Design 4 Take Back: Circular product design in action
Smappee, Umbrosa and Unilin Insulation take up the challenge with us to make their products ready for a circular future. They are adapting their product design so that the products can be easily reused after use. They are also developing a process for reverse logistics so that the products can be taken back efficiently.
In this process, they will receive professional guidance from the design agency Surplace and Brian Legein of Ellis Consulting. 10 other manufacturing companies from the region will have the unique opportunity to learn from the experiences of these three pioneers through regular introductory and sharing events.
This project is one of 20 selected within the Design 4 Circularity call by Flanders Circular and OVAM: a call for innovative projects exploring and applying ecodesign and systemic thinking.
Almost all raw materials in Belgium come from foreign soil. This makes our local manufacturing industry highly dependent on environmentally damaging imports and price fluctuations in non-Western markets. Instead of importing new raw materials, Designregio Kortrijk therefore prefers to (re)design as many products as possible with a view to reuse.
Modular designs and takeback services
We will do this in two ways: with ‘design for disassembly’ and ‘reverse logistics’. First, we will guide designers to design products as modular as possible, so that they can be easily disassembled. Secondly, we want to set up a take-back service with the same companies, so that products will return to the manufacturing company at the end of their life cycle. They can then repair the products or use the parts elsewhere, without having to tap new raw materials.
3 pioneers
The project starts with the 3 ‘pioneers’ Smappee, Umbrosa and Unilin Insulation: companies that are working with us to redesign their products and develop a take-back service. They will share their experiences around eco-design principles with a second group of 10 companies Haelvoet, Cobras, Decospan, Moerman, Novy, Stas, TAL/Lithoss, Thule, Unilin Flooring and Vytech.
Design 4 Take Back runs from 30 December 2024 to 29 December 2026 and receives grants from Flanders Circular / OVAM. Check out the 19 other selected projects HERE.