Sustainability & Circular Economy

Today I re-encounter my experience in the world of Sustainability & Circular Economy at Rosenheim University during my week-long course abroad. As someone who is interested to creating a more sustainable future, I couldn’t wait to dive into this topic, which perfectly aligns with my long-term career goals. In this blog post, I will discuss my university experience and the valuable insights I gained. It’s never too early to begin exploring and comprehending the ideas that will shape our future, and I’m excited to share my discoveries with you all. So, let us explore the possibilities together for a greener, more circular world.

On the first day of classes we jumped right into the heart of sustainability. The first session focused on the three fundamental pillars that support sustainability: social, environmental, and economic factors. Understanding the interdependence of these pillars is critical for developing holistic solutions that can drive positive change in our society and on the planet. My peers have also travelled the world to get here and together we made up a class of over 26 different nationalities. We also delved into sustainable product development, where the scope and framework conditions opened our eyes to the complexities involved in creating products that align with sustainable principles. It was more than just incorporating eco-friendly materials; it was about considering the entire lifecycle of the product, from sourcing to end-of-use; not just calling it end-of-life.

One of the most intriguing concepts we explored was the Value Hill model. This visual representation showcased the transition from our current linear economic model (take, make, dispose) to the regenerative circular economy model. Witnessing the potential for a circular economy, where resources are continuously cycled, regenerated, and waste is minimized. Along with this we learnt valuable political information on sustainability, as these concepts go hand in hand. We explored the commission proposal ESPR (Ecodesign Requirements for Sustainable Product Regulation). This proposal is a significant step towards advancing sustainable product development on a broader scale within the European Union. ESPR aims to set mandatory ecodesign requirements for various product categories, ensuring that products placed on the EU market meet high sustainability standards.

The most interesting part of the ESPR proposal is article 7 & 8; Information to empower the customer. All too often is the data of the product (instructions for use, maintenance, disassembly) lost through the customer when at it’s end-of-use. The recycler has mostly unavailable information to them about the product, making the reuse of the product difficult. Article 8 wants to introduce a DPP (Digital Product Password) and PCDS (Product Circularity Data Sheet) that contains standardized and trustworthy information on the circularity of a product. Therefore, the digitalization of this sector vastly improves the impact that the product has on the environment.

Another vital aspect of sustainable product design is the concept of narrowing flows, slowing resource flows, and closing them. “Narrowing resource flows” refers to the practice of conserving resources and minimizing the consumption of raw materials during the production and use of products. It involves using materials more efficiently, reducing waste, etc. “Slowing resource flows” entails designing products for durability and longevity. It means creating items that are robust, repairable, and resistant to obsolescence. By extending the lifespan of products, we can reduce the frequency of replacements and, in turn, lower the overall resource demand. On the other hand, “Closing resource flows” involves designing products with end-of-life considerations. The goal is to enable easy disassembly, facilitate recycling, and promote the reuse of materials in new products.

We also learnt about Circular Business Strategies, to promote companies the transition to Circular Economy; a system that is restorative and regenerative by intention and design. While anyone can acknowledge these principles; using less material, using compostable resources and focus on recycling, where does this happen in the real world? I’d like to therefore share an example with you. The first strategy being circular sourcing. Going back to the value hill model, the price of a product gradually increases as more energy is put into it; extraction, manufacturing, distribution etc. Therefore if we create a low-energy product; less energy is required to then destroy it and devalue it. A company called Ecovative focuses on mycelium materials, they have developed a biomaterial platform technology using mushroom roots which bind together agricultural by-products (like corn stalks) that aim to replace petrochemical plastics. The process self-assembles into any shape without the use of fossil fuel inputs. The result is a compostable biobased and vastly renewable product to make products such as bowls, cups etc. The company sources their production inputs from local farmers, creating additional revenues for otherwise unused by-products. This is just the first circular business strategies out of ten!

While there is so much more to talk about, discuss and learn. I’d like to leave it here as a little cliffhanger. I am more inspired than ever to pursue a career focused on sustainability and circular economy. As the knowledge gained during this week has equipped me with the tools to contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable world. It is clear that sustainability is not just a fleeting trend but a collective responsibility we must embrace to secure a better future for ourselves and the planet. Of course I hope you learnt something too!