Circular workwear within craftmanship

Purpose and goal

The goal of the project is a sustainable and circular economy within workwear. To achieve this, the project’s aim has been to develop improved products that create conditions for the circular flow, and to change the value chain and business model that makes it economically advantageous to introduce a circular flow. To date the project team have successfully conducted a feasibility study and established the customer need, market potential and ensured that there are no product/manufacturing related or regulatory obstacles that could prevent the commercialisation of the project.

Expected results and effects

In order to enable a circular flow of workwear, the project has designed new technical solutions that allow individual components of the products to be replaced if needed, with the replaced parts possible to repair, reuse and finally recycle. Through interviews with business owners and purchasers within the project´s intended target customers, the project has been able to confirm that there is an interest in new solutions and a circular business model. In addition, analysis and calculations have shown that it is possible to make a circular business model economically successful.

Planned approach and implementation

Through a survey and several in-depth interviews, the project has ensured that the target customers are receptive to the intended offering, which also have been confirmed in conducted user-tests during the prototype development. During prototyping, manufacturers have also confirmed there are no technical barriers to produce the designed products. Finally, the project has examined the current regulations within workwear and ensured that the products will meet all regulatory requirements.