Circular economy: an answer to obsolescence
Économie circulaire : une réponse à l’obsolescence
Résumé
The depletion of natural resources, the increase in waste, the difficulty in sourcing electronic components and the obsolescence of products have become current issues that must be addressed to preserve the environment. One of the solutions proposed in the literature is to move to a circular economy, which is the opposite of the linear economy. The circular economy proposes a shift from a consumption and production paradigm to a "regeneration" paradigm. This solution, as defined in the literature, only applies to products designed to be regenerated in the technosphere or nature. However, many products are already on the market that do not meet the design criteria of the circular economy. These products can also be regenerated in the technosphere. In this article we focus on a short- and medium-term perspective by looking at the products already designed, on the market. Thus, the objective of the work is to deepen the principles of the circular economy by taking up the concept of biomimicry, to apply them to existing products and to propose a solution to reuse them as long as possible. To this end, regenerators are added to the basic concept, making it possible to exploit all the elements of a product and to "feed" the sectors of activity present in the technosphere.