Have you ever wondered where your product or output ends up after it’s used and discarded? Do you think you are designing sustainably but are never quite sure or feel overwhelmed by greenwash? Do you wish you had more skills to be able to develop your design education and make your work future fit for a circular economy? Do you want to bring this learning into your workplace?

The Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) have come together with Design Council, WRAP and the Circular Economy Institute to develop an exciting pilot that will explore new methods for practical skills and knowledge exchange between the design and waste/resource sectors.

We are looking for a dedicated cohort of designers and those working in the design sector, to engage with the waste management sector, piloting new ways to co-design and collaborate, creating opportunities and joint intelligence for better, circular design.

Over 2026, we will be opening up facilities for groups of participants to visit sites, go on curated tours, take part in workshops and collaborate in design discussions. These sites will included materials recycling facilities, energy from waste plants, landfill, specialist handling facilities etc, as well as opportunities to visit reciprocal design companies and manufacturing facilities. Hosted and facilitated workshops and webinars will be included to discuss in detail relevant criteria of circularity in design, including re-use, repair, recyclability, carbon and materials science, packaging technology, future trends, materials, and product service pricing, etc.

If you are interested in taking part in this pilot programme, please enter your details below. Once submitted you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt email, and our project team will then contact you with further information in October.