Overcoming barriers to circular product design*

The circular economy concept provides sustainability research with a new vision in place of the present linear economic model. This study focuses on product design, the starting point of applying circular thinking in supply chain functions. We investigate barriers to circular product design from a stakeholder perspective. Using thematic analysis and data collected from 15 semi-structured interviews in New Zealand, we identify four prominent barriers: financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, government inaction, and global market barriers. The most influential stakeholder classes for overcoming the barriers are consumers, industry leaders, and governments. Circumventing measures lie in sustainable end-of-life product and waste management, resource circularity, modularity and standardization in design, and supply chain collaboration. Based on these new insights, we develop a roadmap for circular product design, providing practical guidance for businesses and policymakers. We also add to research on stakeholder theory by exploring its descriptive aspect in the context of a transition to circular economy at the supply chain level.

Automated summary

The concept of circular economy provides a new vision for sustainability research, emphasizing the importance of product design in applying circular thinking. Through research in New Zealand, financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, government inaction, and global market barriers were identified as major obstacles to circular product design. Consumers, industry leaders, and governments are identified as the most influential stakeholders in overcoming these barriers.