When I first started thinking about my KIPP project, I only had a vague idea: I wanted to do something related to plants and sustainability. I imagined something practical, maybe involving community gardens, household plant waste, or creative reuse of plant materials. My early ideas included interviewing local florists or conducting fieldwork at plant markets to see how sustainable practices were being used in small shops.

But as I started exploring these options, I quickly ran into problems. I wasn’t sure how feasible it would be to reach enough participants in time. I was also unsure about how to structure the data collection in a way that would meet ethical and academic expectations. That uncertainty led to stress, and I began to realise I might be trying to do too much with too little time and no clear access.

After reading through KIPP guidance and speaking with my supervisor, I realised that I could scale back my plan without losing the core of my interest. Instead of collecting new data, I could explore what’s already been studied. That’s when the idea of a literature-based comparison between potted plants and cut flowers emerged. This felt manageable but still rich. Both are common in urban life and both have different implications for waste, carbon emissions, and circular economy potential. I’m glad I pivoted early—it has made everything feel much more achievable.

Narrowing Down the Topic: From “Plants and Sustainability” to a Focused CE Review / Xizhi Zhang / Circular Economy: KIPP and Futures Project by is licensed under a