Short answer
Design for circularity means designing for a closed-loop system, integrating processes like return and recovery from the outset, not as an afterthought.
- Field
- Resource Management
- Source
- Resources Conservation and Recycling (2020)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Circular business models necessitate a distinct eight-process supply chain structure (Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Use, Return, Recover, Enable) to effectively manage resources and achieve sustainability objectives. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Resources Conservation and Recycling. Using Systematic literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design for circularity means designing for a closed-loop system, integrating processes like return and recovery from the outset, not as an afterthought.
Circular Supply Chains Require Eight Core Processes for Effective Resource Management
Circular business models necessitate a distinct eight-process supply chain structure (Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Use, Return, Recover, Enable) to effectively manage resources and achieve sustainability objectives.
Resources Conservation and Recycling · 2020
Key Findings
- 01A circular supply chain comprises eight key processes: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Use, Return, Recover, and Enable.
- 02Specific subprocesses are needed for planning use/recovery, delivering maintenance products, and handling end-of-use returns.
- 03Key process shifts include matching resource availability with demand, sourcing for minimal waste and recyclability, resource-efficient production, sustainable packaging, waste disposal, and buy-back/take-back programs.
- 04Performance objectives are categorized into circular economy goals, Triple Bottom Line metrics, and specific circular supply chain characteristics.
Application
Design takeaway
Design for circularity means designing for a closed-loop system, integrating processes like return and recovery from the outset, not as an afterthought.
How to apply
When designing a new product or system, map out how it will flow through all eight circular supply chain processes, identifying potential bottlenecks and opportunities for resource optimization at each stage.
Project actions
- 01When defining your design brief, explicitly include objectives related to the 'Return' and 'Recover' phases of your product's lifecycle.
- 02Consider how your design choices will impact the efficiency of each of the eight identified supply chain processes.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a comprehensive framework for understanding circular supply chains.
- +Identifies specific processes and areas for improvement.
Limitations
The specific implementation details of each process will depend heavily on the product, industry, and available infrastructure.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the findings is supported by a systematic literature review approach. Validity is enhanced by synthesizing a broad range of existing research on circular supply chains.
Think critically
How might the 'Enable' process, which supports all other processes, be the most critical for the success of a circular supply chain, and what design considerations does this imply?
Design Principles
"Design products and systems to facilitate a continuous loop of resource utilization through integrated planning, sourcing, making, delivering, using, returning, and recovering processes."
Understanding and implementing these eight processes is crucial for designers and engineers aiming to create products and systems that minimize waste and maximize resource utilization. This framework provides a roadmap for designing more sustainable product lifecycles and operational strategies.
What This Means for Your Design
To make products more sustainable, we need to think about the whole journey of a product, not just how it's made. This includes planning for how it's used, how it's returned, and how its parts can be recovered or reused.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when justifying the need for a circular design approach and when defining the scope of your product's lifecycle analysis.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that circular business models necessitate a distinct eight-process supply chain structure (Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Use, Return, Recover, Enable) for effective resource management. This framework emphasizes the need to design products that not only function effectively but also facilitate seamless return, recovery, and reuse of materials and components, thereby minimizing waste and maximizing resource value throughout the product's lifecycle.
Source
Resources Conservation and Recycling
Supply chains in circular business models: processes and performance objectives
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about circular supply chains require eight core processes for effective resource management?
- Design for circularity means designing for a closed-loop system, integrating processes like return and recovery from the outset, not as an afterthought. Evidence: Resources Conservation and Recycling (2020).
- Why does "Circular Supply Chains Require Eight Core Processes for Effective Resource Management" matter for design?
- Understanding and implementing these eight processes is crucial for designers and engineers aiming to create products and systems that minimize waste and maximize resource utilization. This framework provides a roadmap for designing more sustainable product lifecycles and operational strategies.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design for circularity means designing for a closed-loop system, integrating processes like return and recovery from the outset, not as an afterthought.
- What were the main findings?
- A circular supply chain comprises eight key processes: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Use, Return, Recover, and Enable.. Specific subprocesses are needed for planning use/recovery, delivering maintenance products, and handling end-of-use returns.. Key process shifts include matching resource availability with demand, sourcing for minimal waste and recyclability, resource-efficient production, sustainable packaging, waste disposal, and buy-back/take-back programs.. Performance objectives are categorized into circular economy goals, Triple Bottom Line metrics, and specific circular supply chain characteristics.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from Resources Conservation and Recycling.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new product or system, map out how it will flow through all eight circular supply chain processes, identifying potential bottlenecks and opportunities for resource optimization at each stage.
- What are the limitations?
- The study is based on a literature review, and the practical implementation and performance of these processes may vary across different industries and contexts.