design tools
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The design and development of products for daily use is changing due to the new constraints derived by the paradigms of sustainability and circular economy. Designers and engineers are called to rethink the way products are conceived, anticipating life cycle and end of life issues in the early phase of design where the degree of freedom to change the product features are higher and the impacts most effective.

Environmental performance has become an important aspect of design together with the other classical design drivers, such as quality, safety, functionality and ergonomics. Eco-design methodologies need to be effective in daily engineering practices, enhancing circular business models by means of product life cycle extension and effective management of closed-loop, end-of-life strategies (i.e., product reuse, product re-manufacturing, and material recycling).

Papers exploring novel eco-design methodologies, and strongly oriented to circular economy and life cycle engineering, are invited. Case studies focusing on the new paradigm of circular economy or its measurement by means of circular indicators (i.e., disassembly, resource demand, LCA, and social engagement) are also welcome.

The papers selected for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

Prof. Claudio Favi
Prof. Marco Marconi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ecodesign methods and ecodesigned products
  • design for circular economy
  • design for disassembly
  • product reuse, remanufacturing and recycling
  • product end-of-life management
  • sustainability assessment of products and manufacturing processes
  • life cycle engineering and related topics

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 3932 KiB  
Article
Methodology of Eco-Design and Software Development for Sustainable Product Design
by Víctor Camañes, Rafael Tobajas and Angel Fernandez
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072626 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 311
Abstract
In the face of the growing social recognition of environmental awareness and emerging regulations in countries where targets include the reduction of the CO2 footprint in the industrial sector, several companies are facing the challenge of introducing environmental impacts as new key [...] Read more.
In the face of the growing social recognition of environmental awareness and emerging regulations in countries where targets include the reduction of the CO2 footprint in the industrial sector, several companies are facing the challenge of introducing environmental impacts as new key design criteria. To successfully launch new products with optimized environmental impact, it is crucial to apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) during the design phase. However, the design process of any product is a process where materials, production processes, concepts, and various design factors are constantly changing, which requires an agile LCA calculation for its effective inclusion during the iterative design process. This paper presents an eco-design methodology, based on the adaptation of the LCA method to the changing design environment, through the adaptation of LCA stages to the design process, the customization of environmental databases to the product of the company, and the development of a software tool for its application during the earlier design phases. This methodology assists designers to save efforts during the calculation process, with different integration levels of environmental data, according to LCA phases established by ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. The effectiveness of this methodology will be shown with a real case study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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30 pages, 8494 KiB  
Article
Development of the Circular Product Readiness Method in Circular Design
by Nina Boorsma, Esra Polat, Conny Bakker, David Peck and Ruud Balkenende
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9288; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159288 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3259
Abstract
Design indicators can be used by companies to track circular design implementation, which can yield insights into their performance and opportunities for improvement. Yet, existing indicator methods either lack depth with regard to circular design, are incomplete, or do not use design semantics. [...] Read more.
Design indicators can be used by companies to track circular design implementation, which can yield insights into their performance and opportunities for improvement. Yet, existing indicator methods either lack depth with regard to circular design, are incomplete, or do not use design semantics. This study explores product-level circularity indicators, with the aim of developing a comprehensive circularity indicator method specifically aimed at designers. The method development process follows a three step Design Science Research approach. It comprises a literature review and knowledge coproduction sessions with circular design experts on topics such as durability, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. Furthermore, it includes company evaluations with two multinational corporations operating in the white goods and automotive industries. The study delivers the first indicator method for assessing circular product design on a broad range of aspects, including levels of readiness, company strengths, and opportunities for improvement. The method uses product design semantics to evaluate design aspects, takes a comprehensive view of the full life cycle, and has been specifically developed for industry use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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17 pages, 3177 KiB  
Article
Circular Composites by Design: Testing a Design Method in Industry
by Jelle Joustra, Conny Bakker, Riel Bessai and Ruud Balkenende
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7993; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137993 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1765
Abstract
The design of composite products for a circular economy is challenging. Materials such as glass-fibre-reinforced plastics have long product lifetimes but are hard to recycle. For the effective reuse and recycling of products, parts, and materials, recovery strategies must be selected and implemented [...] Read more.
The design of composite products for a circular economy is challenging. Materials such as glass-fibre-reinforced plastics have long product lifetimes but are hard to recycle. For the effective reuse and recycling of products, parts, and materials, recovery strategies must be selected and implemented in the product design stage. This extends the scope and complexity of the design process and requires additional skills from the designers. We developed a novel circular composites design method for products containing composite materials to support designers and improve product circularity. This method, which is the first of its kind to address the circular design of composite products, helps designers explore recovery pathways and generate design solutions. In this study, we evaluated the method’s effectiveness, accessibility, and usability in design practice. We tested the method with five design case studies in the construction, furniture, and automotive industries. The method was used to generate, evaluate, communicate, and detail product designs. We found that two of the five cases used the method to develop circular product concepts. In the other three cases, recycling rather than product-level recovery strategies was the result, with a focus on improving the material formulations instead of the overall product design. Although the designers considered the method accessible and usable, its effectiveness was restricted by the existing business, logistics, reprocessing technology, and policy contexts. These factors are intertwined and partly dictate the boundary conditions of the design, which means that to successfully implement the proposed method, the transition to a circular economy requires a holistic approach to adjust the design process, organisations, and value chains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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26 pages, 6363 KiB  
Article
Engineering Design Process of Face Masks Based on Circularity and Life Cycle Assessment in the Constraint of the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Núria Boix Rodríguez, Giovanni Formentini, Claudio Favi and Marco Marconi
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4948; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094948 - 28 Apr 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5646
Abstract
Face masks are currently considered key equipment to protect people against the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for such devices is considerable, as is the amount of plastic waste generated after their use (approximately 1.6 million tons/day since the outbreak). Even if the sanitary [...] Read more.
Face masks are currently considered key equipment to protect people against the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for such devices is considerable, as is the amount of plastic waste generated after their use (approximately 1.6 million tons/day since the outbreak). Even if the sanitary emergency must have the maximum priority, environmental concerns require investigation to find possible mitigation solutions. The aim of this work is to develop an eco-design actions guide that supports the design of dedicated masks, in a manner to reduce the negative impacts of these devices on the environment during the pandemic period. Toward this aim, an environmental assessment based on life cycle assessment and circularity assessment (material circularity indicator) of different types of masks have been carried out on (i) a 3D-printed mask with changeable filters, (ii) a surgical mask, (iii) an FFP2 mask with valve, (iv) an FFP2 mask without valve, and (v) a washable mask. Results highlight how reusable masks (i.e., 3D-printed masks and washable masks) are the most sustainable from a life cycle perspective, drastically reducing the environmental impacts in all categories. The outcomes of the analysis provide a framework to derive a set of eco-design guidelines which have been used to design a new device that couples protection requirements against the virus and environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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19 pages, 1466 KiB  
Article
Circular Economy in Industrial Design Research: A Review
by Kirsten van Dam, Luca Simeone, Duygu Keskin, Brian Baldassarre, Monia Niero and Nicola Morelli
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10279; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410279 - 09 Dec 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6745
Abstract
In the past decades, industrial design practice and research have focused extensively on how to optimize production and consumption, as a way to prevent negative environmental impacts, such as resource depletion, pollution, and excessive waste. Recently, the “circular economy” concept is increasingly used [...] Read more.
In the past decades, industrial design practice and research have focused extensively on how to optimize production and consumption, as a way to prevent negative environmental impacts, such as resource depletion, pollution, and excessive waste. Recently, the “circular economy” concept is increasingly used to achieve environmental benefits and economic growth simultaneously. Industrial design can contribute to a circular economy by fostering systems changes to achieve durability, optimal reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling of products and materials. Indeed, researchers have examined both the theoretical and practical aspects of how design knowledge can support the transition to a circular economy. However, this body of knowledge has not been systematically analyzed yet. To address this critical gap, this paper poses the following question: How has industrial design research so far contributed to advancing the circular economy knowledge? Accordingly, we survey relevant design literature focusing on the circular economy, through a review of contributions published in 42 scientific journals. Based on our results, we discuss how industrial design practices can potentially contribute to a circular economy across four thematic areas: (1) design for circular production processes, (2) design for circular consumption, (3) design to support policy towards the circular economy, and (4) design education for the circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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30 pages, 4626 KiB  
Article
Design for and from Recycling: A Circular Ecodesign Approach to Improve the Circular Economy
by Jorge Martínez Leal, Stéphane Pompidou, Carole Charbuillet and Nicolas Perry
Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 9861; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239861 - 25 Nov 2020
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6116
Abstract
In the context of a circular economy, one can observe that (i) recycling chains are not adapted enough to the end-of-life products they have to process and that (ii) products are not sufficiently well designed either to integrate at best their target recycling [...] Read more.
In the context of a circular economy, one can observe that (i) recycling chains are not adapted enough to the end-of-life products they have to process and that (ii) products are not sufficiently well designed either to integrate at best their target recycling chain. Therefore, a synergy between product designers and recycling-chains stakeholders is lacking, mainly due to their weak communication and the time-lag between the product design phase and its end-of-life treatment. Many Design for Recycling approaches coexist in the literature. However, to fully develop a circular economy, Design from Recycling also has to be taken into account. Thus Re-Cycling, a complete circular design approach, is proposed. First, a design for recycling methodology linking recyclability assessment to product design guidelines is proposed. Then, a design from recycling methodology is developed to assess the convenience of using secondary raw materials in the design phase. The recyclability of a smartphone and the convenience of using recycled materials in a new cycle are both analyzed to demonstrate our proposal. The Fairphone 2® and its treatment by the WEEE French takeback scheme are used as a case study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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13 pages, 463 KiB  
Article
Combining Eco-Design and LCA as Decision-Making Process to Prevent Plastics in Packaging Application
by Eleonora Foschi, Sara Zanni and Alessandra Bonoli
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9738; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229738 - 22 Nov 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 9952
Abstract
The diffusion of the culture of sustainability and circular economy increasingly pushes companies to adopt green strategies and integrate circular business models in the corporate agenda. It assumes higher relevance in the packaging industry because of the growing plastics demand, the increasing awareness [...] Read more.
The diffusion of the culture of sustainability and circular economy increasingly pushes companies to adopt green strategies and integrate circular business models in the corporate agenda. It assumes higher relevance in the packaging industry because of the growing plastics demand, the increasing awareness of consumers on single-use-products, the low recyclability performance and last but not least, the challenge of urban littering and microplastics dispersion in marine ecosystem. This paper presents the case of a small-medium enterprise that implemented a decision-making process to rethink the design of frozen food packaging in accordance with systemic and life cycle thinking. Eco-design and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) have been simultaneously used to test and validate the redesign process, thus fostering the substitution of the plastic “open and close” cap with a closing method entirely made of cardboard. Results shows how using an integrated decision-making system at the design stage have allowed to get up many benefits at multiple levels, including sustainable and safe supply chain, efficient logistic operations, better recyclability, and lower energy consumption. Moreover, even if it cannot be assessed by the existing tools, the solution provides a strong contribution to the reduction in the consumption of plastics and the prevention of marine pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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Review

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16 pages, 2631 KiB  
Review
Literature Review by Scientometric Methods on the Impact of the Circular Economy on Sustainable Industrial Products
by Constantin Torcătoru, Dan Săvescu and Angela Repanovici
Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5084; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095084 - 23 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1899
Abstract
The circular economy (CE) is a contemporary concept that includes the use of renewable materials and technologies, making sustainability an important part of corporate management. The paper deals with issues related to the current state of learning and management of the application of [...] Read more.
The circular economy (CE) is a contemporary concept that includes the use of renewable materials and technologies, making sustainability an important part of corporate management. The paper deals with issues related to the current state of learning and management of the application of circular economy concepts—CE. The main purpose of this work is to identify both the interest of industries in the CE field in terms of the principles of eco-design and eco-innovation of sustainable industrial products, as well as the approach and development of the concept during the pandemic period. The authors performed a scientometric analysis in the Web of Science (WOS) database for the CE field, having two search criteria: sustainability and eco-design. As a result, 66 publications from the last five years were retained. Given the higher number of publications in the last three years, CE was found to be a topical area. Out of the 66 publications, using the PRISMA diagram, the authors identified the eligible articles, excluding 15 of them as being only tangential to the CE field and not applied in the industry. Depending on the high frequency of certain keywords, the authors identified three important directions for the CE approach that corroborate and interpret the results obtained: M—management (1); P—packing (2); and L—Learning (3). Following this approach, the authors determined the focus of the manufacturing industries in terms of applying the concepts and principles of CE, thus being able to contribute to the creation of eco-innovation and eco-design practices of industrial products, especially industrial packaging. The paper will also be beneficial for Ph.D. students who show a certain interest in CE and will help develop the following research directions in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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26 pages, 351 KiB  
Review
Design of Consumables in a Resource-Efficient Economy—A Literature Review
by Siri Willskytt
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1036; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031036 - 20 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2215
Abstract
Consumable products have received less attention in the circular economy (CE), particularly in regard to the design of resource-efficient products. This literature review investigates the extent to which existing design guidelines for resource-efficient products are applicable to consumables. This analysis is divided into [...] Read more.
Consumable products have received less attention in the circular economy (CE), particularly in regard to the design of resource-efficient products. This literature review investigates the extent to which existing design guidelines for resource-efficient products are applicable to consumables. This analysis is divided into two parts. The first investigates the extent to which general product-design guidelines (i.e., applicable to both durables and consumables) are applicable to consumables. This analysis also scrutinizes the type of recommendations presented by the ecodesign and circular product design, to investigate the novel aspects of the CE in product design. The second analysis examines the type of design considerations the literature on product-type specific design guidelines recommends for specific consumables and whether such guidelines are transferable. The analysis of general guidelines showed that, although guidelines are intended to be general and applicable to many types of products, their applicability to consumable products is limited. Less than half of their recommendations can be applied to consumables. The analysis also identified several design considerations that are transferable between product-specific design guidelines. This paper shows the importance of the life-cycle perspective in product design, to maximize the opportunities to improve consumables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)

Other

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28 pages, 1825 KiB  
Systematic Review
Perspectives for the Development of a Circular Economy Model to Promote Ship Recycling Practices in the European Context: A Systemic Literature Review
by Francesco Tola, Enrico Maria Mosconi, Marco Marconi and Mattia Gianvincenzi
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5919; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075919 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2517
Abstract
The recovery of materials and components from end-of-life (EoL) ships necessitates the comprehensive demolition of vessels and the implementation of reuse processes to achieve the “circularity” of raw materials, which has potential benefits for economic and environmental sustainability. The European Union’s (EU) legislative [...] Read more.
The recovery of materials and components from end-of-life (EoL) ships necessitates the comprehensive demolition of vessels and the implementation of reuse processes to achieve the “circularity” of raw materials, which has potential benefits for economic and environmental sustainability. The European Union’s (EU) legislative policy, as reflected in the Ship Recycling Regulation, has been shifting towards the establishment of green markets for ship dismantling. Various literature reviews have focused on investigating EoL management and demolition activities for ships, as they play a crucial role in promoting sustainability in the ship value chain. This research aims to enhance the current state of knowledge by linking ship recycling and life cycle management activities with circular economy models. The goal is also to introduce a conceptual framework for the effective recirculation of components and raw materials. Scientific publications have been collected, reviewed, and categorized into strategic clusters to identify current and future challenges, to establish a path for potential developments in a circular economy model for ships, and to suggest future research directions that would support the implementation of a circular economy system for ship eco-design, life cycle management, and recycling. Findings provide valuable insights, particularly regarding the recognition of environmental benefits, business opportunities, and the opening of green markets in the context of ship recycling in the EU. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Eco-Design in the Era of Circular Economy)
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