Eco Design Designing for Recyclability

At Thule, we are committed to developing high-quality products that enable an active life outdoors while considering their impact on people and the environment. As environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity continue to increase, material choices and product design play an increasingly important role in creating more circular products.

A significant share of our environmental footprint comes from purchased materials and components. Increasing the use of recycled and renewable materials, while ensuring that materials and products can be effectively recycled at the end of their life, is therefore an important part of our sustainability journey.

In this thesis, you will investigate how material choices, material combinations and product design can influence the recyclability of Thule products. The aim is to develop practical ecodesign guidelines that can support future product development and help Thule make design and material decisions that improve recyclability within existing recycling systems.

The Thesis project

The project will focus on selected Thule products and the top five markets in which they are sold. You will start by investigating how relevant recycling systems work in these markets and how Thule’s products and materials are handled throughout the recycling process.

Based on this research, you will analyze the plastics, adhesives and different joining methods currently used in the selected products. You will investigate how material combinations and design choices affect recyclability and identify opportunities to improve the products, for example through increased use of mono-material solutions or alternative material combinations.

A key part of the project will be to balance recyclability with product performance, quality and durability. The objective is not simply to identify materials that are theoretically recyclable, but to understand which choices can have the greatest practical impact within existing recycling systems.

The thesis will conclude with a clear and actionable set of recommendations for Thule’s product development teams. These recommendations should provide guidance on material selection, material combinations and design principles that can help improve the recyclability of future products.

During the project, you will work closely with relevant functions at Thule and gain insight into how sustainability, materials and product development come together in a global product company.

Your assignment

The thesis project will involve a combination of market research, material analysis and product development. Your work may include:

• Mapping recycling systems and relevant disassembly processes in Thule’s top five markets.
• Investigating and prioritizing plastic materials based on their recyclability within existing recycling systems.
• Analyzing current material combinations, adhesives and joining methods used in selected Thule products.
• Identifying design choices that can make recycling more difficult and evaluating potential alternatives.
• Developing practical Eco design principles and material recommendations for future product development.

The exact scope will be refined together with Thule to ensure that the project provides both academic value and practical relevance for our business.

What you bring

We are looking for a curious and analytical student(s) who wants to explore the connection between product development, materials and sustainability. You are interested in understanding how technical design decisions can contribute to more circular products and enjoy turning research and complex information into practical recommendations.

You have a structured way of working and are comfortable analyzing information from different sources, comparing alternatives and drawing conclusions. An interest in plastics, materials, recycling, product development or circular economy is highly relevant for this thesis.

You are studying engineering, materials science, industrial design, product development, environmental engineering, sustainability or a related field. Experience or knowledge within plastics, polymer materials, recycling systems or Eco design is considered an advantage.

As Thule is an international company, fluency in English, both written and spoken, is required.

Application

Apply by submitting your application and résumé through Student collaborations | Thule on our Thule Career Site.

Last day for applying is September 20, 2026.

Your application should include:

• Your CV and cover letter.
• A brief description of why you are interested in the thesis project and Thule.
• Your expected thesis period and university/program.

Please note that the thesis must be carried out as part of your university studies and meet the requirements for an academic thesis project.

Contact

If you have a ny questions please contact Anders Warell by e-mail at anders.warell@design.lth.se