The Circular Economy & re:Mix

Why our current way of making things is broken,
and how Open Funk is building a circular alternative

Every day, we use objects that were designed in a system that no longer makes sense. A system where we extract resources, manufacture products, and eventually throw them away.

This model is called the linear economy, and it’s one of the biggest reasons why our planet is facing a waste crisis today.

At Open Funk, we believe it’s time to rethink everything. Not by producing more.
But by producing better. Welcome to the world of the circular economy 🌍

The Problem: A Linear System Built on Waste

Our current way of making things follows a simple pattern: Take materials from the Earth, make a product, use it, throw it away... and that’s it.

This “take-make-waste” process is linear, meaning the journey ends in a landfill, an incinerator, or at best, downcycling.

And the consequences are everywhere:

• Mountains of electronic waste
• Depletion of natural resources
• Pollution and carbon emissions
• Products designed to break instead of last

It’s a broken system. But the good news? There is an alternative.

The Circular Economy: A System Without Waste 

In a circular economy, waste is not an option. Instead of treating materials as disposable, we design systems where:

• Products last longer
• Materials stay in use
• Waste is prevented from the start
• Nature is regenerated, not depleted

A circular economy is a system where materials never become waste, they stay in the loop. And this is exactly the approach we’re building at Open Funk.

 

How we keep products and materials in the cycle at Open Funk

Circularity isn’t just a buzzword for us, it’s a roadmap. Here are the key steps we’re taking to keep re:Mix and its materials in the cycle for as long as possible:

1. Reuse (coming soon)

The first and best form of circularity is simply: using what already exists.

We’re currently developing programs that will make reuse easier, such as:

• A peer-to-peer marketplace
• Product as a service options
• New ways to pass devices from one user to another

Because a blender that gets a second life is a blender that doesn’t become waste.

2. Maintain & Repair

Most kitchen appliances today are not made to be repaired. They’re sealed, glued, and designed for replacement.

We want the opposite.

That’s why we support maintenance and repair through:

• Step-by-step Maintenance & Repair Guides
• Open Source Documentation
• Spare parts available on demand
• Affordable out-of-warranty repairs in our Berlin workshop

Repairability means users stay in control, and products stay in use.

3. Refurbish

Sometimes products come back to us. And when they do, we don’t discard them.

We refurbish every single re:Mix that returns to our atelier, giving it a new life through our Refurbish Program.

Refurbishing helps reduce waste, extend product lifespan, and make circular options more accessible.

4. Recycle (as a last step)

Recycling is important... but in a circular economy, it should come last.

When leftover materials remain from production or refurbishing, we carefully sort and recycle them. For example:

• Offcuts from our recycled plastic panels
• Damaged 3D printed parts

These materials are returned to their original manufacturers to be recycled into new resources. Nothing is treated as “trash” by default.

A different future for everyday objets

At Open Funk, we believe kitchen appliances can be:

• Durable
• Repairable
• Modular
• Locally made
• Designed with circularity at their core
  

The circular economy is not a distant dream, it’s something we can build today, product by product, decision by decision. And re:Mix is our way of proving that another model is possible.

Let's keep things in the loop!

We’re still learning, improving, and building new circular programs step by step.

But one thing is clear: The future of everyday objects must be one where materials never become waste. Thank you for being part of this movement.