Student Projects
Here is a selection of various students projects on the subject of Circular Economy. For more information on the projects check out the Graduation Reports Repository or contact the students (or us) directly .
2016
Designing circular cities: Exploring the development of circular economy in cities
by Emma Cherim
Urban policymakers face more complex issues than ever before in developing a socially-, economically- and environmentally sustainable cities. Some cities have already started transitioning towards a circular economy in this endeavor. This research explores the ways in which four pioneering cities have started navigating this transition, and uses design thinking to understand their needs and experiences. As a result, it offers a number of helpful, practical frameworks as well as a model for the design thinking process, adapted specifically for the purpose of the development of a circular city.
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Emma.
A design tool for refurbishment: Generating industry specific design rules
by Nina Boorsma
This thesis presents the results of a single case study performed at Philips Refurbished Systems, focusing on a medical imaging system: interventional X-ray, which enables Image Guided Therapy (IGT). The goal of the study was to add value to the refurbishment activities at Refurbished Systems by developing design rules for refurbishment. This thesis highlights the relevance of this topic to the company, the industry and to designers and introduces the design tool which was created to come up with industry specific design rules for refurbishment.
Graduation Project done with Philips
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Nina.
2015
Circular LTM: A bridge between the light.touch.matters project and Circular Economy
by Andrea Portioli
The starting point for the Master thesis project presented in this thesis was to introduce new opportunities for design for sustainability (DfS) in the EUfunded project Light.Touch.Matters (LTM). The LTM project is focused on pioneering research on design-driven materials innovation, generating new smart materials that allow product interface design to advance to a point where “the product becomes the interface”. In the LTM project, materials and potential applications (products) are developed in parallel, in a unique cooperative effort.
Specifically, the design option explored here is circular product design (CPD), building a bridge between the LTM project and the Rescom project, also EUfunded, which focuses on CPD. For project details, refer to: www.light-touch-matters-project.eu and www.rescoms.eu.
The intention was to steer away from the traditional DfS tools and mentality (e.g. eco-design, LCA thinking, design for recycling) towards a more modern and innovative way of approaching sustainability, and project this on the design-driven development of new materials taking place in the LTM project. One rationale for making this choice is that the “LTM materials”, especially when tightly integrated in products, are expected to be very hard to recycle; an approach aiming at life time extension, reuse and refurbishment – in general, aiming for mainlining value – therefore is more promising.
Graduation Project done with LTM
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Andrea.
Business Model Innovation in circular product design: A case study in kitchen appliances
by Cheyenne Schuit
Without the guarantee for product return or company ownership, circular alternatives can have a higher perceived financial risk than linear alternatives. Therefore, it is essential to start at the business model to create preconditions for a circular system and develop propositions consumers are willing to pay for. This requires a shift in thinking, in which products are merely seen as tools to accomplish a desired outcome. This thesis explores how business model generation can steer circular system and product design. Based on a literature study, the thesis proposes a revised business model canvas which can be used as a tool in circular economy projects. The case study focusses on kitchen appliances for working mothers. Based on three different business models, food processor redesigns are developed to explore how business models steer system and product design.
Graduation Project done with Philips
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Cheyenne.
Easy Handle: Designing a Plants Distribution Tray Based on Circular Design Principles
by Rick van der Linden
Could a transportation item be the key to increasing profits and decreasing the environmental impact of selling potted plants in a supermarket? Using design principles founded on Circular Economy, a new durable transport tray for plants was designed. The main challenge was to make handling as quick and easy as possible, while also making the tray stand out on a supermarket shelf.
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Rick.
2014
From Smartphone to Futurephone:
Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Different Circular Economy Scenarios of a Smartphone Using LCAs
by Merve Güvendik
The lack of literature on using life cycle assessment (LCA) for increasing environmental performance raises the need for concepts or eco-design tools to be combined with LCA to answer the question of how to strategize and take actions based on LCA results. This study intends to address this need by using mobile phones as a case study and answering the question: How can the environmental performance of the Fairphone be improved?
Graduation Project done with Fairphone
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Merve.
by Ivo Salters
To meet the growing demand of mobile devices, it is important to regain and re-use the products, components and materials. The first steps are already taken by introducing new business models towards the circular economy. To stimulate these circular business models, suggestions are given how to change customer behaviour towards circular economy for mobile devices.
Graduation Project done with Vodafone Group
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Ivo.
Circular Business Model Innovation
Developing a Circular Mobile Device
From Parts to Products: using a Wastestream for NPD
Emotionally Durable Lighting
by Marc Pedro
Emotionally Durable Design intends to develop products that will generate emotional links with users, with the intention for them to keep these products for a long time. This, from a sustainable point of view, is an interesting step towards stopping resource depletion and minimize production rates needed. LED lighting is changing the way luminaires are produced by making possible to have all light components embedded in a luminaire, which with the disposal rate of products becomes a big problem. Many working components, given the long life span of a light emitting diode, are likely to be disposed of. Emotionally durable lighting is an attempt to define ways to develop luminaires that will be taken care of, and kept by their owners.
Graduation Project done with Philips
For more info check out the TU Delft repository or contact Marc
by Tim Visser
The European Commission has developed the “Europe 2020” strategy, and one of its flagship programs is resource efficiency. One of the implications of this strategy is that directives will have to be updated. One of these directives is the ecodesign directive. Since the directive currently only focuses on energy-efficiency a study is underway to investigate if material resource efficiency requirements could be incorporated in the directive and its . implementing measuses. This will have influence on how products have to be designed. The main challenge for this thesis is to find out how regulation and legislation might possibly change and to find out which implications this has on the design of flat panel televisions. Several requirements are proposed by DG JRC for flatpanel TV design :
» Improved dismantling of key components
» Declaration of CRM (Indium Content)
» Improved recyclability of plastics (marking of plastic parts)
Upcycle it Yourself
Product design for a Circular Economy
A case study towards a circular luminaire
by Maarten van den Berg
Project
Philips sees CE as a boundary condition for a sustainable world. For circular product design however there is little information available. Therefore this project looks at what CE means for circular product design and how that can be applied by use of a case study.
Design for a circular economy
An adapted CE model for product design is proposed that identifies five main topics. Based on the five main topics a CE guideline and several tools, such as a spidermap, have developed to support in circular design. In short, circular design
can be summarized as:
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make it future proof for endless performance and adaptability
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with design for disassembly to allow
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easy servicing for optimal performance
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modular design to remake products
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and optimizing for recycling at end of life
Circular luminaire
The luminaire is suited for a circular economy mainly because:
• The LEDs and driver are easily to acces and disassemble.
• The modular design takes a pplatform approach to create an ecosystem of modules. This allows to adjust to changing customer needs and be applied in a wide range of applications.
Graduation Project done with Philips
For more info check out the TU Delft repository or contact Maarten
by Flora Poppelaars
Mobile devices are piling up at their end-of-life and are currently discarded after only two years of use. This way of consuming causes important losses throughout the value chain. In this project, a mobile phone was designed for a disruptive consumption model: the Circular Economy.
After a thorough analysis of the current situation, the necessary changes of the current system and products were defined in a visual Roadmap towards circularity. Key Characteristics for the future mobile device and a detailed set of Design Guidelines were developed.
The research resulted in 2 products: Poppy - implementing the first steps of circularity on a short term (within 2 years)- and BlackbOx - a vision for an advanced scenario in which active disassembly would pop the device open and 3D printed, self-healing & air-cleaning materials would be common.
To bypass the complexity of the consumer market, the mobile device was designed for the public sector and enterprises.
Graduation Project done with Vodafone Group
Further info on the design process of circular product development check out Flora's detailed report on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's website.
For more information on the graduation project check out the TU Delft repository or contact Flora at flora.poppelaars@gmail.com
by Lodewijk Bosman
For this research a pilot project is conducted focusing on the wood wastestream from the consumer market. The waste generation growth is higher than the population growth due to increased consumption. Therefore, keeping materials in continuous loops for efficient waste management and to provide the materials for future generations gains importance. Up to now, products that are designed using waste streams as a starting point have not been able to significantly affect waste trends. The goal of this design project is design a product from the consumer wood waste stream on a large scale.
First, a wastestream analysis is conducted for the wood waste from the consumer market, to investigate which sub stream is most suitable for new product development. Particleboard plates are the most suiting; therefore this material is used as the starting point for the design process. Multiple analyses (material, production technique, product possibility, internal and external, etc.) showed that practically and strategically, modular furniture is the best new application the particleboard plates.
Redesign of a Flat Panel Television for Improved Disassembly
by Bas Mentink
The Master’s programme Industrial Ecology is jointly organised by Leiden University and Delft University of Technology. Companies need new business models to grasp the opportunities of a circular economy. This thesis investigates to what extent existing frameworks, methods and tools for business model innovation are useful to cope with the challenges of designing and implementing circular business models.
To innovate towards a circular business model, the use of a new framework and tool is recommended. The Circular Business Model Innovation framework outlines a process of 18 typical obstacles – or challenges – which should be taken into account. The Business Cycle Canvas supports practitioners to think in systems and develop supply chains with a closed material loop, one the most important challenges when designing a circular business model.
Graduation Project done with RoyalHaskoning
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Bas.
by Aniol Lopez
The aim of this master thesis is the designing of a platform that helps people to build their own products and ideas using mostly waste material. This aim is achieved by offering clients a variety of industrial waste, indications and ideas on how to build some products and tools and the space to work on their projects.
The project tries to link the positive aspects of reusing waste materials and building things yourself, two antidotes for a more responsible way of consuming.
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Aniol
After an extensive material experimentation phase, six concepts for modular furniture using particleboard plates are developed. These concepts are assessed on the programme of requirements, costs and ecological impact (Fast track LCA), whereupon the combination of two concepts led to the final design. In the embodiment phase the design of the ShelFold is elaborated and finalized, a foldable modular closet system, which uses twisted rope as a connection for the particleboard plates. The final design, which is ready for mass production, is evaluated on its ecological impact, the impact on the waste management system, usability and value. The findings of these tests are translated in recommendations and critical success factors for an effective market introduction. The design approach for this project is translated into a methodology which can be implemented for various wastestreams.
For more information check out the TU Delft repository or contact Lodewijk
2013
Disassembly of a current TV shows that mainly the first requirement is difficult to meet with current TVs. A literature review is conducted to identify design guidelines for improving the disassembly of products. The following aspects were identified:
» The selection and use of compatible materials
» The design of components and product architecture
»The selection and use of fasteners
With this information, a concept TV is designed, which has a renewed product architecture in which those components most critical for recycling are grouped together. Assessment of the renewed design shows that it is possible to meet the proposed requirements, but that TV design will radically have to change.
Graduation Project done with TP Vision
For more info check out the TU Delft repository or contact Tim
From Consumers to Users and Contributors
Design of EEE for Reuse
by Fabian Watelet
Several elements displayed in the 2011 MEErP’s (Methodology for the Ecodesign of Energy-related Products) and JRC’s (European Commission Joint Research Centre) reports which will be used in preparatory studies for measures under the recast of the Ecodesign Directive, indicate that a European list of Critical Raw Materials (CRM’s) constituting the basis for a large amount of EEE (Electrical and Electronic Equipment) consumer products are under pressure. Those CRM’s could consequently be restricted by the future European legislation, thereby impacting industrial designers’ work. In both reports, the word “reuse” appears as one of the possible ways for the treatment of end of use-stage products. With the creation of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2010, the idea of a “circular economy” appeared. The aim of circular economy is to close this loop by recovering by all means the material consumed and, consequently the CRM’s. The EMF considers “reuse” as a major option which will lead to a nearly perfect material loop. In addition, the StEP – Initiative, a UNU programme aiming to reduce Waste EEE transfers to third world countries under the pretext of reuse, decided to support the research in order to explore “reuse” as a possible way to reduce illegal WEEE exports. A potential option to solve the e-waste problem was furnished in 2011 by the British Standard Institution which released the PAS141:2011 Standard aiming to standardize the preparation of WEEE for reuse. The above mentioned motivations led the author to address three research questions which aim to enhance the “design for reuse” process.
As a common characteristic to all the challenges mentioned on the right, Europe has to face, time seems to be the most difficult issue to tackle. Time is essential in the manufacturing supply chain as CRM’s shortages would be dramatic for the European economy. In addition, time is important in the assembly and disassembly processes as those operations are directly related to costs. Furthermore, time is crucial for our resources, social models and business activities. Time can however be optimized by different design decisions at early design stages which will define the End-of-Life of thousands of billions of consumer products, representing potential material supplies for the future generations. If the needed time to disassemble a product is optimized, there is a great chance companies will pay more attention to the potential of WEEE consumer products in terms of material waste, thereby closing the material loop and proposing a solution to the e-waste problem.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
RQ1: Does the PAS 141:2011 Standard address reuse as described in the European Union’s literature?
First, the researcher analysed the European Union’s literature on Ecodesign and “reuse” against the PAS141:2011 Standard and compared them. Following this analysis, it became clear that the UK Standard only prepares products for reuse after use-stage. As a consequence, there is a need to create design guidelines to facilitate industrial designer’s work when developing a product to be reused after a use-stage. To develop design principles, it was first essential to define “reuse”. The notion of “reuse” as such does not exist since it implies design for assembly / disassembly and design for repair / refurbish. Consequently, a “design for reuse” principles list was established based on relevant literature.
RQ2: Do “design for reuse” principles potentially assist the designer to identify design weaknesses and strengths in terms of reuse?
Next, a random EEE consumer product provided by Philips Consumer Lifestyle (which is also involved in the StEP – Initiative) as case study was analysed, tested and disassembled to determine the potential assistance of the “design for reuse principles list” (DRP) in the identification of the strengths and weaknesses in terms of reuse.
RQ3: Based on the case study product’s analysis, what are the assumed benefits of “design for reuse” in terms of CRM’s?
As one of the key design principles for the reuse of EEE consumer products concerns material identification, the elements constituting the case study device were listed and compared with the CRM’s list established by the European Union. This phase of the project showed that many valuable materials could be reused after use-stage and that the adoption of a reuse strategy could be interesting for countless business sectors in terms of parts, components and material recovery. In case the “reuse” option is not possible (for instance because the product is too damaged), this strategy also becomes useful for other End-of-Life options such as remanufacturing or recycling.
Graduation Project done with with SteP, the European Commission and Philips Consumer Lifestyle
For more info check out the TU Delft repository or contact Fabian
