Safe and Circular Design - A design method for dealing with substances of concern in products

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.