Opening circular materials knowledge through design: the contribution of fab labs and makerspaces to circular economy adoption

Fab labs and makerspaces support circular economy practices through community engagement and knowledge-sharing, shaping sustainable and inclusive futures thanks to open design principles. Using materials from waste, scraps, and by-products represents an emerging design practice in these contexts, focusing on embedding circular economy principles into new products by retaining resources. Nevertheless, the strategies adopted to disseminate their use remain unexplored in similar bottom-up contexts. This work investigates the dissemination of circular materials knowledge toward circular economy adoption within fab labs and makerspaces. Starting from fab lab and makerspace repositories, 35 case studies were selected and analyzed, considering their activities, connections to the circular economy, dissemination approaches, and user engagement. Sharing the knowledge about circular materials represents an emerging practice for fab labs and makerspaces, transferring their experience and know-how. By working with practitioners and designers, they make materials knowledge accessible through bottom-up learn-by-doing activities, enabling circular economy practices in local communities.