Circular Economy Solutions & Strategic Advisory

As explained in books such as cradle to cradle, performance economy, waste to wealth and doughnut economics, circular economy is an integrative strategy which has economic, business and environmental perspectives. In the business and economics strategy, circular economy identifies how processes and key performance indicators need to adapt and change in order to ensure reduce, reuse, and recycle.  These strategies in turn, translate into smaller segments of environmental strategy that provide results.

“Circular economy is the intersection of environmental, economic and socials aspects”

“In a circular economy, economic activity builds and rebuilds overall system health. The concept recognises the importance of the economy needing to work effectively at all scales – for large and small businesses, for organisations and individuals, globally and locally.

Transitioning to a circular economy does not only amount to adjustments aimed at reducing the negative impacts of the linear economy. Rather, it represents a systemic shift that builds long-term resilience, generates business and economic opportunities, and provides environmental and societal benefits.”

https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/concept

Regeneration through industrial processes 

Circular economy strategies for the technosphere; 

• Share (products) & maintain (products) 

Shaw Industries sell carpet usage as a flooring service, maintain the carpets, and take back the carpets to be refurbished, repaired and re-used.  Phillips lighting sells lighting as a service, instead of selling light bulbs which alternately would have increased electronic waste. 

• Reuse (products) 

Marks & Spencer introduced a programme where clothes can be returned to their stores, to be reused, recycled or upcycled. 

• Repair (products) 

Clothes, shoes, and electronic items can be repaired instead of being discarded which would increase their lifetime. 

• Refurbish (components) 

Semiconductor manufacturer Applied Materials has a business segment for global services such as integrated solutions to optimize equipment, performance and productivity. This includes spares, upgrades, services, certain remanufactured earlier generation equipment, and factory automation software. 

• Remanufacture (components) 

GE Healthcare remanufactures components in its medical imaging devices, and the device therefore comes with a comprehensive warranty, as the team takes care to remanufacture when the device begins to give trouble. 

• Upcycle (materials) 

Looptworks creates 100% upcycled goods using textile waste. 

• Recycle (materials) 

Flooring company Desso uses recyclable yarn in its carpets, that can be separated, and used over and over again. 

Absolutely. Driving a business towards being service oriented over providing a product and shedding responsibility after the final purchase will create circular thinking.  numquam, error, est. Ea, consequatur.