Physical Products
Key takeaway:
- The ideal sustainable physical product is produced with 100% renewable energy and based on 100% renewable or non-virgin material
- The product is designed to enable an infinite circulation of itself, its parts or material, avoiding any waste
Nature of Physical Products
The nature of physical products is physical. Hence, the physical materials are at the centre of sustainability.
Resource extraction, processing, use and disposal cause
- greenhouse gas emissions
- pollution (air, water, soil, waste and other disturbances)
- land use and
- freshwater/ocean use.
Two sustainability approaches address this situation:
- Circular Economy: The circular economy aims to keep every material in its highest state and to avoid waste. To achieve this goal, materials must be kept in the loop, reused, repaired, recycled, and repurposed.
- Regenerative Economy: The regenerative economy strives to improve capacities due to an organisation's value generation. This can mean the growth of biomass, increased biodiversity, better access to education, and much more. Indigenous people, communities, and individuals use and have used regeneration practices. They are mainly applied to agricultural and forestry activities, but not exclusively.
While the (re)discovery of the regenerative economy is about to happen, the circular economy is more pronounced. Reflecting the realities of many product teams, the focus will be on the circular economy.
▶ Continue with Introduction to the Circular Economy
Applying Circular Economy to Product Management
Introduction to the Circular Economy