Sustainability is big business.
A 2024 survey by PwC found that 85% of people prefer to buy sustainably-produced items and are willing to pay almost 10% extra for the privilege.
For this reason, we’re seeing brands focusing more on their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) credentials and transparency.
Design decisions are often shaped by consumer demand and designers must innovate fast to keep up. Let’s explore some of the emerging sustainable design trends at the moment.
From Waste to Worthwhile – Circular Design & Modularity
Product design is rapidly moving towards a more circular model. Circular design takes every stage of the product lifecycle into account, sometimes known as a cradle-to-cradle (C2C) design philosophy.
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Raw Materials: What materials are used, and can they be sourced in a way to reduce environmental impact?
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Product Design: Is the product built to be reused and easily repaired?
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Manufacturing: Is the production process energy-efficient, and how much waste does it generate?
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Distribution & Usage: How much energy is required to transport and operate the product or service? What is the source of that energy?
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End of Life: Can the product be taken apart? Are its components reusable in new production, or can the raw materials be safely returned to nature?
You could say that the old production model was about “take-make-dispose”, whereas the new circular model is more regenerative, taking a “reuse-repair-recycle” approach.
Circular design favours modularity over monolithic builds, as they are easier to upgrade, repair, and adapt. It means that a product stays in use longer without the need to start from scratch every time something breaks or becomes outdated. Modularity also supports personalisation, as a single base product can meet a wide range of needs or adapt to changing preferences.
Below, you’ll find some examples of circular designed modular products that are already on the market.
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Fairphone – A smartphone designed for longevity, with easily replaceable parts like the battery, screen, and camera.
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Polygood panels – Decorative surface panels used for tabletops and wall cladding made from 100% recycled plastic.
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IKEA DELAKTIG – A modular sofa that can be reconfigured or upgraded over time with new components.
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Framework Laptop – A fully modular laptop where nearly every part, from the RAM to the keyboard, can be replaced or upgraded.
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Nike ISPA (Improvise, Scavenge, Protect, Adapt) – Footwear made with disassemblable parts and a design philosophy grounded in circularity.
When brands design with disassembly and adaptability in mind, it saves a lot of waste and e-waste (discarded electrical and electronic devices and appliances). Circular design practices help extend the life of a product, allowing people to upgrade or swap out parts as needed rather than throwing the whole thing away. It also simplifies recycling by limiting the number of materials used and making them easier to separate at the end of a product’s life.
At Bouncepad, we make all our tablet stands to be easily upgradeable and repairable, providing replacement parts for all our models without phasing out support.
Greener Choices from the Ground Up
Brands are starting to use cleaner and greener materials. For instance, organic textiles like organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo are grown without harmful chemicals and offer a biodegradable alternative to conventional fibres.
Bioplastics are slowly replacing oil-based plastics, with demand set to more than double by 2029. Bioplastics are made from renewable sources like corn or seaweed, which means they have a lower carbon footprint and are biodegradable. That’s why a growing number of brands are using them for products and packaging.
In the construction industry, bioconcrete has been developed that “heals” itself. Bioconcrete includes a bacteria that produces a natural material called calcium carbonate, which fills in small cracks when they appear. It means concrete structures last longer and don’t need as many repairs. It also cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95% compared to conventional cement.
Smart Tech Feeds Conscious Design
The AI design revolution has already begun with tools to help designers make more sustainable choices. For instance, AI can pinpoint where materials are being wasted and suggest other options.
Other tools simulate the entire lifecycle of a product, from material sourcing to disposal, so designers can see the environmental impact of their decisions before anything is built.
Although not strictly related to design, AI supports the circular economy on a bigger scale by improving recycling systems and forecasting consumer demand to reduce overproduction.
Sustainable Packaging Solutions
Sustainable design doesn’t end when the product design is finished. You can design the most eco-friendly product in the world, but if you wrap it in layers of plastic, it defeats the object.
A big trend at the moment is plant-based and biodegradable packaging. A lot of brands are moving toward packaging made from things like cornstarch, seaweed, or sugarcane as they break down naturally, unlike traditional plastics.
Mycelium (fungus) packaging is getting really popular. Companies are literally growing packaging from mushroom roots that’s strong, lightweight, and compostable. It’s a great alternative to Styrofoam or bubble wrap. Vogue even called it one of the biggest breakthroughs for reducing beauty industry waste.
Product Design Is Evolving – Are You?
The product design industry has come a long way over the past decade or two. The shift towards circular design is more than just making something “eco-friendly” as an afterthought. Instead, designers are considering sustainability from the ground up.
Modular design adds to this cradle-to-cradle approach and simulation tech is helping designers make better decisions. AI and predictive analytics can also be used to reduce waste. Packaging is also becoming less reliant on plastic as more biodegradable alternatives emerge.
Overall, it’s an exciting time to be a product designer as sustainability becomes the new normal. The question now isn’t if companies should design more sustainability, it’s how well they can do it.
