Eileen Blackmore shared a pitch on how House of Design applied the Local Value Chain model to transform flax into linen and builing material, illustrating how a collaborative, circular value chain can be established.
She walked us through each step of the process, highlighting the crucial roles played by various stakeholders. From farmers cultivating flax, to processors, spinners, weavers, and sewing specialists, the building material from the residues, each link in the chain plays a vital part. In addition, she emphasized the importance of research and education, governance, business models, marketing, and even the concept of material ownership in shaping a sustainable system.
A key insight from her pitch was the important role of designers and architects. Beyond their traditional functions, they act as orchestrators and storytellers, making the shift from a linear to a circular economy both attractive and meaningful. By weaving a compelling narrative around sustainability, showing tangible results, they help stakeholders see the value and potential of circular practices.
Eileen’s presentation offered a comprehensive and practical roadmap for building local, circular economies that benefit both people and the planet.