Pathways to the Circular Economy: Designing for Circularity to Unlock Opportunity

Details

1-day course

CPD Credit: 6.5 hours, C1 / C2

Course Overview

The circular economy is growing rapidly in significance in a bid to create and balance new economic growth with climate change challenges and advance the transition to a low carbon future. This course will provide participants with a practical understanding of the circular economy, the barriers, challenges, opportunities and impacts as well as an understanding of the strategies to design practically for circularity before solutions are built.

The circular economy is growing rapidly in significance in a bid to create and balance new economic growth with climate change challenges and advance the transition to a low carbon future. The current linear economic model is based on ‘take-make-waste’ method which is become more costly for organizations because of regulations and penalties as well as casing damage to the environment and having negative societal impacts. By contrast, a circular economy designs out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems. In a circular economy, products, components and materials are kept in use for as long as possible. Supply and production chains operate in ‘closed-loops’ making them less wasteful and more robust.

New circular business models based including leasing, sharing, remanufacturing and recycling enable business growth, create new revenue streams coupled with reducing destructive environmental impacts.

Designing for circularity is key to design out waste and pollution. Most products and services are designed for the linear model hence there are significant growth opportunities to transition to circular modules.

Course Objectives

Session 1: Understanding the circular economy. Unlocking opportunities.

1. An introduction to the circular economy and the bioeconomy to understand the critical factors, drivers, challenges and potential opportunities.
2. Circular Design - Critical decisions are made at design stage impacting manufacturing, use and product end-of-life. It is extremely difficult to undo the effects of decisions that produce unappealing consequences.
3. Incorporate circular strategies into designs e.g., moving products to services, designing products to last, material choices, dematerialisation and modularity.
4. Design Thinking and the future of circular design for Engineers.

Session 2: Pathways to transition from linear to circular

1. The tools and methodologies to transition to circularity
2. Develop circular business models. An introduction to tools to create and diversify business models to manage change and sustainability.
3. Explore potential growth opportunities, turning new ideas and unmet needs into potential business models and new revenue streams.
4. Customers and Stakeholder Discovery. Gain knowledge of the customer-centric approach and focusing on problems to be solved versus creating the solutions. Influence customers and supplier’s behaviours.
5. Craft a value proposition using circular principles.
6. Gain insights into the transition pathways from linear to circular.

Learning Outcomes

Session 1:

1. Demonstrate how circular principles can drive economic growth as well as create positive impacts on environmental and society leading to a low carbon future.
2. Gain deeper insights into circular design, terminology, drivers, challenges opportunities and impacts.
3. Learn practical strategies to implement circular design including moving products to services, designing products to last and modularity.
4. Display an understanding of the role of engineers as designers and the impacts of circular design.

Session 2:

1. Identify how circular business model innovation can create growth opportunities using circular methodologies to map business models using own work examples.
2. Develop insights and tools to turn new ideas, opportunities and unmet needs into business models.
3. Illustrate the importance of the customer-centric approach focusing on the problem to be solved versus the solution.
4. Articulate your value proposition applying circularity.
5. Greater awareness of the terminology and the transition pathways to circularity. Gain knowledge of circular thinking offering ways to unlock opportunities, eliminate waste and design circular products.

Who Should Attend?

This full-day workshop is of benefit to a wide range of engineers and managers from various sectors and industries, including business owners, project managers, and site supervisors.

It provides participants with a practical understanding of the circular economy, the barriers, challenges, opportunities, and impacts. In addition, to understanding the strategies to design practically for circularity before solutions are built. Ultimately, developing growth opportunities and reflecting on the responsibility we all play as designers in a rapidly changing ecosystem.

Facilitator Approach

This workshop is designed to be practical and interactive. The participants will learn circular economy principles and design as well as apply them through exercises, case studies and discussion papers. The workshop will be set-up as a co-learning space where participants learn from each other combined with Mary Cronin domain expertise of circularity, innovation and practical growth strategies. Participants are encouraged to come with an open mindset, be curious and adaptive to the potential opportunities that circularity can bring.

Trainer’s Profile

Mary Cronin

Mary brings 25 years-experience as a chartered engineer, circular innovation catalyst and technologist. She has a track record of creating innovation systems, coupled with a deep understanding of business ecosystems and developing the transition to a low carbon future.

Mary established UpThink Innovation Agency in 2009 helping organisations accelerate ideas, unlocking circular opportunities to develop economic growth as well as creating environmental and social impact. Mary is an advocate of circularity and the growth of circular and bio-based economies. As a technologist she combines her expertise with innovation and design to create scaling opportunities and enabling organisations and ecosystems to transition from linear to circular. Mary is a recognised speaker on topics including innovation, circularity and scaling platforms.

Engineers Ireland supports the Sustainable Development Goals. This event contributes to Engineers Ireland's Sustainability Framework.

Please contact the Team for further information on scheduled course dates and In-Company options. You can reach us by phone: 01 665 1305 or email cpdtraining@engineersireland.ie