The circular economy, design thinking and education for sustainability. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andrews, Deborah
• Other Names: Morad Munir guest-editor.; Wade Ros guest-editor.; Vickery Lynn guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Local economy. Volume 30:Number 3(2015:May)
• Page Start: 305
• Page End: 315
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: circular economy -- education for sustainability -- sustainable design and manufacture; Great Britain -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; 330.941
• DOI: 10.1177/0269094215578226
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-0942

Abstract

The origins of the Linear Economy – the 'take-make-use-dispose' model of consumption – date from the Industrial Revolution and the global economy developed around this model. Various social, economic and environmental factors mean that it is no longer sustainable. A radical new model – the Circular Economy – is being advocated but as yet it is not widely practiced. This paper proposes that designers are crucial to the development of this new economic model; furthermore, this model facilitates education for sustainability and enhances employability.