Short answer
Designers and engineers need to adopt a systemic perspective, focusing on creating products and processes that integrate seamlessly into a fully circular supply chain, rather than optimizing isolated components for 'circularity'.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Supply Chain Management An International Journal (2025)
- Method
- Case Study Analysis
- Sample
- 11 participants (interviewees)
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Achieving a truly circular supply chain necessitates a fundamental shift from localized, transactional circularity initiatives to a coordinated, long-term, and integrated system across the entire value chain. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Supply Chain Management An International Journal. Using Case study analysis with 11 participants (interviewees), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and engineers need to adopt a systemic perspective, focusing on creating products and processes that integrate seamlessly into a fully circular supply chain, rather than optimizing isolated components for 'circularity'.
Transitioning from Circularity Efforts to True Circular Supply Chains Requires Systemic Transformation
Achieving a truly circular supply chain necessitates a fundamental shift from localized, transactional circularity initiatives to a coordinated, long-term, and integrated system across the entire value chain.
Supply Chain Management An International Journal · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Circular supply chains are characterized by long-term, shared goals and visions among network partners, contrasting with the transactional nature of current practices.
- 02A circular supply chain structure facilitates closed-loop systems for materials and products, unlike localized implementations of circularity.
- 03Effective circular supply chains require coordinated circular practices across the entire product value chain, which was absent in the studied case.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers and engineers need to adopt a systemic perspective, focusing on creating products and processes that integrate seamlessly into a fully circular supply chain, rather than optimizing isolated components for 'circularity'.
How to apply
When designing a new product or system, map out the entire potential supply chain, identifying opportunities for material recovery, remanufacturing, and collaborative partnerships that support closed-loop operations.
Project actions
- 01When researching your product's lifecycle, consider the entire supply chain, not just the manufacturing or use phase.
- 02Think about how your design choices impact the ability to repair, refurbish, or recycle components and materials.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a clear distinction between different levels of circularity implementation.
- +Offers practical insights into the necessary transformations for achieving circular supply chains.
Limitations
A single case study might not represent all manufacturing sectors. The research is focused on the UK machine engineering sector.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is enhanced by rich, in-depth data from multiple actors within the supply chain. However, the reliance on a single case study may limit the generalizability and external validity of the findings.
Think critically
To what extent can a single company truly achieve a circular supply chain without significant external pressure or collaboration across its entire industry?
Design Principles
"Design for Systemic Circularity: Integrate product design with supply chain strategy to enable closed-loop material flows and long-term collaborative value creation."
Designers and engineers must look beyond isolated eco-friendly practices within their immediate scope. Understanding the systemic requirements for circular supply chains is crucial for developing products and systems that genuinely contribute to a circular economy, rather than merely implementing fragmented 'green' features.
What This Means for Your Design
Just doing a few 'green' things in your product's life isn't enough for a truly circular economy. You need to think about the whole system, work with everyone involved long-term, and make sure materials can be reused over and over.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for a systemic approach to circularity in your design project, moving beyond isolated eco-friendly features.
- 2.Reference the distinction between 'circularity in supply chains' and 'circular supply chains' to demonstrate a deeper understanding of sustainable design principles.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research by Kreye (2025) emphasizes that achieving genuine circular supply chains requires a transformation beyond localized circularity efforts. It highlights the need for long-term, collaborative relationships with shared goals and a supply chain structure that enables closed-loop systems across the entire value chain, a critical consideration for designing products that contribute to a circular economy.
Source
Supply Chain Management An International Journal
Circularity in supply chains versus circular supply chains: identifying the need for transformation in manufacturing
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about transitioning from circularity efforts to true circular supply chains requires systemic transformation?
- Designers and engineers need to adopt a systemic perspective, focusing on creating products and processes that integrate seamlessly into a fully circular supply chain, rather than optimizing isolated components for 'circularity'. Evidence: Supply Chain Management An International Journal (2025).
- Why does "Transitioning from Circularity Efforts to True Circular Supply Chains Requires Systemic Transformation" matter for design?
- Designers and engineers must look beyond isolated eco-friendly practices within their immediate scope. Understanding the systemic requirements for circular supply chains is crucial for developing products and systems that genuinely contribute to a circular economy, rather than merely implementing fragmented 'green' features.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers and engineers need to adopt a systemic perspective, focusing on creating products and processes that integrate seamlessly into a fully circular supply chain, rather than optimizing isolated components for 'circularity'.
- What were the main findings?
- Circular supply chains are characterized by long-term, shared goals and visions among network partners, contrasting with the transactional nature of current practices.. A circular supply chain structure facilitates closed-loop systems for materials and products, unlike localized implementations of circularity.. Effective circular supply chains require coordinated circular practices across the entire product value chain, which was absent in the studied case.
- What research method was used?
- Case Study Analysis with 11 participants (interviewees).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Supply Chain Management An International Journal.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new product or system, map out the entire potential supply chain, identifying opportunities for material recovery, remanufacturing, and collaborative partnerships that support closed-loop operations.
- What are the limitations?
- The findings are based on a single case study, which may limit generalizability to other industries or geographical contexts. The study focuses on the machine engineering sector.