By Marco Capellini
Circularity is a fundamental element in the design of industrial products. Adopting a circularity-oriented approach from the earliest stages of concept design is not only a forward-looking practice, but is now essential to meet the demands of an economy that requires maximum efficiency in the use of resources and reduction of waste. Integrating circularity principles during the development phase not only ensures consistency with environmental goals, but also creates a competitive advantage for companies.

The qualitative approach in the initial design phase
At the beginning of any project, many of the technical specifications of the product are not yet well defined. However, it is at this stage that it is most advantageous to start measuring circularity. A qualitative approach allows the conceptual framework of the product to be set, outlining the circularity objectives that will guide the subsequent development phases.
This approach allows designers to immediately integrate concepts such as modular design, disassemblability, reparability and recyclability. These elements, although initially considered at a theoretical level, lay the foundation for a development that aims to maximise resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Starting from a qualitative analysis of the circular economy helps to clearly define what is meant by product circularity in terms of:

• reduction of virgin resources,
• easy disassembly and reuse of components,
• minimisation of waste during the product life cycle.

Transition towards a quantitative approach
As time passes and product design evolves, the process naturally shifts towards a quantitative approach. In the engineering and production phases, it becomes crucial to precisely monitor progress towards circularity goals.
Quantitative measurement tools, such as the use of circularity metrics and KPIs, allow for an accurate assessment of product performance in terms of sustainability and resource efficiency, and provide much more objective feedback than the qualitative approach. Some of the key metrics include:

• Percentage of materials recycled or reused in the final product.
• Repairability index, which measures the ease of repairing and replacing components.
• Disassemblability index, which measures the degree of separability of components and materials by assessing, for example, reversibility and tools used.
• Resource recovery/recycling rate, which assesses the ability to reintroduce materials or components back into the production cycle.

These KPIs are essential tools not only to evaluate the results obtained, but also to identify areas for improvement and optimise production processes. The adoption of clear and specific metrics, also according to product type, allows designers and companies to make evidence-based evaluations, thus facilitating strategic decisions that can lead to product circularity.

The role of measurement in the development phase
Integrating circularity measurement tools during product development is not just a theoretical exercise: it represents a real opportunity to quickly adapt and improve the design before it reaches the final production stage. With these analyses, design teams can make changes in real time while maintaining the flexibility to align products with environmental and circularity requirements.
An approach that combines qualitative and quantitative measurements offers:

• Clarity and transparency in the development phases.
• The ability to quickly correct the direction of the project.
• The ability to obtain environmental certification and compliance with circularity regulations.

Companies that adopt this method can continuously monitor the alignment between design and circularity objectives, providing designers with the information they need to optimise choices and improve product environmental performance.

Conclusions
In a market increasingly focused on sustainability, integrating circularity measurement into the design and development phases of a product is a crucial strategy to remain competitive. By adopting an integrated approach (qualitative in the early stages and quantitative in the later stages), companies can design more circular products.

Circularity is not only an environmental objective, but also a key factor for business resilience and competitiveness. Measuring and continually improving the environmental performance of products during their life cycle thus becomes a strategic lever to respond in the best possible way also to legislative developments in the field of Ecodesign: the EU ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) is an example.