Circular economy & design
Modular Design
Designing products from discrete, replaceable components so parts can be repaired, upgraded or swapped — extending product life and easing disassembly.
Definition
Modular design creates products from discrete, standardised modules that can be independently replaced, repaired or upgraded — allowing a battery, screen or component to be swapped without discarding the whole product. It is a core circular design principle alongside durability, repairability, reusability and recyclability, and enables design for disassembly at end of life.
References
modularity among circular design principles, replaceable modules, disassembly
Overview
What it means
Modularity decouples a product's lifespan from its weakest part: failures and obsolescence are absorbed at module level. It underpins product-as-a-service and refurbishment business models because assets can be economically restored.
How it is used
Applied in electronics (modular smartphones), buildings (prefabricated modules), furniture and machinery; right-to-repair and ecodesign policy increasingly rewards modular construction.
Why it matters
Extending product life is among the most effective circular strategies — modularity makes longevity technically and economically feasible, cutting waste and embedded emissions.
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