What Is Circularity By Design?
The announcement of Integra Systems’ partnership with Dutch manufacturer Brink Industrial in December was a momentous step for our organisation on a number of levels. As well as providing a boost to business development and new business opportunities for Australian and Dutch co-manufacturing, it also provides a platform for Integra to demonstrate our commitment to the development and growth of the circular economy as a fundamental design principle in manufacturing in Australia.
Speaking at the announcement, Dai Forterre, Senior Policy Officer for Economic Affairs with the Netherlands Embassy in Canberra, explained that, while developing business opportunities for Dutch manufacturers in overseas markets is a prime focus of his responsibilities, an equally important part is identifying companies that share his and the Embassy’s vision for creating sustainable ways of doing business.
“Sustainability is an important part of [the Dutch government’s] economic, as well as our foreign policy, more broadly,” remarked Dai. “I spend my time not just in what you would call economic diplomacy but what I call ‘green diplomacy’ and that’s where this really important collaboration meets – it’s a balance between economic innovation and development, and the adoption of sustainability ideas. Circularity has been an important agenda point, so it’s really wonderful for us to see entrepreneurs taking up the mantle and using it to drive innovative business models.”
With words like ‘circularity’, ‘circular design’ and ‘circular economies’ being used more frequently in the Integra lexicon, we thought we’d take a moment to explain what we mean when referring to circularity or the relatively new concept in Australia: Circularity by Design.
An introduction to circularity
Circularity is a remarkably broad term. It can best be described as a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is one of the world’s leading advocates for the advancement of circular economies, and expands on the notion of circularity in the following manner:
“Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model… is based on three principles: design out waste and pollution; keep products and materials in use; and regenerate natural systems.”
In essence, a circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible and then, at the end of their operating life, find ways to recover and regenerate those products and materials. From a circular design perspective, it means designing products that are versatile, and using environmentally friendly processes and materials that have the functionality to be incorporated and re-purposed on multiple occasions in the future.
Integra’s commitment to circularity
Integra has always embraced circular design – or Circularity by Design – in many practical, achievable ways. Interestingly enough, our processes didn’t fit a ‘slogan’, yet circular design was naturally imbued in our ethos. Only now have we come to know it as ‘circularity’. Take, for instance, the following examples:
Many of the products we produce are designed in modular or kit form for flat-packed transportation. Kits can be assembled and disassembled on-site. This reduces transportation costs and waste due to inefficient use of haulage space, which subsequently results in reduced carbon emissions.
In the manufacturing process, we apply our knowledge of metals to select the most suitable material for our customers’ projects. We do this to not only ensure the right product fit but also the correct strength and durability, which leads to minimal defects and waste from product failure.
Our engineering space relies on ‘smart’ machine technology, which includes Servo Electric Brake presses that automatically shut down when not being used, reducing energy consumption with the use of Punch IT coil lines. Our Fibre Optic Laser and Compass technology utilises the highest speed laser head available, delivering the fastest cutting speed at maximum efficiency. All metal off-cuts and scrap are systematically collected and sent to an accredited recycling specialist.
In conclusion
Circularity has always been a focus of product designs at Integra, and it will continue to be more prominent in everything we do in the future. We design with an eye to waste reduction, employ modularity to maximise the scope for re-use or re-deployment, and we look to manufacture with recycled materials wherever possible.
We reduce, reuse, remake, redeploy and recycle. That is circularity.
Want to know more about Circularity by Design?
Read our interview with Consul-General Frank van Beuningen and Dai Forterre from the Netherlands Consular Mission.