an economic system where products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste

assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product’s lifecycle

volume of carbon produced contributing to global warming

a product that is no longer used or useful

a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem

Circular economy and LCA

Design and technology

Investigating contexts

Design: Spider boot and Jaipur foot

Manufacture and materials processing: Fairtrade

Distribution: Better Shelter and wind-up radio

Product in use: S H E uniform and Hippo Roller

Repair, maintenance and recycling: Energee Saw

Redesign: The Washing Machine Project

This unit develops pupils' knowledge of technology in the world around us.    The pupils consider a case study 'The Washing Machine Project' to empathise with issues faced by people in developing countries.  Pupils develop knowledge of moral and social issues alongside empathy.

The circular economy: developing countries

Which stages of a circular economy are the key differences when compared to a linear economy?

Identify the examples of products that follow a circular economy.

Locate manufacturing in the country of sale.

Locate manufacturing based on workforce costs.

What design decisions could be made to reduce the environmental impact at the distribution stage of the product’s life cycle?

Which stage of the circular economy comes after 'product in use' and before 'recycling'?

Design {{}} is when you only consider one possibility and then sometimes miss an even better solution.

Put the stages of a linear economy in order.

Identify the examples of products that follow a linear economy.

Starter Quiz