Maria Joseph (RCA) - 2025-26 Students
maria.joseph@network.rca.ac.uk

Co-Designing preferable futures: Understanding unintended consequences in the transition to a circular economy within the shipping industry

The global shipping industry is approaching a critical transition as thousands of vessels are expected to reach the end of their operational lives over the coming decades, placing unprecedented demands on ship recycling systems. As ship recycling becomes increasingly central to circular economy ambitions, this research investigates how industrial systems can evolve to deliver environmental, social and economic value simultaneously. Through design futures methodology, participatory approaches and systems thinking, the project explores how operational knowledge, governance, material traceability and stakeholder relationships shape the transition towards more sustainable and regenerative ship recycling. It aims to develop design-led frameworks that anticipate unintended consequences, support collaborative decision-making across the ship lifecycle, and strengthen the resilience of circular economy transitions within the global maritime industry.

Primary supervisor: Dr Elise Hodson

Supervisor at partner organisation: Eleanor Besley-Gould

Partner organisation: Sustainable Shipping Initiative