Transformation to a circular economy requires collaboration

It must be clear what circular economy means. "The transition from our linear to a circular economy is a process. It takes time, information and an exchange of knowledge and best practice. It is important that companies, politicians and consumers do not see the circular economy as a new waste management system. Companies need to think about products in a new way and always consider the complete life cycle. This means considering how they can procure or reduce recycled materials or raw materials right from the design and material selection stage and planning how products can be repaired and reused after the use phase," says Dr. Ron-Hendrik Hechelmann from the Department of Environmentally Sound Products and Processes (upp) at the University of Kassel.

"We need value creation in cycles instead of chains. This secures our resources. Companies should see the circular economy as an opportunity and make it part of their strategy. This will contribute to their own, national and European resilience and competitiveness," Julia Eckey is convinced. The Managing Director of Klimaschutz-Unternehmen knows from experience: "Our network and this project show how important it is to exchange ideas with other companies, sectors, research and politics. The circular economy can only succeed together. Circular business models should be developed and tackled now. A lack of expertise, limited resources or unidentified partners are not a reason to wait, but a call to action."

The project partners conducted a survey to determine the extent to which the participating companies have already implemented the circular economy and what potential they see, and worked with them to develop recommendations for action for other companies that want to transform their business models. This included measures and solutions from the project companies as well as the challenges they identified during the transition. In their view, it is central to circular economy that companies work together within their own industry and with other industries and exchange ideas in order to learn from experience and develop new business models and concepts together: For example, it would be conceivable for textile waste to be used as insulation in the construction industry or processed into paper. Their experience shows: It is worth building up know-how and personnel in your own company and involving all affected areas in the transformation, from management to development, design, purchasing and sales to communication. Companies that have already developed and tested circular products should inform their customer base and convince them of the benefits. Series products are needed for the circular economy to gain momentum and become scalable.

The project partners took a closer look at the plastics, metals and textiles sectors with the plastics processor Pöppelmann, the surface galvanizer ZINQ and the textile cleaning company Schäfer Mietwäsche. For these three companies and their suppliers, for example, guidelines and templates with information on digital product passports were created, in which the necessary data is listed and can be recorded. The partners also developed a model for dynamic material flow analyses that shows when and in what quality raw materials are available to companies again after their useful life. This enables companies to plan better. Together with the three companies, the project partners also developed a digital tool to help companies get started with the transformation. Companies enter data about their business and circular economy strategies already in use, such as repair, reuse or recycling. They receive suggestions for suitable measures that will advance their circular processes and contribute to climate protection. The first version of this decision-making tool is primarily aimed at companies in the plastics, surface technology and textiles sectors. Until further notice, companies can use the tool free of charge.

Recommendations from the project companies for other companies, the evaluation of the survey on challenges and solutions for the transformation of business models, more information on the project and participating companies can be foundhere. You can access the digital decision-making aid for companies at the start of the transformation via thiswebsite.