Design for a circular economy When a product is designed, choices are made about how it is produced, used, maintained, repaired and ultimately disposed. It's important to get these design choices right, as they can lock in up to 70% of the environmental impact of a product across its life. Environmental impact can be minimised by following principles of eco-design. Products can be made to be upgradable, repairable and reusable so they are more durable and last longer. Products can be designed for the circular economy by: streamlining materials used, designing out chemicals of concern, and making the product easy to disassemble. The goal is to design out waste. Taking it a step further, products can be designed in ways that support and improve natural systems and give back to the community.