Abstract
The transition to a circular economy (CE) is challenged by the presence of hazardous
substances, also known as substances of concern (SoC), in products. SoC are used in various
applications such as electronics, textiles, and toys, and can cause harmful effects on human health and
the environment. The topic of SoC in products has been predominantly studied in the fields of chemical
engineering and material sciences to develop alternative chemicals and materials. However, methods
to safely deal with SoC from the product design perspective are currently limited. This paper aims to
address this issue and presents a first version of a Safe and Circular by Design Method. This method
supports designers when (re)developing products containing SoC by mitigating or managing the
associated risks, resulting in products that last and are safe for the circular economy. The method is
based on the results obtained in a previous study on five historical cases of product-substance
combinations (IenW, 2022), which identified and classified design strategies to deal with SoC in
products. The method involves guiding designers through a comprehensive analysis of the productSoC combination and its context, considering all stages of the lifecycle(s). The results of the analysis
help designers identify action points, informing their decision when selecting and developing mitigation
strategies. The method also recommends a list of possible strategies to deal with the SoC. The selected
strategies can be qualitatively assessed by the designer to identify their benefits, drawbacks, and
tradeoffs.
substances, also known as substances of concern (SoC), in products. SoC are used in various
applications such as electronics, textiles, and toys, and can cause harmful effects on human health and
the environment. The topic of SoC in products has been predominantly studied in the fields of chemical
engineering and material sciences to develop alternative chemicals and materials. However, methods
to safely deal with SoC from the product design perspective are currently limited. This paper aims to
address this issue and presents a first version of a Safe and Circular by Design Method. This method
supports designers when (re)developing products containing SoC by mitigating or managing the
associated risks, resulting in products that last and are safe for the circular economy. The method is
based on the results obtained in a previous study on five historical cases of product-substance
combinations (IenW, 2022), which identified and classified design strategies to deal with SoC in
products. The method involves guiding designers through a comprehensive analysis of the productSoC combination and its context, considering all stages of the lifecycle(s). The results of the analysis
help designers identify action points, informing their decision when selecting and developing mitigation
strategies. The method also recommends a list of possible strategies to deal with the SoC. The selected
strategies can be qualitatively assessed by the designer to identify their benefits, drawbacks, and
tradeoffs.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | 5th PLATE Conference Espoo, Finland |
Place of Publication | Espoo, Finland |
Publisher | Aalto University |
Pages | 60-70 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-952-64-1367-9 |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2023 |
Event | PLATE 2023: 5th PLATE Conference - Espoo, Finland Duration: 31 May 2023 → 2 Jun 2023 |
Conference
Conference | PLATE 2023 |
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Country/Territory | Finland |
City | Espoo |
Period | 31/05/23 → 2/06/23 |