The First Circular Product Design with Dyneema®

Abstract

DSM Dyneema produces an extremely strong fibre called Dyneema® consisting of Ultra High Molecular weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). The Dyneema® material has been trademarked by its manufacturer as The Greenest strength™. This claim is based on the non-toxic chemical nature of the material and its production, as well as on having the lowest carbon footprint on a strength to weight ratio. Due to this strength of the fibre, less material is required than alternatives to achieve the same level of performance, thus a reduction in carbon footprint can be achieved. The Carbon footprint during manufacturing and use is lower than its competitors.
However at the end of its product life Dyneema® fibre products are incinerated or landfilled. DSM Dyneema wants to have a circular alternative for the end of life of Dyneema® fibre products. In this thesis the design process is described to create a circular product from production waste material from Dyneema®.
Using the context variation by design approach, requirements for a circular product are combined with material properties and possible contexts for applications. The result is a design proposal for a summer sleeping bag, that is well suited for the different types of use that befall a summer sleeping bag. It will be made from Dyneema® production waste and recycled materials, and allows user to send it back to the manufacturer after it has lived out its useful life, free of charge. The manufacturer can then re-use the materials for new sleeping bags, or recycle them otherwise, thus preventing the material from falling out of the loop.