\u201cWaste not want not.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This proverb has long been a favorite of parents and grandparents around the Western world, who are trying to coerce children into eating their dinners. Yet, after taking a second to ponder it, a different sentiment can be gleaned. The proverb’s meaning also precisely describes the fundamentals of a circular economy: use only what you need, and you will never run out. As we struggle with the consequences of our consumerism and our depleting resources, the term has never been more apt.<\/span><\/p>\n A circular economy is a leading solution in the fight to eradicate waste and pollution \u2014 you may also have heard it referred to as closed-loop, cradle-to-cradle, or zero waste. At its core, a circular economy means that the products we use no longer have the typical life cycle with a beginning, middle and end. Currently, companies and manufacturers are deeply rooted in a linear approach to growth \u2014 make, use, dispose. This unaccountable wastefulness has led to levels of product heading to landfill at an unprecedented and unsustainable rate. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Materiality is a key consideration when discussing circular economy. In the design world, materials are typically chosen for their aesthetic and functional qualities. They are selected for their strength and tactility and standard practice dictates that multiple materials are used to manufacture one product. Thankfully, there are swathes of manufacturers who are now taking the onus and using recycled materials for manufacturing their goods. <\/span>While this may be a great start, there is still more that needs to be done to achieve a closed-loop. What is often overlooked is what happens when a product composed of recycled materials reaches the end of its life. How can it be recycled again?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Adell<\/a> <\/span> designed Studio Lievore + Altherr D\u00e9sile Park for Arper<\/a>, 2021 A+Product Award Winner in Contract Seating<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n For example, out of 78 million tons of plastic packaging globally, only 14 percent gets collected for recycling, 32 percent leaks into the environment, 14 percent gets incinerated and over 40 percent goes to landfill. Of the 14 percent that is recovered, 4 percent of it is lost in the sorting process, 8 percent gets down-cycled to a material that is of lesser quality and only 2 percent of that 78 million tons can become a material of the same quality as the one it was initially.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When designing Adell<\/a> \u2014 one of their latest pieces for Arper<\/a> \u2014 Studio Lievore + Altherr D\u00e9sile Park focused on reduction, reuse, and recycling as central pillars for their circular design. The chair is designed with a shell made from 100 percent recycled post-industrial plastic, allowing it to be both recycled and reused. To ensure full recyclability, the designers have used pure materials that can be completely disassembled. Easy disassembly guarantees each component can be separated and recycled individually and contributes to making the chair reusable. It has a flexible component system of shells, bases, and accessories, making it entirely flexible. Flexible products, unsurprisingly, have a longer life span.<\/span><\/p>\n Coil Collection<\/a> by LightArt<\/a>, 2021 A+Product Award Winner in Sustainable Design\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Every company inevitably produces waste. Particularly those who are in the business of manufacturing. The challenge many designers face is not only reducing waste from the outset but also coordinating how waste produced from their designs can be repurposed. Nestl\u00e9 famously uses the KitKat biscuits that get broken during production to fill the wafers in new KitKats. This reduces their waste output dramatically.<\/span><\/p>\n LightArt<\/a> has taken heed from the chocolate bar connoisseurs. In their Coil Collection<\/a>, LightArt take the waste materials from the products they manufacture and by using 3D printing techniques, they have created an entirely new range of light fittings inspired by ceramics. The light fittings are modern, diverse and sustainable. They are helping the business get closer to its goal of Zero Waste manufacturing.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/arper-adell-2-scaled.jpeg\")
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