Figure 1. The circular economy
An Ethical Circular Design approach implies moving away from the ‘take, make, use, and discard’ model toward one that places greater value on resources. This involves efficient use of materials and extending the lifespan of products and components. It can be achieved by minimizing material consumption, eliminating waste at the design stage, and prioritizing items that are repairable, reusable, and recyclable. At the end of their lifecycle, assemblies or parts should be reused or recycled at their highest possible value. Moreover, CE extends beyond material flows — its principles can be applied holistically to other resource systems such as water and energy. The overarching aim is to prevent value leakage while shifting from resource extraction to resource regeneration.
Figure 2. Circular design criteria
Global Outlook on Ethical Circular Design and Circularity
Although the circular economy has been on the international agenda for years, its contribution to the global economy remains modest. According to the 2024 Circularity Gap Report, only 7.2% of worldwide economic activity qualifies as circular.
The circular economy represents a model that emphasizes sustainable and efficient resource use. Instead of extracting raw inputs, producing goods, generating emissions, and discarding them, CE seeks to minimize resource use, extend product lifespans, reuse materials, generate value beyond physical goods, and regenerate ecosystems simultaneously.
Within the Ethical Circular Design framework, actions align with the planet’s finite resources and the well-being of all living systems. This means addressing interconnected challenges such as climate change, biodiversity decline, and inequality, while reducing chemical pollution, ocean acidification, freshwater shortages, and harmful land-use impacts — thereby protecting planetary boundaries. Organizations within this model pursue two main aims: minimizing harm and maximizing positive impact.
Principles of Ethical Circular Design
From the outset, design should ensure that products integrate seamlessly into a circular system. This requires designers to understand user needs and define the product’s purpose and lifespan.
Ethical Circular Design merges CE principles with design methodologies, offering practical tools and creative approaches to guide the transition toward a sustainable future — one product, service, or business model at a time. It is not limited to technical fixes; rather, it is a transformative philosophy that redefines the role of enterprises in shaping sustainable futures. It signals a fundamental shift in mindset, practice, and culture, driving new forms of innovation and business transformation.
1. Eliminate waste and pollution
Reduce waste generation, maximize material efficiency, and minimize harm by designing for durability, adaptability, and safety.
2. Keep products and materials in circulation
Select reused or recycled components, repurpose existing assets, and integrate end-of-life planning into the design process.
3. Regenerate natural systems
Transition from extractive to regenerative models, enabling buildings and infrastructure to support and restore ecosystems (e.g., green infrastructure).
Figure 3. Circular Business Model
As with all design choices, trade-offs may arise — for example, balancing waste reduction with safety, structural integrity, and longevity.
Contact us today to learn how LA NPDT can assist in realizing your project.
Evolution of Ethical Circular Design
Over the past three decades, multiple frameworks have emerged to improve environmental performance:
- Green Design – addressing single issues (e.g., recyclability).
- Eco Design – considering the entire product life cycle.
- Sustainable Design – integrating ecological, economic, and social dimensions.
Today, Ethical Circular Design builds upon these by embedding systemic and ethical responsibility across all stages of design and use.
From Linear Models to Circular Thinking
Conventional design often prioritized aesthetics and marketing, overlooking long-term impacts and end-of-life concerns. Practices such as planned obsolescence encouraged continuous consumption.
In contrast, Ethical Circular Design embraces systems thinking, promoting closed-loop material cycles and supporting repair, reuse, remanufacture, and recycling.
Strategies for Ethical Circular Design in the Built Environment
- Design for durability
- Design for adaptability and flexibility
- Maximize circularity and enable disassembly
- Optimize material efficiency
- Implement best-practice waste management
- Reuse existing assets and resources
- Choose products with recycled content
- Use disassemblable components
- Select materials with clear end-of-life pathways
- Opt for low-impact resources
- Integrate green infrastructure
- Maintain a materials database
- Adopt product-as-a-service models
These strategies ensure circularity is embedded throughout planning, delivery, and operations, while fostering collaboration and maximizing value across project stages.
Business Transformation Through Circular Design
Ethical Circular Design redefines business models, replacing the outdated “take-make-dispose” paradigm. Design decisions at the product stage determine durability, costs, and end-of-life outcomes. Transitioning requires rethinking:
- Products
- Production processes
- Services
- Business models
This transformation integrates creativity, systemic awareness, sustainability, and ethics, positioning businesses for long-term resilience while contributing to a regenerative economy.
Updating Business Practices with Ethical Circular Design
Organizations should embrace continuous learning and transparency while embedding Ethical Circular Design into operations. Key questions include:
- How well does your organization understand CE principles?
- Are they integrated into culture, policies, and strategies?
- Has product development shifted from linear to circular approaches?
- Do services extend product lifespans (repair, rental, leasing)?
- Does marketing emphasize durability, recyclability, and ethical responsibility?
Achieving Ethical Circular Products
Transformation requires changes across:
- The chain: repair, reuse, refurbish, recycle.
- Revenue models: shifting from ownership to usage (leasing, product-as-service).
- Product design: enabling repair, refurbishment, and recycling.
Alignment of these ensures successful Ethical Circular Design transitions.
Ethical Trade-Offs and Potential Pitfalls
Challenges include:
- Overdesign: ultra-durable products may consume more resources initially.
- Labor transitions: extractive industries may lose jobs, requiring reskilling and safety nets.
- Rebound effect: efficiency gains may lower costs, spurring higher consumption.
- Global waste chains: exporting waste to low-income countries raises equity concerns.
Balancing innovation with accountability requires anticipating such unintended consequences.
