The 7 R’s of Circular Design Every Architect and Interior Designer Should Know to Cut Waste and Win Awards

The 7 R’s of Circular Design Every Architect and Interior Designer Should Know to Cut Waste and Win Awards

What if you could cut waste, lower carbon, and build something award-winning—without changing your design vision?

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A few years ago, I thought circularity was just about recycling.

Turns out, that’s only one of the 7 R’s.


If you’re a designer, architect, or brand working on a fit-out—these 7 R’s could help your project win awards and reduce landfill waste:


Rethink – Can you design the same function with less material?

Refuse – Can you cut out virgin plastics, laminates or MDF?

Reduce – Can you shrink your footprint without losing quality?

Reuse – Can you reuse offcuts or re-purpose fittings from another build?

Repair – Can you choose materials that are easy to fix on-site?

Recycle – Are the materials actually recyclable at end-of-life?

Rot – Can anything naturally break down or go back into the land?


I wanted to create a product that supports every one of these R’s - well, as best as I can.


That’s how Critical. Cleanstone launched—panels made from 100% recycled plastic that can be reshaped, reused, and eventually remade again - though it can't rot and return to the land!


and as a former designer, I wanted the product to support design freedom without the waste.


We’ve seen it work with fit-outs from banks to schools.


If you’re in the middle of a renovation or concept stage—might be helpful to ask:


Which of the 7 R’s are you already using? Which ones could you add?


Want a free PDF with real-life project examples applying the 7 R’s in architecture and interior design?


Flick me a message here to reach out at criticaldesign.nz and I'll send it over.


#circularmaterials #interiordesign #architecture #fitout #retaildesign #hospitalitydesign #recycledplastic #cleanstone #sustainablematerials #lowcarbonmaterials #constructionwaste #designwithimpact #materialchoices

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