ING401 Circular economy and eco-design
- ECTS Credits:
- 5
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Engineering and Science
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
Teaching language
EnglishCourse contents
- Fundamental theories on sustainability and circular economy
- Systems thinking within a sustainability context
- Design for reduced resource demand: dematerialisation and digitalisation
- Design for efficiency: energy and material reduction in production and operation, and additive manufacturing
- Design for remanufacturing: design for disassembly, re-assembly, and refurbishment
- Design for extended life: design for durability, re-use, recycling, repair, and repurposing
- Design for final end-of-life recycling
- Nature-positive and people-positive design
- Policy and regulations on circular economy
- Circular business models, extended product supply chains, and redefining economic growth
- Case studies on circular economy and eco-design in practice
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, the student is expected to:
- Be able to discuss core concepts and fundamental theories of circular economy
- Have developed skills related to a broad array of eco-design concepts
- Be able to understand and implement eco-design principles in practice
- Be able to understand systems thinking and life cycle thinking in a sustainable engineering context
- Be able to explain how policies, regulations and new business models can promote circular supply chains
- Be able to identify strengths and weaknesses in circular economy concepts
Teaching methods
The students will be presented a series of lectures and exercises. There will be a practical project where the students will work together in groups to re-design an existing product or system using eco-design principles learned in the course.
Estimated workload in the course is 135 hours for the average student.
Evaluation
The course evaluation is completed as a midterm evaluation in accordance with the provisions listed in the Quality Assurance System Chapter 2.1.1. A final evaluation may be completed as required.
Assessment methods and criteria
Project portfolio worth 50% of final grade. Information about the content of the portfolio will be given in Canvas by the start of the semester. There will not be arranged a postponed exam for the portfolio.
Individual written exam, 4 hours, worth 50% of final grade
Marks are graded by letters A-F