Circular Economy Capacity Building in the Horticulture Industry – Module 3

Welcome to the third module of the Circular Economy Capacity Building Program!

In this week’s instalment we are examining circular design principles as they apply to a business. It takes many businesses, organisations and households to create a circular economy, and the design principles outlined this week help to break down the ways in which “circularity” can be embedded in our operations and strategies. Design is fundamental to the function of our lives. Design affects the invisible structure that the human environment is built on. Some design principles, like the  infamous “planned obsolescence” have wrought massive destruction on natural systems and people’s hip pockets, resulting in enormous amounts of unnecessary waste. Conversely, the cycle-friendly design principles of Dutch cities improves pollution, congestion and health outcomes for all people in the Netherlands.

This week we have a recorded presentation from our delivery partner Coreo, and you can read on through this page to discover more about circularity design principles and the ways they can improve your business or organisation’s function.

The Four Circular Design Principles 

1. Use Less 

This principle emphasises reducing the quantity and types of materials used in a product. Before procuring something new or embarking on a new project, we should ask ourselves, “Do we really need it? What value is it going to create?”  

If it is decided there is a need to procure a resource, one should also consider how less material can be used to perform the same task. For example, there is often a need for ‘fit for purpose’, durable pot plant packaging, but could there be a way to reduce the amount of total material used for packaging. You might consider techniques like bulk boxing (like what Who Gives a Crap have done for their toilet paper). Or to choose different products that require less packaging, like bare rooted plants? 

2. Choose Better Materials 

The second circular design principle is about selecting better materials, meaning:  

• Renewable: from natural sources, sustainably sourced & harvested  

• Recovered: not a “new” product or material- instead, opt for reused, repaired, remanufactured, or recycled (option of last resort! – recall Module 2 ;)  

• Low production impacts: materials & products that were produced without excessive resource & with renewable utilities  

• Non-toxic: materials that could be dangerous to humans or the environment, either in production, in use, or end of life.  

Some great examples of better materials selection in the horticulture sector include the Wool Pot, a NZ company making plant pots made from sheep wool, and the Lost Seed, an Australian company making bamboo plant labels. 

3. Design for the Future 

The third principle is to design things in a way to keep resources in use for as long as possible- which includes designing so things can be easily reused, repaired, or remanufactured (etc.).  

A great example of this is N-Drip, a  micro irrigation solution powered by gravity. Not only does it consume far less water in use than traditional flood irrigation, it is designed for long life and to be able to be fully recycled at end of use.  

An important element of designing for the future for the horticultural sector is considering the effects of increasing climate impacts. The Australian Native Plant Society cites the following key strategies to increase resilience against hotter, drier, and more variable weather conditions, including:  

• Mounding and channelling: Creating raised mounds and channels to collect and store water deeper in the soil, helping plants access moisture during droughts. 

• Shade and wind protection: Planting trees and shrubs to provide shade and shield gardens from excessive sun and wind, promoting healthier plant growth. 

• Soil management: Improving soil health by adding humus and protecting it with organic or inorganic mulch to maintain moisture and support micro-organisms. 

• Plant selection: Choosing plants suited to local conditions, focusing on native species tolerant of dry and windy environments. 

• Active maintenance: Pruning plants before hot weather to reduce their water needs and leaving dead growth to protect soil during dry spells. 

By applying these strategies, horticulturalists can design gardens that are ready for future conditions. 

4. Design for Systemic Value 

The last principle is that circular design considers the value it can deliver to people & planet. This means ensuring that products, programs, built assets and systems provide functions that can benefit both society and the environment.  

For example, Fytogreens floating wetlands are floating modules planted with wetland species to add beauty and interest, improve water quality/capacity, and provide diverse habitat. Developed by horticulturists, Fytogreen floating wetland modules are light, easy to install and plant, and expandable to over 1,000m2. In designing their product in such a way, they are not only delivering a product into market, they are actively contributing to ecosystem regeneration in the areas where their product is placed, and they are serving a market interested in ecosystems regeneration.  

Conclusion 

There are so many ways circular design can be incorporated into our daily lives and organisations. We hope this article enlightened you on the why and how of incorporating circularity into the design stage of anything to which we put our minds. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions and catch you back for Module 4!