circular design: the art of keeping products and materials in use
in sustainable design
Keep products and materials in use is one of the founding principles of a circular economy model. Like two sides of the same coin, this principle includes two complementary aspects: replacing virgin resources with recycled inputs when making new products, and designing products that last as long as possible in the first place.
Let’s then explore some insights and connections that come from keeping products and materials in use, with examples from sustainable interior design.
keep materials in use
Producing new objects shouldn’t necessarily need new materials. In fact, the useful life of materials is often much longer than the one of the objects they’re used for. Reusing the same materials for multiple production cycles is then a viable, efficient and intelligent choice that opens to interesting stories…
connecting industries
Besides being a sustainable move, recycling production offcuts and discarded products is an opportunity to build a bridge between industries.
For instance, waste from the fashion industry can be used for interior products and vice versa. This is quite straightforward if we think about it, but in real life we often look at industries as independent silos, forgetting that – from a sustainability point of view – what counts is the cumulative effect of all industries on the environment.
Product selection from riivin:
- discarded clothes baskets - Salandére by EA-Déco
- fabric scraps lamp - Sonia Laudet by Market Set
translating material properties
Keeping materials in use also means repurposing existing components for new uses. This approach looks beyond individual industries and concentrates on physical properties instead.
An example? A sailing boat can be separated into several components, among which are sails. From a practical point of view, sails are waterproof and hard-wearing pieces of fabric. So why not repurpose them as outdoor-safe textiles?
Product selection from riivin:
- repurposed sails outdoor chair - Lazy Transat by Les Toiles du Large
continuing stories through objects
Objects often become symbols of fascinating stories. And reusing old materials can make those stories last in time.
Winemaking is one of those processes whose charm can be transported out of caves and into homes thanks to interior objects that repurpose waste at the same time…
Product selection from riivin:
- wine barrels tray - Provence Platter by Provence Platters
keep products in use
What we’ve seen so far are all examples of keeping materials in use. Keeping products in use is the other side of the coin, which calls for extending product lifecycles as much as possible.
Making sturdy products that are meant to last long is the starting point. On top of this, it’s important to think about options in case a product gets damaged or breaks down along the way.
open for repairs
Repairing is an old skill that got lost in recent times. An interesting way of bringing it back into the furniture industry is offering spare parts that give end-users the chance to restore damaged pieces.
Product selection from riivin:
- chair with spare parts available - Cross by Takt
adapting to life
Needs change over time and objects should be able to evolve accordingly. A product that can adapt to new needs remains relevant, and its owner will automatically keep it in use.
Product selection from riivin:
- modular bench - Wait by Nola
take-back programs
Keeping products in use requires giving more options to the end-user. But we should also consider that people might – for a number of reasons – need to part with certain objects. This opens big questions about how to dispose of old pieces and what to do with pieces that are still in good condition.
Take-back programs are a solution that benefits all parties. End-users get a sustainable answer to their dilemmas. Manufacturers save on production costs as they recycle materials or reuse existing components in new products.
Compared to leaving the disposal question open, take-back programs generate less waste while saving virgin resources.
Product selection from riivin:
- textile waste artwork - Looking out by Wasteless Wonders
- wool felt lamp - Luma Unika by LumaLano
To sum up, embracing closed-loop principles is not just a sustainable design goal. It’s also an art that revives stories and connects industries through the many lives of a material. An art that allows products to carry personal life stories through adaptations and repairs. An art that tells a story of respect for our planet and its resources.
For more inspiration on this topic, head over to riivin: the sustainable interior design platform I curate.
