The Role of Material Change in the Transition to the Circular Economy

Circular economy business models have the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of production, consumption and disposal, however their uptake is hindered by negative perceptions of ‘material change’, which encompasses ageing, wear and contamination. The framework presented in this paper provides researchers and practitioners with a greater understanding of the factors which influence how materials change through time and use, and how people’s responses to material change impacts upon the movement of products through circular economy business models, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for design.