This document discusses BEDA's position on supporting design's role in the Circular Economy. BEDA is Europe's multi-disciplinary design association consisting of 45 members from 22 countries promoting design. One of BEDA's strategic objectives is to promote design for public sector renewal and as a new approach to policymaking. The document outlines BEDA's position paper on design and the Circular Economy, arguing that design is a key tool for moving toward a Circular Economy and should be considered central to Circular Economy policy. The position paper proposes highlighting design's importance for Circular Business models, increasing use of ecodesign criteria in EU product policies, improving consumer knowledge, and enabling finance for companies investing in ecode

1. Supporting the key role of design in the Circular
Economy
Brussels, 16th June 2015
Isabel Roig, CEO BCD Barcelona Design Centre and past
president BEDA Bureau of European Design Associations

2. BEDA’s vision is for design to be
embraced in Europe as a driver of growth
and prosperity.

3. Who is BEDA?
Europe’s only multi-disciplinary design association, consisting
of 45 members from 22 Member States plus Norway, Serbia,
Switzerland and Turkey.
28
17
Promotional
organisations
Professional
associations

4. Strategic Objectives
Enhance the
awareness and
understanding of
the value of design.
Strengthen the
capability of the
design sector to
meet future needs.
Build capacity for
design among EU
businesses.
Advocate design for
public sector
renewal.
Promote design as
a new approach to
policy-making.

5. BEDA Position Papers
• Design and Public Procurement
• Design Profession
• Design and IPR
• Design Skills (in process)
• Design for Circular Economy (in process)

6. Position Paper – Supporting the
key role of design in the
Circular Economy

7. Position Paper – Design & Circular Economy
BEDA aims to create increased awareness of the
importance of design as a key tool to move towards a
Circular Economy.
We strongly encourage the European Commission and
other stakeholders to consider the role of design in the
core of the Circular Economy Policy.

8. ‘Circular Design
Defining design strategies for a long product
lifespan starts with the notion that design
concerns the whole economic circle of
change. The ability to keep on sustaining and
adding value is the crux.’
Products that last – Product Design for Circular Business Models –
Conny Bakker, Marcel den Hollander, Ed van Hinte, Yvo Zljlstra – TU
Delft

9. Position Paper – Design & Circular Economy
BEDA proposals:
- Highlighting the importance of design for Circular
Business (new models of value creation).
- Increasing the use of ecodesign criteria in the
European Commission’s product policies: European
Ecolabel, Environmental Product Declarations,
Environmental Footprint, etc.
- Improving consumers knowledge (ie. Ecolabel,
simpler, enforced, transparent..).

10. Position Paper – Design & Circular Economy
- Enabling access to finance through the European
Structural and Investment Funds for companies
that invest in ecodesign strategies and / or creates
Circular Business models.
- Including ecodesign criteria in public procurement,
making use of the possibilities offered by the new
Directives.

11. Thank you!
www.beda.org