Requirements for Design Methods from Circular Design to Support the Product Development of Products for the Circular Economy in SMEs

Against the backdrop of increasing ecological challenges, in connection with excessive use of resources, a rethinking of the current mode of operation of the economy and consumers is required. The circular economy, which describes a system in which products, components, and materials are preserved in recurring cycles, is seen as a counter-design to the currently dominant form of economy. The development of circular products plays a central role in the development of both consumer and capital goods. Design methods from circular design—a part of circular economy—form the basis for the development of circular products. Therefore, this contribution identifies and investigates evaluation criteria for the optimal selection of these design methods for use in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is shown that design methods shall promote circular development of a product and focus on a systemic consideration of the product context along the entire product life cycle as well as closing technical and biological cycles. The contribution formulates evaluation criteria that address the assessment of the applicability, integrability in SMEs, and circularity of a design method and thus provide a basis for the evaluation of design methods from circular design. Product developers in SMEs are thus provided with a set of criteria to support them in product development for the circular economy.