Prozirkula GmbH

As environmental crises deepen, designers must question not only what is being created, but also why and how it is made, used, and disposed of. One area often overlooked in sustainable design is public procurement — a large, invisible system that keeps cities and public institutions running. Prozirkula, founded in 2021, is an initiative that aims to integrate circular economy principles into public purchasing systems. It encourages public institutions to consider not only the cost but also the environmental and design impact of what they buy. Prozirkula promotes modular, repairable, and upgradable products, supporting longer product life cycles. Their work includes writing tender documents, evaluating offers, and training public staff. Rather than designing physical products, Prozirkula designs systems. It reimagines how public goods are imagined, purchased, and discarded. This systems-based approach matches the values of new design education, which focuses on systems thinking and regenerative design. Since circular criteria are not yet mandatory across Switzerland, the organization's reach is restricted. However, there are important opportunities: by aligning with the European Union's circular strategies, Prozirkula can join international partnerships. By developing educational modules, it can also raise awareness among students and public professionals. As carbon regulations increase globally, the importance of circular criteria will grow. Still, political shifts and weak monitoring systems could limit their real-world impact. There is also a risk of being associated with greenwashing if circular practices remain superficial. For Prozirkula to create lasting change, structural support and strong accountability mechanisms are essential.