TALKS & ESSAYS ON CIRCULARITY ASPECTS

Which material cycling strategies / models are there? How do they differ?

What does mechanical recycling of plastics mean? > Principles, comparisons, advantages and disadvantages, research and the future

What does chemical recycling of plastics mean? > Principles, comparisons, advantages and disadvantages, research and the future

What are the criteria for plastics to circulate?

Plastics – a material of the future or of the past? 

What tools are there for end users to trace the material life cycle? 

How do they differ? What are their benefits?

What indicators are there to measure and compare the circularity of individual materials or products?

What is meant by rebound effects? What precautions can be taken?

What laws are there on the circular economy? How successful are they?

What political plans and concepts are currently being developed for the circular economy – nationally and internationally? How far-reaching are they?

What international sustainability agreements, bodies, standards and processes of coordination exist? Where are the biggest hurdles?

What is meant by transformation? What ideas exist to bring this about?

What is the current economic role of waste?

What role can digital technologies play in the circular economy? 

Which one does it already play?

Short-life versus long-life? Why is circular better than durable?

In principle, which actors play which role concerning a circular economy? Which actors are currently missing?

Which material cycles are differentiated by Cradle2Cradle? What are the critical aspects about C2C? When is C2C helpful?

In preparation of the course, each student was asked to chose from one of the questions (left) and prepare a talk and a short essay. The complexity, the numerous positions, stakeholders and aspects became clear – yet also the potential for designers and the mani aspects to jump into during the project.