footprints. However, in reality transformation leading from liner to circular economy faces multiple challenges. For example, (a) limitations of existing engineering
practices which results in leakage of hazardous pollutants into biosphere, (b) introduction of new materials into economy with uncertain life cycle implications, or
(c) effect of unsustainable consumer behaviours etc., are some factors that hamper
implementation of circular economy. To overcome these, the future products and
engineering systems must be designed for “circular economy” so to ensure circulation of technical nutrients within technosphere, return of biological nutrients
safely to biosphere and decoupling economic growth from social and environmental
externalities can be easily facilitated. The presentation detailed a structured
framework for using Life Cycle Assessment as a tool to design new products or
engineering systems for circular economy and supporting case studies were also
shown.
The presenter opened on social issues to be addressed to ensure sustainability
and was questioned about the reduction of the environmental footprint without
reducing social and economic values.
3 User Integration
Birgit Brunklaus (RISE) discussed on LCA learnings from service design, therefore
focusing on the influence of user behaviour in the design of sustainable systems,
with the case-study of the leisure sector. The development of services in replacement of the traditional product selling model seems to be one solution for reducing
resources consumption and emissions of pollutants. Similarly to products, services
are designed to fulfil customers’ needs, despite they are seldom involved in the
design of products and they usually are in the design process of services.
A literature review of service design and LCA studies of leisure services like the
opera and theatre, tourism related services, and movies, have been performed from
the supplier and consumer perspectives respectively, in order to (a) identify similarities and differences between service design and Life cycle based approaches,
and (b) to derive some propositions to further develop the Life Cycle based
approaches (LCA, S-LCA, LCC) in order to integrate user into the design process.
The discussion referred to the integration of users into the LCA methodology,
especially on the translation of users’ behaviours characteristics into quantified
items.
Finally, Gregor Waltersdorfer (University of Luxembourg) discussed in his
presentation a meaning-based perspective of potential users on the implications of
products and services for sustainability. He proposed a design method called
“MeaningMap” and a sequence for meaning-based reasoning in design, which can
support designers in considering meanings by potential users. He illustrated the
integration of the user perspective into design of service systems, involving sharing
bikes or washing machines. Integrating the perspective of potential users into
design allow to take into account their limits in the perception of the economic,
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N. Perry and J. Garcia
practices which results in leakage of hazardous pollutants into biosphere, (b) introduction of new materials into economy with uncertain life cycle implications, or
(c) effect of unsustainable consumer behaviours etc., are some factors that hamper
implementation of circular economy. To overcome these, the future products and
engineering systems must be designed for “circular economy” so to ensure circulation of technical nutrients within technosphere, return of biological nutrients
safely to biosphere and decoupling economic growth from social and environmental
externalities can be easily facilitated. The presentation detailed a structured
framework for using Life Cycle Assessment as a tool to design new products or
engineering systems for circular economy and supporting case studies were also
shown.
The presenter opened on social issues to be addressed to ensure sustainability
and was questioned about the reduction of the environmental footprint without
reducing social and economic values.
3 User Integration
Birgit Brunklaus (RISE) discussed on LCA learnings from service design, therefore
focusing on the influence of user behaviour in the design of sustainable systems,
with the case-study of the leisure sector. The development of services in replacement of the traditional product selling model seems to be one solution for reducing
resources consumption and emissions of pollutants. Similarly to products, services
are designed to fulfil customers’ needs, despite they are seldom involved in the
design of products and they usually are in the design process of services.
A literature review of service design and LCA studies of leisure services like the
opera and theatre, tourism related services, and movies, have been performed from
the supplier and consumer perspectives respectively, in order to (a) identify similarities and differences between service design and Life cycle based approaches,
and (b) to derive some propositions to further develop the Life Cycle based
approaches (LCA, S-LCA, LCC) in order to integrate user into the design process.
The discussion referred to the integration of users into the LCA methodology,
especially on the translation of users’ behaviours characteristics into quantified
items.
Finally, Gregor Waltersdorfer (University of Luxembourg) discussed in his
presentation a meaning-based perspective of potential users on the implications of
products and services for sustainability. He proposed a design method called
“MeaningMap” and a sequence for meaning-based reasoning in design, which can
support designers in considering meanings by potential users. He illustrated the
integration of the user perspective into design of service systems, involving sharing
bikes or washing machines. Integrating the perspective of potential users into
design allow to take into account their limits in the perception of the economic,
368
N. Perry and J. Garcia