The slides presented and used for the joint research workshop (between De Montfort University, Lund University and Nottingham Trent University) on "scaling up SMEs utilising reuse/upcycling" at Nottingham Trent University. This presentation includes the opening presentation as well as workshop activities.

1. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Joint research workshop at Nottingham Trent University (19/06/2018)
Workshop on scaling up SMEs
utilising reuse/upcycling
Dr. Kyungeun Sung, Product Design, De Montfort University
Dr. Jagdeep Singh, The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund University
Mrs. Katherine West, Product Design, Nottingham Trent University

2. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Workshop schedule
Time Duration Activity
13:00-13:30 30 mins Opening presentation
13:30-14:30 60 mins Whole-group activity: Yes or No! (CLD confirmation)
14:30-14:40 10 mins Comfort break
14:40-15:10 30 mins Group activity 1: interventions and suitable actors
15:10-15:30 20 mins Coffee break
15:30-16:10 40 mins Group activity 2: further thought
16:10-16:40 30 mins Group presentation and plenary session
16:40-17:00 20 mins Closing and departure

3. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Project background
 PhD research supported by CIE-MAP
 Post-doctoral research funded by
Materials Research Seed-Corn fund
from the PVC for research (Yvonne
Barnett) at NTU
 VC2020 fund from DMU
 Travel fund from Lund U
 Seed-Corn research fund (Sustainable
Futures theme) at NTU

4. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Upcycling
http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/15/11/54ff6adf88ead-peplum.jpg http://www.flashdrivepros.com/Images/1000recoveredflashdrives.jpg
Creation or modification of a product from used materials, components or
products which is of equal or higher quality or value than the compositional
elements

5. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Upcycling-based SMEs
Image sources: http://www.upcycledfurniture.co.uk/product/the-american-fluted-chair/; http://annika-n.co.uk/; http://seadriftdesign.bigcartel.com/; http://www.sarahturner.co.uk/Cola%2010/cola30.html
 Extend lifetimes of used products,
components and materials 
increase material efficiency + reduce
industrial energy  lower GHGs
 Reduce solid waste
 Create jobs especially for the
disadvantaged people

6. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Scaling up
 Niche practice
 Scaling up 
mainstream practice
 Interventions across a
range of scales
involving various
actors
 Systems approach
required

7. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Understanding upcycling-based SMEs in the UK
 Challenges and success factors for scaling up upcycling-based SMEs in
the UK
 Focusing on used timber and textiles (e.g. furniture and clothing)
 Stakeholders’ (practitioners + consumers) perspectives (interviews;
n=29)
 Causal loop diagram (draft)
 Test/confirmation of CLD

8. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Aims
 Confirm/improve the draft CLD
 Gain new ideas
 Discuss what’s next

9. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Key stakeholders in upcycling businesses in the UK
Material
suppliers
Upcycling
designers &
makers
Retailers
Consumers

10. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Material suppliers’ perspectives: Challenges
 Increasing cost
 Sourcing materials
 Legislation
 Public misunderstanding
 Macro-economic situation
 …

11. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Material suppliers’ perspectives: Success factors
 Awareness raising
 Promotion
 Legal and legislative support
 Financial support
 Pressure on companies
 …

12. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Upcycling designers and makers’ perspectives: Challenges
 Difficulty in sourcing materials
 Limited hands-on skills
 Limitation from the materials
 Finding necessary equipment
 One-off nature  high price
 …
http://seadriftdesign.bigcartel.com/
http://www.urbanupholstery.com/
http://samesister.com/

13. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Upcycling designers and makers’ perspectives: Success factors
 Material provision system
 Online marketing support
 Employees and apprentices
 Business advice
 Financial support
 …
http://seadriftdesign.bigcartel.com/
http://www.urbanupholstery.com/
http://samesister.com/

14. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Retailers’ perspectives: Challenges
 Consumers’ negative perception
 Attracting suitable consumers
 Seasonal demand
 Obtaining quality products
 Location of the shop
 …

15. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Retailers’ perspectives: Success factors
 Reasonable pricing
 Effective online marketing
 Good story/history behind the product
 Celebrity involvement in promotion
 Awareness-raising (e.g. appreciation of
the skills and time for upcycling)
 …

16. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Consumers’ perspectives: Challenges
 Limited availability and access
 Finding good quality products
 Time and effort
 High price
 Suitability (e.g. size of clothing)
 …
Image source: http://www.bbdirect.com/ckfinder/userfiles/images/Consumers.jpg

17. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Consumers’ perspectives: Success factors
 Bespoke products
 Increased availability
 More information
 One stop shop
 Lowered price
 …
Image source: http://www.bbdirect.com/ckfinder/userfiles/images/Consumers.jpg

18. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Questions?
Image source: http://eracreditservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/credit-repair-companies.jpg

19. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Workshop activities

20. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Whole-group activity: Yes or No!
13:30-14:30 (60 mins)
 One/limited causal link(s) per slide
 Use the yes/no card to show your answer
 No  reasons will be audio-recorded

21. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Comfort break
Image source: http://www.botswanayouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/break.jpg 14:30-14:40 (10 mins)

22. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Group activity 1: interventions and suitable actors
14:40-15:10 (30 mins)
 Understand interventions and
suitable actors (suggested by
stakeholders)
 Come up with new interventions
and think about potential
suitable actors
 Write down all the new ideas
using sticky notes! (actors)
 Place the notes where
appropriate
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23. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Coffee/tea break
Image source: http://www.medical-supermarket.com/Resources/Content/Tea2.png 15:10-15:30 (20 mins)

24. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Group activity 2: further thought discussion
15:30-16:10 (40 mins)
We need 3 volunteers per table!
 3 questions
 3 presenters / table (who also need to take
notes)
 1 presenter for 1 question
 1 presenter will present the group answers
for 2 minutes after the discussion
Image source: http://blog.smiley.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/first-graphical-emoticons-smiley.png

25. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Group activity 2: further thought discussion
10 minutes
End
15:30-16:10 (40 mins)
10 minute discussion on:
1. Which intervention do you think is the
crucial/key one for scaling up upcycling SMEs
in the UK? And who should act on it?

26. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Group activity 2: further thought discussion
10 minutes
End
15:30-16:10 (40 mins)
10 minute discussion on:
2. We know that multiple actors should be
involved in planning and implementing
interventions for scaling up, but then how
could we make them work together for the
common goal?

27. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Group activity 2: further thought discussion
10 minutes
End
15:30-16:10 (40 mins)
10 minute discussion on:
3. Imagine the future situation that we
manage to implement multiple interventions
and successfully scale up upcycling SMEs.
What is going to happen in terms of its impact
on resource efficiency, effectiveness, waste
management and the environment in general?
What other positive and negative
impacts/scenario can you envisage?

28. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Group presentation and plenary session
16:10-16:40 (30 mins)
2 minute presentation per presenter:
1. Which intervention do you think is the crucial/key one for scaling up upcycling
SMEs in the UK? And who should act on it?
2. We know that multiple actors should be involved in planning and implementing
interventions for scaling up, but then how could we make them work together for
the common goal?
3. Imagine the future situation that we manage to implement multiple interventions
and successfully scale up upcycling SMEs. What is going to happen in terms of its
impact on resource efficiency, effectiveness, waste management and the
environment in general? What other positive and negative impacts/scenario can
you envisage?

29. Kyungeun Sung / School of Design
Closing and departure
16:40-17:00 (20 mins)Image source: https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/e29b6418805745.56934a66b8fe9.jpg