DESIGNING A NEW ECONOMY FROM A LINEAR ECONOMY TO A CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM

CURRENT SYSTEM: LINEAR MODEL -Often described as the “Take, Make, Dispose” Model, a linear system relies on large quantities of easily accessible resources and energy which is unsustainable especially as the population grows and developing nations consume at higher rates.

CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC APPROACH

CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM OR CIRCULAR ECONOMY -An economic model which is restorative by intention and aims to rely on renewable energy sources. -Involves management of the flow of materials: biological nutrients, designed to reenter the biosphere naturally and build natural capital; and technical nutrients which are designed to circulate at high quality without entering the biosphere.

-Requires us to consider “systems thinking.” Manufacturing, Retail, Consumption and Disposal have to be thought out as one big system rather than multiple independent systems. -Circular economy advocates the need for a “functional service” model in which manufacturers or retailers increasingly retain the ownership of their products and, where possible, act as service providers- selling the use of the products, not their one- way consumption. Creates an incentive to design products which have greater longevity and create a greater model to refurbish goods so that they can operate at maximum capacity. -Design Out Waste: biological products are designed to be composted; and technical products are designed to be used again the highest ability to be retained.

NEW THINKING- ZIPCAR

Towards a “harmless” car? Four years after that initial contract, C2C and Ford were back under the spotlight once more as the company unveiled its “Model U” concept car, having carried out an extensive research and development campaign with the help of MBDC. Sourcing existing materials to prove the feasibility of the idea, the team came up with a vehicle powered by a hydrogen engine and including Milliken & Co. polyester upholstery fabric, a “technical nutrient” made from chemicals chosen for their human and environmental health qualities, and capable of perpetual recycling. The car top is made from a potential “biological nutrient,” a corn-based biopolymer from Cargill Dow that can be composted after use.

ASSIGNMENT: TWO PRODUCTS You can work in groups of two or three for this assignment: 1)Explain how an item that a member your group has purchased would go through the linear economy. -Where was it made? What was it made from? Where did you buy it? Where are things disposed of in our area? 2)Create an item and how it could go through a Closed Loop System. You can also find a current item that it flows through a Closed Loop system. -Explain how the item fits in this system and explain the system.