CIWM launches pilot programme to connect design and waste sectors

Funded by CIWM and delivered in partnership with the Design Council and WRAP, the Design Skills for Circularity Programme is scheduled to begin in January 2026.

The pilot aims to explore new methods of practical skills exchange and knowledge sharing, enabling designers and waste professionals to better understand each other’s challenges and jointly develop solutions that support the transition to a circular economy.

Sarah Poulter, CEO at CIWM and the Circular Economy Institute, commented: “It is vital that we in the resources and waste management sector supports the design community in developing durable products that are less wasteful to manufacture and enable the resources they contain to be fully recovered at the end of their life.”

Site exchanges

The programme will see waste management companies open their facilities – including materials recycling facilities, energy-from-waste plants, landfills and specialist hazardous waste sites – to groups of designers.

These visits will combine curated tours, workshops and collaborative discussions, giving participants insight into waste processing operations and end-of-life material challenges.

Waste and recycling professionals will also visit design studios and manufacturing sites, gaining a deeper understanding of product development, material selection and design decision-making processes.

The initiative is intended to foster practical dialogue between both sectors, building mutual understanding and identifying opportunities to design waste out of products and systems from the outset.

Workshops and knowledge-sharing

In addition to site visits, the programme will include a series of hosted workshops and webinars exploring key topics related to circularity in design.

Planned themes include re-use, repair, recyclability, materials science, packaging innovation, carbon footprint reduction and product pricing strategies.

These sessions aim to develop a shared knowledge base and highlight practical routes to more sustainable design and manufacturing practices.

CIWM and its partners are currently seeking participants from both the design and waste sectors to join the pilot cohort.

Poulter added: “If you work in the design sector and want to contribute to the development of a more circular economy, I encourage you to consider participating in this exciting pilot.”