Cirkuláris

Cirkuláris is a conceptual framework in design theory and systems thinking that emphasizes the creation of closed-loop, regenerative cycles for materials, energy, and information. The core idea is to minimize waste by ensuring outputs from one process serve as inputs for another, thereby sustaining long-term viability of systems.

The name derives from the Latin root circle, reflecting the emphasis on circularity; it is used in several European languages to denote pertaining to circularity, and is often contrasted with linear approaches.

Cirkuláris outlines a set of guiding principles: circularity (closing loops of material flows), modularity and reparability (designing for easy maintenance and remanufacture), interoperability (shared standards for data and parts), and resilience (redundant pathways and adaptive governance). In practice, it is used as an analytical lens in product design, architecture, and information systems.

Historically, Cirkuláris emerged in early 21st-century sustainability and design discourse as a reframing of economic and ecological concerns around circular economies. It has been taught in design curricula, discussed in peer-reviewed journals, and used in policy-oriented scenario work as a way to compare approaches to resource loops.

Critics note that the term can be overlapping with existing concepts such as the circular economy and systems thinking, and warn that its broad definition may blur distinct methodological approaches. Proponents argue that it provides a unifying language for cross-disciplinary collaboration.