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For this environmentally sustainable product flow model, consumer participation - that is, their participation in the process of creating a new product - is more important than ever.
The consumer is expected to be aware of it and take the initiative that designers/manufacturers have to motivate in some way or another. Communication and real solutions of the take-back system are among the more important parts of a designer's work within the concept of circular economy.
For example, the Czech company KAVE offers footwear made of residual materials and appeals to its customers to send their worn-out shoes back to them - the rubber sole is ground into granulate and then a new one is pressed. A similar attitude has been taken by the Slovak cosmetics company MYLO, which encourages its customers to send glass containers back or return them at one of their designated stores in Slovakia and the Czech Republic - in exchange for a discount on another purchase.
User-friendliness is very important on the side of designers and manufacturers - this means the right choice of channels and methods of communication on how to dispose of the product after it has expired. Because without clear communication, the effort already spent on responsible production will have been in vain.
Send the product back to the company? Give it to a second-hand shop? Throw it in the trash or compost? Is it compostable?
By involving customers directly in the product development process, a new emotional factor is created, which according to studies helps for longer life.
It has been proven that when people are involved in the production, assembly or creation of products in general, they value them more - so they also last longer.2 As an example, the well-known manufacturer IKEA, which plays around with its own furniture assembly. Although some furniture ranges are not made of quality and durable materials, the emotional component mentioned above often prolongs their life.
In the context of recycling, it is definitely worth mentioning the Precious Plastic company, whose founder Dave Hakkens created a system for the home recycling of plastic containers.
For example, the Czech company KAVE offers footwear made of residual materials and appeals to its customers to send their worn-out shoes back to them - the rubber sole is ground into granulate and then a new one is pressed. A similar attitude has been taken by the Slovak cosmetics company MYLO, which encourages its customers to send glass containers back or return them at one of their designated stores in Slovakia and the Czech Republic - in exchange for a discount on another purchase.
User-friendliness is very important on the side of designers and manufacturers - this means the right choice of channels and methods of communication on how to dispose of the product after it has expired. Because without clear communication, the effort already spent on responsible production will have been in vain.
Send the product back to the company? Give it to a second-hand shop? Throw it in the trash or compost? Is it compostable?
By involving customers directly in the product development process, a new emotional factor is created, which according to studies helps for longer life.
It has been proven that when people are involved in the production, assembly or creation of products in general, they value them more - so they also last longer.2 As an example, the well-known manufacturer IKEA, which plays around with its own furniture assembly. Although some furniture ranges are not made of quality and durable materials, the emotional component mentioned above often prolongs their life.
In the context of recycling, it is definitely worth mentioning the Precious Plastic company, whose founder Dave Hakkens created a system for the home recycling of plastic containers.
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The project was renewed with the support of the Specific Research FaVu BUT and is one of the outputs of Valentýna Landa Filípková's dissertation.
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