Podcast: How can we design circular systems that empower sustainable innovation?

In the latest episode of Circularity.fm’s Expert Talks, Anne Farken, Associate Director Sustainability at our Munich studio, shares her perspective on why circular design is not only about the product itself, but about the entire ecosystem surrounding it.

The conversation explores the gap between the need for early design integration and the practical challenge of aligning product development and business model decisio from the very beginning.

Across several chapters, Circularity.fm’s Expert Talk series explored how design decisions shape circular outcomes at the material, product, and system levels, following the principles of Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The series was produced in collaboration with the German Design Council.

What you’ll hear in the latest episode

• How to design product ecosystems and integrate product development, business models, and value creation from day one
• The role of designers in translating business model insights into product requirements and facilitating integration across teams
• Why rethinking a product requires greater tolerance for ambiguity and stronger alignment across teams
• Why constraints and trade-offs should be seen as creative opportunities
• How design decisions shape circular outcomes at the material, product, and system levels, following the principles of Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Do you prefer listening on the go? Access the audio version here: https://circularity.fm/circular-design-systemic-innovation/