Waste is one of the great accelerators of the climate crisis. Tackling this problem requires creative solutions that change how things are managed upstream as well as downstream, and recycling is a useful — if limited — first rung on this ladder. Here, we ask designers to explore how recycling (and related strategies like upcycling and adaptive reuse) can help recover resources from landfill, while also challenging what society considers as waste in the first place.

Of course, waste is only a symptom of our throwaway culture. We live in a world that is obsessed with newness, and where it is often cheaper to replace old products rather than refurbish them. This makes repairing an important strategy  (and a relatively quick win) on the road to circularity. If we can change the way we design — from fast fixes to long-term solutions — we can extend the lifecycle of goods and services and promote a culture that is more resilient and self-sufficient.

This strategy reminds us that the true goal of any circular system is not just to handle waste more responsibly, but to consume fewer materials and products. That means reducing the amount of non-renewable resources we use, minimising the amount of emissions we produce and changing the way people think about wealth, abundance and growth.

Taking things one step further, designers can drive systemic change by refusing harmful trends and practices that place profit before people and the planet. Here, design can play the role of agitator and facilitator, working with scientists, policymakers and industry leaders to make new ideas compelling, and social movements irresistible. In this way, we might help to redirect people’s hope, anger and anxiety into collective action.

In our search for solutions, it’s also important to consider whether we are asking the right questions. This is why we encourage all designers to practice reframing the problem by focusing on local urgencies and opportunities. This will make it easier to respond promptly and effectively to the needs of your community, helping them adapt and recover from the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

Last but not least, it’s important to remember that the climate crisis is also a crisis of imagination. To change the world, we need to tell a better story than those who are destroying it. This is why we need fresh, provocative alternatives to the everyday structures that we take for granted — from what makes up our diets to who owns a city’s energy. Can design help us come up with new narratives for all this — and more?