Circular Design - Getting from theory into practice

The project aims to provide recommendations for areas of action and measures that should promote the widespread use of circular design in Austria. For this purpose, the status quo of circular design in Austria is surveyed based on the circular design rules, obstacles for implementation are identified and best practice examples are presented.

Short Description

Running Time

1.11.2023 – 31.10.2024

Starting point

Circular product design plays a crucial role in achieving a circular economy because a large part of a product's environmental impact is already determined in the design phase. Although companies and organizations have increasingly been following such design rules in recent years, their widespread use is not yet the case for various reasons. In line with the Austrian circular economy strategy the broad application of circular design should therefore be given a strong push in the near future. The project is intended to provide the basis for planning and implementing appropriate measures.

Contents and methodological approach

We are planning a quantitative survey among companies, designers and experts about the status quo of circular design in Austria. In subsequent interviews, individual topics and results of the survey are explored in greater depth. Literature research and analysis on the study topics complement the data collection.

Using the results, we will analyze current practice and dissemination of circular design in Austrian companies. This comprises application patterns and trends, aspects of the design rules considered, actors involved, structures and processes. Moreover we will investigate which incentives, obstacles, success factors and support needs exists for a broad implementation of circular design.

This is the basis for the development of a well-founded catalog of recommendations that includes fields of action and measures to eliminate obstacles and for the broad implementation of circular design in Austria.

Expected results

Presentation of the status quo in circular design in Austrian companies and best practice examples
Analysis of obstacles, barriers and promoting factors
Recommendations on the need for further research and the design of the framework conditions.

Project Partners

Project leader

Manfred Muehlberger
ETA Environmental Consulting

Project partners

Vienna University of Economics and Business - Institute for Production Management (IPM)
Institute for Design Research Vienna (IDRV)
Design Austria (DA)
Circular Economy Forum Austria (CEFA)

Contact Address

Manfred Muehlberger
ETA Environmental Consulting
1200 Vienna, Treustrasse 92/9/20
Tel.: +43 664 3026024
E-Mail: muehlberger@eta.at
www.eta.at