Leigh Baker | May 23, 2024
(Updated from an earlier 2020 Balance3 post)
Circular business and supply chain design is a fundamental of regeneratively designed businesses applying Regenerative Business strategies.
These stories, sources and resources could be further inspiration for your regenerative business journey.
Stories
Great Wrap Australia, delivering compostable pallet wrap. May 2024
The 2023 Circular Central Victoria report. July 2023
Ocean Plastic face masks made by PADI – to wash and reuse. May 2020
Invasive seaweed being turned into biofuel (along with any stray plastic waste). May 2020
Refurbished, affordable electronics from Back Market . April 2020
BlackBear tyre upcycling . August 2021
Upcycling a whole skyscraper: Circular economy applied to a commercial building in Sydney December 2022
Rohner textiles factory upgrade increases efficiency, reduces costs and impact.
Original Sources
Bill McDonough and Michael Braungart are the authors of CRADLE TO CRADLE and THE UPCYCLE and their work has developed into the Cradle To Cradle Product Innovation Institute. Both their books are well worth adding to your library: CRADLE TO CRADLE and THE UPCYCLE.
Engagement on Circular Economy has ramped up since solo yachtswoman Ellen Macarthur left the ocean and started The Ellen Macarthur Foundation for the Circular Economy – which now offers a wealth of resources.
The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s Butterfly Diagram is a useful (if slightly complex) visual tool.
This UNEP Circularity Approach diagram is more process oriented – and emphasises the importance of designing circularity in from the ground up.
Global Standards
Starting in May 2024, international standards have been published in the ISO Circular Economy 59000 series, starting with a Circular Economy vocabulary, principles and guidance for implementation.
Leyla Acaroglu of The Unschool has a useful summary of the ISO Circular Economy Standard in her article The Six Principles of the Circular Economy on Medium.
Local Connections
Check your area for Circular Economy collaborations and industry interest groups. They’re growing rapidly.
For example, in Australia you can join the Australian Circular Economy Hub.
Resources
There’s an excellent set of resources now available in this Circular Design Guide – a product of a collaboration between IDEO and The Ellen Macarthur Foundation. They actually range a whole lot wider that just “circular” – regenerative design topics from service-based business to biomimicry are included. A couple of resources from the Circular Design Guide to get you thinking about circular opportunities are:
There’s a nice summary of Circular Economy Business Strategies on Medium by Leyla Acaroglu
This Ellen Macarthur Foundation article discusses the need to Radically Rethink Design
Here’s an IDEO video on Designing for the Circular Economy
This is a narrative of two engineers who found out about Circular opportunity in the video How Circular Economy Entrepreneurs Drive the Change and their work to connect entrepreneurs with corporates.
And if listening’s your thing, then the Ellen Macarthur Foundation runs a Circular Economy Show.
Online Learning Resources
The Ellen Macarthur Foudation for the Circular Economy has a Circular Economy Learning Hub you can explore.
EdX Business & Management Courses have Circular Economy: An Introduction
Coursera has multiple Circular Economy courses across industries from metals to fashion.
Industry Specific Resources
Commercial Real Estate:
