We’re no longer talking about sustainability. We’ve now moved on to regeneration. We need to repair the ecosystems we depend on to give ourselves the best chance for continued survival, not simply sustain a damaging status quo.
It may just sound like a case of semantics, and there’s no doubt the word ‘sustainability’ will persist for some time yet, but this adjustment in destination does demand a different approach for businesses.
For example, sustainability may have justified recycled polyester clothing to date, but the microplastics that it puts into the biosphere when laundered makes it unsuitable for this new paradigm of renewal and restoration.
In simple terms, companies need to switch from asking ‘how do we reduce the harm we do? to ‘how does the work we do help repair the world we live in?’
Okay, on with the latest circular economy & design news …..
My news
So delighted to have my article on How to Develop a more Circular Upholstery Sector printed by Furniture News. This article is based on research for the Circular Upholstery Textile project that I administered for the Irish furniture association IWIN.
In May I had the pleasure of hosting a webinar on circular business models and production for furniture manufacturers for IWIN, a recording of which is now available on their website.
Wonderful to see the Do More with Less project that I worked on being featured as part of Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s AGM this week.
Clothing
In an effort to cut costs Sweden-based online fashion retailer Boozt AB has blocked 42,000 customers for returning too many items
The AFIRM Group has launched in-depth new guidance on the phase-out of PFAS chemicals in the global clothing and footwear supply chains
Interesting overview of how France’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme on textiles has worked over the past 10 years
Products
This is an excellent webinar on how to calculate the carbon footprint of furniture
Dezeen has teamed up with Samsung to challenge readers to come up with creative ideas for reusing old electronic devices or waste materials. The Re:Create Design Challenge tasks entrants with coming up with innovative ways to repurpose old Samsung devices or materials and transform them into new products or services that will have a positive impact on people and the planet. Deadline is 19 July 2023
American designer Marvell Lahens has launched an app that enables everyday people with no professional training to design a piece of furniture and have it produced and shipped to them within three weeks
Shower Stream has developed a Wi-Fi enabled shower head device that collects data on water usage, temperature, and pressure data in real time. It also allow guests to pause the water and and restart it at the same temperature
Corkbrick creates an easy way for people to build flexible structures and furniture in their homes
Materra has developed a pioneering low-carbon method for growing cotton in climate-controlled greenhouse environments, which can produce up to four times more yield per surface area compared to conventional outdoor cotton farming. It also uses around 80 per cent less water, no pesticides, and produces around 30 per cent less carbon dioxide than chemically intensive cotton farming
Buildings
Munich-based Predium has developed a platform that provides building owners and managers with metrics to assess the ESG status of properties and perform profitability checks for various modernisation measures
The design and research laboratory Atelier Luma converted a former railway shed with walls made from sunflowers, furniture made of Japanese knotweed and fittings made of salt
Build360 is a new online resource to help decarbonise the built environment in Ireland
MSR Design has installed a tech campus within the shell of a abandoned steel mill in Pennsylvania, adding three buildings and a massive solar array to the rooftop.
UK company IOBEC are rolling out an adhesive free installation system for modular flooring
Business Models
France-based Ethikis have developed a label for long-lasting items, called the Longtime Label. To earn the Longtime label for a product, companies complete an application and an audit of their processes, assisted by the Longtime team.
It’s Not You, It’s ‘Re’: why some circular fashion businesses struggle to succeed
A Parisian prosecutor has announced that there will be an official investigation into allegations that Apple is pursuing a business model of planned obsolescence
Uh Oh!
Italy’s disasters suggest the climate crisis is at the gates of Europe
An ‘extreme’ heatwave has hit the seas around the UK and Ireland – here’s what’s going on
Waste
Neolithe have developed a patented emissions-free fossilisation process that turns unrecyclable and non-hazardous waste into stones for the construction industry
According to new research, over 40% of the world’s populations live in areas that can’t handle the plastic waste they create
Study finds that biodegradable plastic doesn’t break down nearly as quickly as hoped
A PET recovery plant in the UK can now separate PET from aluminium
Transportation
Introducing collapsible shipping containers!
Sweden is set to build the world’s first charge-as-you drive electric motorway, which will allow electric vehicle to charge themselves as they pass along its surface
Luvly develops flat-pack mini EV to be “significantly more energy-efficient”. (See image above)
Climate change has led to turbulence strong enough to pose an injury risk to double or triple in frequency
Shipping crownless pineapples reduces the carbon footprint of the fruit by about 1/3!
Resources
Fascinating podcast on what it takes to become a creative star, and stay one
Packaging
Production of plastic coca cola bottles with attached caps begins in Sidcup following the initial roll-out in Scotland and Edmonton last year
Carlsberg calls a halt to it’s ground-breaking package-free 6 packs
Extra Extra
And to leave you with a something light-hearted this weekend here’s a tongue-in-cheek skit on the value of carbon offsetting
If you’d like to discuss any of these issues feel free to get in touch via our contact page.
Elaine
Circular Design Institute 