Good design is the foundation of circularity. But without investment, a good design will not see the light of day. So is circularity driven by the initiatives that investors are interested in before design, or does circular design take priority? This debate will look to unpack this discussion to explore which comes first – the design or the money?
Finance is the enabler. Even the best circular designs need funding, business models, and economic incentives to scale. Investors, policies, and financial mechanisms (e.g., leasing, pay-per-use, or deposit schemes) are needed to make circular models viable and competitive.