Beyond Eco-Design Towards Designing Sustainable Circular Production-Consumption Systems

Abstract

Societies in industrialized countries and economies in transition have developed lifestyles based on resource consumption levels that cannot be maintained by most of the world's population without ruining our natural environment. Therefore, consumers and producers need to re-imagine new ways of sustainably producing and consuming. Increasing resource efficiency and introducing a more circular economy are important elements of this shift. Some changes might be promoted through external pressure such as regulation, prohibition, and increase in prices, among others. The challenge is to encourage this without a perceived loss in quality of life or well-being. Otherwise, a transition towards more sustainability will most likely not happen as a voluntary activity. This chapter explores how this change might be supported by design combining findings from environmental and behavioral science, happiness, and design research. Starting with a discussion of the limits to resource consumption and a critical view on current lifestyles, the quest for happiness and well-being as well as the circular economy and the roles of designers some new approaches are presented that shift the focus from circular design towards the design of sustainable circular systems. Finally, a model is presented on how designers can help to make more sustainable and desirable production-consumption systems based on the findings from behavioral psychology.