Trends Watch / Featured

Future Survival: Circular Design

2018-11-21
Future Survival: Circular Design

Tim Brown, the CEO of the world-renowned design firm IDEO, pointed out that “the future of design is circular.” People would then ask, “What is circular design?” If “design” seeks to change human life, “circular design” is to change the human society through design. In other words, this change aims to facilitate a positive, sustainable development of the human society. Therefore, circular design can be defined as sustainable design, reflection design, social design, or even ecosystem design. To put it simply, design must be meaningful to generate values.

The current exhibition “Circular Design – Are you In-Circled?” will give new insights to visitors. From this exhibition, visitors can learn about what circular design solutions are, and whether the materials of everyday items are reusable or recyclable. Businesses and designers can also explore future upcycling design & innovation by shifting the past linear thinking to circular thinking.

　　　　　　　　　　　　— Dr. Song, Tong-Zheng, CEO of Taiwan Design Center

With the changes in times, cities of the future expand and further increase the urbanized consumptions, resulting in consuming more disposable materials. With economies of scale plundering limited resources and the global trends on environmental policies, it is foreseeable that the cost of extracting raw materials will be greater than that of using renewable resources. To keep business for long term success, designers or manufacturers should be involved in circular design as early as possible, as it is unavoidable yet crucial.

12 Must-Know Main Materials in Circular Design

The exhibition is separated into five zones with the “Sustainable Material Zone” on both sides. The display of 12 main recyclable materials and the corresponding manufacturer’s know-how technologies allow visitors to gain insights into the most advanced core technologies in Taiwan’s circular design.

1. E-waste Printed Circuit Boards

By working with Super Dragon Technology Inc., REnato Lab upcycled PCB waste into artificial stones. After crushing and sorting, the broken PCB pieces without residual values are reborn into artificial stones, carrying natural stone texture without the addition of dye. REnato Lab aims to “upcycle” waste by creating values and giving a second life to it.
2. Glass
Spring Pool Glass Industrial Co., Ltd. has been engaged in Taiwan’s glass recycling for 50 years. Their annual recycling capacity is about 100,000 tons, accounting for 70% of the waste glass in Taiwan. The reduction of carbon emissions is equivalent to installing 500 sizes of Daan Forest Park. Waste glass is recovered into raw materials and reused for sound isolation materials for buildings or fine glass artifacts. The “W Spring Pool Glass Project” is through joint efforts with W Taipei Hotel by using recycled Champagne bottles to make WOOMOON Drink-with-Moon Wine Glass for W Taipei’s fine moon cake gift boxes.
3. Waste Fabric
Miniwiz believes that (Creative Design) + (Revolutionary Waste Remanufacturing Technology) = the best solution for waste generated by modern over-consumption. The carpet and coat collection are designed in collaboration with New York designer Eileen Fisher, and Trash Pillow is through joint efforts with the Italian fabric brand Bonotto. Trash Hanger uses shoelaces from a leading sportswear brand for its surface materials by means of fiber-opening and needle-punching. Its main body is made of hot-pressed Miniwiz PLYFIX, and the remaining components such as the hook are also 100% made from recycled PET bottles. Wings Sofa uses modularized chair legs; its foam material is also made of PET vertical cotton and recycled PET yarns to adhere to the environmentally friendly design guidelines of a single material.
4. Silicon Wafers
GET-Green Energy Corp., Ltd. develops products with the 3Rs principle of circular economy. High purity silicon powder is recovered from the waste slurry of solar and semiconductor wafers by using complex wet-mechanical separation and modification processes. This “new-eco” powder further transforms into precipitated silica. GGE’s “new material” silica is chemically stable, insoluble, high-temperature resistant, non-combustible, acid and alkali-resistant, and non-polluting. It also has good electrical insulation with low bulk density and high surface area. Applications range from paints, coating, printing inks, adhesives, rubber, microelectronics, food industry and agriculture. GGE has also developed a particular technology to collect hydrogen, which is a by-product from the recycling and recovery process. This “new energy” can be applied to hydrogen fuel cells to generate power for GGE’s Liuying Plant.
5. Carbon Fiber
Hsin Yung Chien Co., Ltd. (HYC) creates a continuous chain circular system based on environmentally friendly composite materials that can be reused and recycled. The thermoplastic composite-made hard-shell luggage features breakthrough innovation in structure. Its material is lightweight and thin, and the specially blended fabric creates various colors and patterns. This unique composite material makes the luggage durable, weather and temperature-resistant, and strong against fall and scratch. Its impact resistance gives the luggage the ability to quickly rebound to maintain an intact appearance without damage. It is also 100% recyclable to reduce pollution.
6. PET Thermoplastic Polyester
ECOMAX has accumulated more than 20 years of practical experience in developing products made of recycled PET bottles. Ordinary textiles made of synthetic fibers produce a large amount of waste during the production and after consumption, causing direct or indirect environmental impact. On the other hand, ECOMAX employs a new recycling technology to produce PETSPUN® PRET fibers from PET bottles. This product embodies the company’s philosophy by reusing waste for efficient reduction of environmental pollution. PET bottles and polyester fibers contain the same material with consistent characteristics of general polyester fibers, and are non-toxic and safe.
7. Aluminum
BESV of Darfon Innovation Corp. focuses on product design, application scenarios and business models, aiming to increase the possibilities of material applications and the product lifetime. The e-bike features a step-through frame with adjustable handle angles and height. The headlights and taillights are integrated and powered by the lithium battery to reduce battery replacement. This e-bike also uses standardized parts; its battery and the motor can be repaired and replaced individually. BESV’s business model irregularly schedules the displayed and test-driven bicycles for commercial leases, and the old vehicle parts that have been disposed of are remodeled and converted into employees’ commuters or reused for other activities.
8. PP Semi-Crystalline Thermoplastic Plastic
Da Fon Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. has been dedicated to the philosophy of zero waste and total circulation. In 2016, zero zero APP was created by combining technologies to launch the online recycling service. The No. 5-marked PP material (polypropylene) from the discarded food containers is recycled, re-pulverized, granulated and processed, and remanufactured into creative gadgets. Zero zero also reinforces recycling concepts by using concrete examples such as a number of beverage cups being converted into a certain product. This enables the public to intuitively understand the process of recycling and total circulation, and gain insights on the most advanced circular design core technology in Taiwan.
9. HDPE Thermoplastic
O’right Int’l. Corp. actively develops the most environmentally friendly containers for shampoo and shower gel by replacing the petrochemical plastics with organic materials. They strive to reduce packaging materials, or to use packaging materials that can be recycled, remanufactured or decomposed. Product packaging is made from materials such as biodegradable PLA, natural bamboo and recycled coffee grounds. Bottles and accessories are made from HDPE, PP, PET and other recycled materials and recyclable packaging materials. Once the products are used up, the containers can be recycled and decomposed according to the resource classification to achieve a sustainable circulation.
10. Paper
CULTU-RE EXPERIMENT aims to discover new values of old things and regenerate the originally disposed materials into practical items. The recycled carton is sorted, processed and bound into a notebook. The cover paper and its inner paper is completely reusable, while the graphics on cartons such as agricultural products like vegetables and fruits, common stencil printing from the consumer brands and the like are preserved to reflect Taiwan’s unique cultural elements.

11. Coffee Waste

Singtex Industrial Co., Ltd. redefines coffee waste and remanufactures it into environmentally friendly yarns. S.Café® nano coffee grounds are created from a low-temperature, high-pressure environmentally-friendly patented process. The nano coffee grounds are added to yarns to increase surface areas, allowing excellent performance in water diffusion capacity thanks to its physical properties. The micro cavities can also continuously adsorb odor molecules and refract ultraviolet rays. S.Café® fabric offers outstanding properties such as quick-dry, UV protection and odor control. The “Drink it, Wear it” functional fabric creates a brand new experience of everyday and sport comfort.
12. Food Waste
Biovessel is an unplugged household appliance. It is a food waste processor, plant incubator and also drive of organic food circulation. The Bionicraft experiment summarizes the conditions and values of food decomposition in a natural environment, ensuring that the organisms in the container are efficiently decomposed in the most appropriate environment. Daily waste from vegetables and fruits naturally decomposes into fertilizer, and becomes nutrients for new planting to create an organic circulation of remnant foods in the urban environment.

Unceasingly circular system consisting of consumers, designers, and manufacturers

The central corridor is the “Everyday Items Explosion Zone”, showing the connection between “Recycle” and “Reborn”. The recyclable materials dissembled from daily consumer goods are assorted into 4 major recyclables of glass, metal, paper and plastic. They are further remanufactured into products by extrusion, melting, pressing, casting, injection, hot pressing and other technologies. Another highlight is the “Sustainable Exhibition Supplies,” including the display shelves in the exhibition. For example, the table top at the center is made of recycled and reassembled stone waste edges from a marble factory. The legs are stacked with PS bricks made from recycled 3C plastic. Modular design makes them applicable to various functions, times and scales. The exhibition supplies at the booths are also must-sees. For example, one of the table boards is made of recycled soles, and a set of table legs are made from recycled car bumpers.

Visitors can also experience the recycling and remanufacturing process with the on-site “Interactive Installation.” Outside the exhibition, the “Waste Art Corridor” displays six pieces of giant artwork collaged from six major wastes. The eye-catching visual performance is impactful, reminding people of the importance of waste recycling.

The curator Miniwiz specially presents the circular design exhibits paralleled to the European ones such as the giant spheres at the exhibition entrance. Its surface is covered with tiles made of recycled PET bottles, which is suitable for remanufacturing. At the back of the exhibition, visitors can find a pipe-like Tetrapod™ modular system. Its revolutionary new material made with recycled filters of IQOS heatsticks can carry out air purification, and the modular design allows storage of wires and cables with diverse combinations for efficient applications.

Circular Design How-To’s

By keeping circular design in mind, a contemporary and future-recognized designer pursues more than aesthetics and functions, but more importantly, the ability to create items with longer lifespan or able to be recycled and remanufactured. For manufacturers, it is necessary to strengthen individual technologies and production lines for manufacturing products not to be wasted, and not to produce unnecessary waste. The following are some efficient design guidelines for “Circular Design Circle”:

1. Recycled sources
2. Single materials
3. No glue
4. Design for assembly
5. Minimal shipping volume
6. Modular system design
7. No paint and coatings
8. Design for manufacturing
9. Scalable design
10.Non-toxicity

“Circular Design Exhibition – Are You In-Circled?” Exhibition Information

Dates: November 10, 2018 ~ March 03, 2019 

Time: 09:30 – 17:30, Tuesday to Sunday 

Venue: Exhibition Zone 5, Taiwan Design Museum (Songshan Cultural and Creative Park) 

Admission Fees: Adults NTD 100, Students and Groups NTD 80 (Fees may vary based on nature of exhibition; latest changes will be announced on the Song Yan Court website.) 

Official Organizer: Industrial Development Bureau, MOEA Executive 

Organizer: Taiwan Design Center 

Curatorial Advisor: Miniwiz, Blues To

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