Circular economy & design
Modular Design
Definition
Modular design creates products from discrete, standardised modules that can be independently replaced, repaired or upgraded — allowing a battery, screen or component to be swapped without discarding the whole product. It is a core circular design principle alongside durability, repairability, reusability and recyclability, and enables design for disassembly at end of life.
References
Supports definition and framing.
Overview
What it means
Modularity decouples a product's lifespan from its weakest part: failures and obsolescence are absorbed at module level. It underpins product-as-a-service and refurbishment business models because assets can be economically restored.
How it is used
Applied in electronics (modular smartphones), buildings (prefabricated modules), furniture and machinery; right-to-repair and ecodesign policy increasingly rewards modular construction.
Why it matters
Extending product life is among the most effective circular strategies — modularity makes longevity technically and economically feasible, cutting waste and embedded emissions.