Date: Wednesday 13  November 2024

Time: 13.00-14.30

Location: ENU Criaglockhart Campus Room CRL 2 / 115

In today’s world, businesses, communities, and governments face a critical management challenge: the shift to circular design thinking. This transition involves moving away from the traditional “take-make-consume-dispose” model of resource use (Rasi et al., 2023) and toward systems that are regenerative and restorative by design. A circular economy reimagines waste, resources, and material flows, urging us to replace our linear, wasteful practices with closed-loop systems. These systems retain value through ongoing cycles of repair, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling, ultimately contributing to the preservation of finite resources (Tura et al., 2019).

But why is circular design thinking so vital? Kate Raworth’s (2018) concept of the “ecological ceiling” underscores a planetary pressure point: the limits of the earth’s capacity to support human life sustainably. As we continue to produce waste without sustainable disposal practices (Kazancoglu et al., 2021) and extract “virgin” raw materials from finite sources, we edge closer to surpassing these boundaries, risking future generations’ ability to thrive.

Circular Economy and Systems Thinking: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Design

Circular design thinking goes beyond merely recycling materials; it’s about redefining our relationship with resources to create systems that benefit business, society, and the environment. A circular economy framework brings various strategies into alignment—maintenance, repair, reuse, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and recycling—all aimed at minimizing waste. Unlike the traditional model that eventually recycles materials or harnesses energy from them, a circular approach emphasizes continued re-use and re-manufacturing, allowing businesses to capture value across extended cycles (Mishra and Hopkinson, 2018).

This approach demands a systems mindset. To build resilient, closed-loop systems, we must consider the interdependence of different stakeholders and their impact on the broader social and ecological environment. With finite resources becoming scarcer, competition for clean water, rare earths, and other essential commodities heightens. Such competition can disproportionately impact marginalized communities, leading to inequalities in access and exacerbating socio-economic divides.

Two Critical Implications of Circularity for Management and Society

The shift to circular design thinking has two essential implications:

1. A Foundation in Systems Theory: Circularity must be grounded in systems ideas, theory, and practice. This implies that circular design should consider how different elements—businesses, communities, ecosystems—interact within the broader system. Viewing circularity through a systems lens provides a framework for understanding interconnections and dependencies, which can support more holistic decision-making and foster resilience in the face of resource scarcity.
2. Preserving Common Goods: It is in the best interest of individuals and communities that human activity should not deplete resources available as common goods. Resources like clean water, fertile soil, and clean air are essential to collective well-being. In a world where consumption rates often exceed natural regeneration rates, management must grapple with the ethical imperative to preserve these shared resources.

Addressing a Gap in Management Literature

A systematic literature review has revealed a notable gap: circularity and systems theory have received relatively limited attention in the management literature. Most contributions come from environmental and earth sciences, focusing on the technical and ecological aspects of circularity but not necessarily its managerial implications. This gap raises two fundamental questions for further exploration:

• What are the principles of circularity, and how can systems theory provide a conceptual basis for further development?
• What are the consequences of depleting resources considered common goods on marginalized communities and the future of life on earth?

These questions touch on complex issues, such as ownership, power dynamics, and cultural factors, all of which shape resource use and management practices. Reflecting on these complexities will be essential for advancing circular design thinking as a viable management strategy.

Practical Steps for Organisations, Communities, and Policy-Makers

Implementing circular design thinking requires an interdisciplinary approach. Policymakers, businesses, and communities all play a role in promoting and adopting circular practices. Here are some actionable steps:

1. Adopt Circular Design Principles: Incorporate design thinking focused on reuse and longevity, ensuring that products and services support a closed-loop system.
2. Invest in Skills and Education: Equip communities and organisations with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in maintenance, repair, and refurbishment practices.
3. Collaborate Across Sectors: Foster partnerships that bring together stakeholders from different sectors to share best practices and drive innovation in circular systems.
4. Embed Systems Thinking in Decision-Making: Emphasise a systems approach when designing and implementing policies that consider the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and economic systems.

Advancing the Discussion at CBISS Seminar

At the upcoming CBISS seminar, we’ll explore circular design thinking in greater depth, discussing it from the perspectives of individuals, communities, organisations, and nature. Using the systemic sustainability framework by Weaver et al. (2023), the session will provide a space for interdisciplinary dialogue, inviting attendees to reflect on how these concepts intersect with their own expertise and professional practice.

By bringing together diverse voices, we hope to advance the concept of circularity as a holistic, systems-oriented approach, recognising its importance not only for sustainable business practices but for the future resilience of communities and ecosystems alike.

Join the Conversation: Redefining Resource Use for a Just and Safe Future

As we move forward, embracing circular design thinking is not merely an option but a necessity. Our ecological ceiling is real, and our ability to stay within it will define the sustainability of our future. Through the CBISS seminar and beyond, we aim to explore how systems theory and circularity can create pathways to a just, safe, and thriving world. Join us in this critical discussion as we seek to build a sustainable future that aligns business innovation with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.