Closing the loops of fast-moving consumer goods

The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) sector aspires to transition to a Circular Economy (CE) but there is a lack of knowledge and support methods. This research has investigated how material resources flow in FMCG systems and developed new design support for the sector. Initially, the research focused on the moment when resources become obsolete which can disrupt flows. Consumers were found to have critical roles to ensure resource revalorisation and the findings of this study can inform the design of future revalorisation services. Further, it explored Product-Service Systems (PSSs) and studied the elements that could help overcome obsolescence and enable closed loops resource flows. A framework presents these elements, mapped against requirements for PSSs that close loops. Subsequently, the research focused on investigating the resource flow-system, which encompasses all the system elements in place to produce a resource flow. A new modelling method is proposed that describes the movements and transformations of resources and helps configure FMCG sector-specific system elements. The model can be used to explain how FMCG systems work. Finally, a tool called the Flow Mapper is presented, which embeds the modelling method as well as the process to apply it and analyse the model. The tool enables industrial users to develop a holistic view and an in-depth understanding of the resource flowsystem informing the development of future systems solutions.Open Acces

Material driven design (MDD): A method to design for material experiences

Materials research constantly offers novel materials as better alternatives to convention. Functional aptness is taken for granted at the first commercial launch of a new material. Nevertheless, this alone may not be enough for its commercial success and widespread use. The 'material' should also elicit meaningful user experiences in and beyond its utilitarian assessment. This requires qualifying the material not only for what it is, but also for what it does, what it expresses to us, what it elicits from us, and what it makes us do. In search of a proper application through such an understanding, material scientists and industries have reached out to designers to guide the development of materials by experiential goals. However, how to design for experiences with and for a material at hand has been poorly addressed to date. In this article, we propose a method, Material Driven Design (MDD), to facilitate designing for material experiences. After explaining the theoretical foundation of the method, an illustrative case is presented-where 'coffee waste' is the subject of a design effort to conceive a new product concept. Finally, possible research directions are addressed to bring new insights to the effective application of the MDD method to diverse projects

Twenty questions about design behavior for sustainability, report of the International Expert Panel on behavioral science for design

How behavioral scientists, engineers, and architects can work together to advance how we all understand and practice design—in order to enhance sustainability in the built environment, and beyond.https://www.nature.com/documents/design_behavior_for_sustainability.pdfPublished versio

The flow mapper: A tool to model solutions for the circular economy and put systems thinking into action

Resource flows are generated by integrating production and consumption systems. To achieve circular flows, manufacturers are increasingly collaborating with their stakeholders. Nevertheless, in these collaborations they typically focus on the interfaces between systems rather than on a more comprehensive implementation of systems thinking principles to achieve deeper integration.This research conceptualises a system called the Resource Flow System (RFS), whose boundaries are defined based on the operational requirement to flow resources circularly. The RFS is intended to be designed by stakeholders through a top-down collaborative approach. A tool called the Flow Mapper (FM) is also introduced. It involves a method to visually model the RFS,and a process to apply the method and analyse the model. Grounded in Systems Thinking, System Dynamics and Material Flow Analysis theories, the tool guides a team to collaboratively develop a visual model of the RFS consisting of a State Model, a Functional Model and a Structural Model. The FM provides a performance-driven focus on the design of solutions for the CE, essential for constructive collaboration and enables users to innovate during system design both by providing them with a model of the system, and by discovering, generating and refining solutions in the process to develop it