1. A module-by-module overview of the course

Module 1: Design for Recycling at a Systems Level

Why do we need a circular economy and how can design for recycling solve the e-waste problem? Get acquainted with the recycling process on the systems level and the key drivers and barriers for recycling.

Module 2: Design for Recycling at the Product Level

What happens in the EEE recycling process and how can we design recyclable products? In this episode you will learn about the design guidelines for recyclable products and the selection of materials that are compatible to recycling. You will apply this knowledge in a hands-on assignment.

Module 3: Design for Recycling at the Material Level

How are different materials sorted in the plastics recycling process? Explore the latest developments of material sorting and discover the implications of designing and manufacturing with recycled plastics. You will apply this knowledge in a hands-on assignment.

Module 4: Futureproof Design for Recycling

How are the production, consumption and recycling systems expected to evolve in the future? Explore the expected social, technological and organizational developments in recycling and learn about the consequences this will have on design for recycling. You will apply the knowledge acquired over the past 4 episodes in a final exam.

2. Resources and Readings

This reading guide contains the source material for most of the courseware in this course on Design for Recycling of Electronics in a Circular Economy. Some of the books, reports and journal papers in this reading guide are freely available, while others might require an institutional subscription.

All of these materials are optional, for your background reading. 

Module 1: Design for Recycling at a Systems Level

• Circular Economy: An Introduction MOOC 
• Ken Webster (2017) The Circular Economy: A Wealth of Flows – 2nd edition. Ellen MacArthur Foundation Publishing.
• Conny Bakker, Marcel den Hollander, Ed van Hinte and Yvo Zijlstra (2014) Products that Last – Product design for circular business models. TU Delft Library.
• IDEO & Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) The Circular Design Guide.
• The Global e-waste Monitor report published in 2020 by United Nations University, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the International Telecommunication Union.
• Journalist Adam Minter’s book Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade
• If you’re interested in legislation and the European plans towards a CE: The WEEE Directive, The Ecodesign Directive, The European Green Deal, The Circular Plastics Alliances 

Module 2: Design for Recycling at the Product Level

• Martínez Leal, J., Pompidou, S., Charbuillet, C., & Perry, N. (2020). Design for and from recycling: A circular ecodesign approach to improve the circular economy. Sustainability, 12(23), 9861.
• Design for and from Recycling: Practical Guidelines for Designers (PolyCE, March 2021)

Module 3: Design for Recycling at the Material Level

• Ragaert, K., Delva, L., & Van Geem, K. (2017). Mechanical and chemical recycling of solid plastic waste. Waste management, 69, 24-58.
• Delva, L., Van Kets, K., Kuzmanović, M., Demets, R., Hubo, S., Mys, N. & Ragaert, K. (2019).  Mechanical Recycling Of Polymers For Dummies.
• Wang, C. Q., Wang, H., Fu, J. G., & Liu, Y. N. (2015). Flotation separation of waste plastics for recycling – A review. Waste Management, 41, 28-38.

Module 4: Future-proof Design for Recycling

• Stahel, W. R. (2010). The Performance Economy (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan: Hampshire, United Kingdom.
• Tukker, A. (2004). Eight types of product-service system: eight ways to sustainability? Experiences from SusProNet. Business Strategy and the Environment, 13, 246–260.
• Poppelaars, F. (2020) Let It Go: Designing the Divestment of Mobile Phones in a Circular Economy from a User Perspective. Ph.D. Thesis, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
• Macleod, J. (2017) Ends. Why we overlook endings for humans, products, services and digital. And why we shouldn’t.