Imagine living in a new world where you could re-design everything: from objects to houses, from business models to economic systems. The good news is: we are already living in this new world. With all the current disruptive tools and technologies: artificial intelligence, internet of things and biomimicry – our design aspirations are limited only by our creativity. So why not challenge ourselves to re-think, re-design and re-purpose?
Our new column on the award-winning blog ITALIANBARK is an invitation to this challenge. Come along and let’s dive into the brave new world of circular economy and circular design.
Circular economy: no landfill required
In nature, there is no landfill as there isn’t waste. In other words, materials flow in circles, one species’ waste is another species’ food. Things grow, die and return to the soil. Then the cycle begins again and is circular.
Humans, instead, live in a much linear “mode”. In fact, the dominant economy is linear as “we take, we make and we dispose of”. Therefore, no wonder landfills are ever-growing and having all sorts of negative impacts on the planet.
Instead, a circular approach to economy challenges us to incorporate the living world cyclical model where resources are kept in use for as long as possible and then retaken and regenerated at the end of their service life.
The circular economy is based on three principles:
- Design out waste and pollution
- Keep products and materials in use
- Regenerate natural systems
Continue reading the full article on ITALIANBARK