An Evolutionary Modular Product Development Under Circular Economy Approach

The incorporation of new technologies and materials, as well as the rapid evolution of products, makes it necessary to guide the product design and development process from bio-inspired perspectives that promote a circular economy. Among the proposals based on a bio-inspired solution is the framework called the Genomic Model of Eco-innovation and Eco-design, which integrates the Cradle-to-Cradle paradigm, material and substance flow analysis, along with all aspects present in the life cycle analysis of products. In this work, innovation is carried out through the integration of genetic algorithms as a methodological tool for optimizing the modular product design in the definition of the genotype within the aforementioned framework. Through a systematic approach, it analyzes how the modular reconfiguration of products, based on circular design principles and genetic optimization, can contribute to a significant reduction in resource use and waste generation. The proposed methodology is applied to a practical case based on the redesign of a small household appliance, demonstrating its potential to facilitate the implementation of circular economy strategies in the early stages of the product design and development process for studying product modularity, with the aims of improving its design and reducing its impact.