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CIRCULAR-ECONOMY5 MIN READ

A recycled-material win that weakens the loop

Evaluate circular decisions as a system so a material win does not hide a weaker product loop.

The situation A product team can celebrate a move to recycled plastic, but the new assembly approach might also make repair harder and shorten useful life. The real test is whether the product stays at high value longer, not whether one claim improves in isolation. Decision principle Protect the higher-value loop first Circular design means evaluating material choices alongside the product loops they enable or block. Shortcut Take the input win and ignore what happens in use. The better circular call often balances input quality with longer and easier product circulation. Do not trade away repairability for a prettier materials…

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