Leadership

Implementing Circular Economy Principles in Product Design

This course equips product owners and sustainability managers with essential strategies to embed the circular economy into product design, focusing on innovative approaches and effective feedback mechanisms.

Recommended Duration

Self-paced

Online learning

Enrol as an individual

Enrol a team

Eco-literacy assessment

CPD credits

Employee surveys

Circular Economy

Product

Overview

"Implementing Circular Economy Principles in Product Design" equips sustainability professionals with the knowledge and tools to implement circular economy principles in product design, fostering sustainable practices aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Participants will learn the fundamentals of circular economy principles in product design, understand the business case for embracing circularity, explore the risks of maintaining a linear economy approach, and discover best practices for implementation.

By the end of the course, learners will be equipped with actionable steps to integrate circular economy principles into both new and existing products, contributing to the achievement of SDGs such as Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Assessment Criteria

The assessment takes approximately 10 minutes and is graded by percentage. There are 10 multiple choice questions (MCQs) upon completion of four lessons. The certification criteria is 40%, and learners may retake the assessment.

SDG's

Business Value

Less than 40% of businesses are aware of the EU framework on the circular economy.

Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will have a strong understanding of:

Fundamental circular economy principles and their application in product design.

The business case for embracing the circular economy in product design throughout its life cycle.

The risks associated with not embracing the circular economy in product design and strategies to mitigate them.

Best practices and actionable steps to implement circular economy principles with new and existing products.

Shareable certificate

Course Breakdown

sections

duration

Introduction to Circular Economy Principles

This section offers a comprehensive introduction to the circular economy principles, elucidating their significance in product design within a business context. Learners will explore the core tenets of circularity, including resource efficiency, waste reduction, and closed-loop systems.

Actionable Outcome:

Develop a framework for evaluating product design processes through a circular lens, enabling you to identify opportunities for integrating circular economy principles into your organisation's workflows.

lessons to complete

min

Section duration

Business Case

Discover the compelling business rationale behind adopting circular economy principles in product design. Through economic analysis and industry case studies, learners will uncover the financial advantages, market opportunities, and competitive edge gained by embracing circularity. This section equips learners with the tools to articulate the business value proposition of sustainable product design to key stakeholders within their organisations.

Actionable Outcome:

Develop a robust business case for implementing circularity in product designs, incorporating financial, environmental, and social considerations to communicate the benefits to stakeholders effectively.

lessons to complete

min

Section duration

Risk Analysis

This section examines the inherent risks and environmental repercussions associated with maintaining a linear economy approach in product design. Through a critical assessment of the environmental impact, resource depletion, and regulatory challenges posed by linear production models, participants will gain insights into the imperative for change. By conducting a risk profile analysis, learners will identify inefficiencies within current products and processes, laying the groundwork for informed decision-making.

Actionable Outcome:

Develop a comprehensive risk profile highlighting the inefficiencies of the linear economy model in current products and processes, informing strategic planning for transition.

lessons to complete

min

Section duration

Best Practices

This section offers a practical roadmap for integrating circular economy principles into product design practices, encompassing both new product development and the retrofitting of existing offerings. Learners will explore a range of best practices, tools, and methodologies for designing products with longevity, reparability, and recyclability in mind. Through interactive scenarios, participants will develop a tailored guidebook outlining actionable steps to embed circularity within their organisations' product design processes.

Actionable Outcome:

Create a comprehensive guidebook outlining actionable steps and strategies to make organisational products more aligned with circular economy principles, facilitating the transition towards sustainable business practices.

lessons to complete

min

Section duration

Enrol as an individual

Enrol a team

What people are saying

Áine Higgins

Head, ESG and Sustainability

"NTR had the pleasure of working with the Vyra Team. The training was engaging, beautifully presented, and prompted participants to consider what they could do to help the biodiversity challenge. The structure of the training made it easy for all to fit into busy schedules."

June 2024

Sean O’Connell

Event Operations Executive

“At the beginning of our sustainability journey, we were looking for assistance in helping us to educate our staff on the various topics in this space. We found Vyra’s online platform and content the perfect tool to achieve this.”

August 2023

David Terceño

ESG & Corporate Communications

"Working with Vyra has allowed us to develop high quality biodiversity and sustainability modules that are not only informative but also engaging and easy to complete, allowing our employee to keep their focus in all their essential work."

Jan 2024

Nigel Clark

Board Member

"In trying to become more literate in sustainability, I'd like to say a big thanks to Jack Dwyer and the team at Vyra for helping me. I'd recommend becoming a Vyra Member to all my network"

Nov 2024

Nay Pereira

Sustainability Co-ordinator

"Vyra is an amazing tool that makes sustainability part of our everyday life, combining practical challenges and a great interface with trustworthy information on a wide variety of ESG topics. It really helps us to inspire and empower our team!"

Dec 2023