Realising the opportunities of the circular economy

This is why interest in the circular economy is gaining ground. This is about making products that are designed to have several product life cycles via reuse, remanufacture, refurbishment or recycling systems. Tackling the problem of climate change, the circular economy is also about using more renewable energy. It makes business sense, creating new value out of materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Recent research from McKinsey and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation suggest that global industry could generate at least a trillion additional dollars every year as a result of material cost savings.

As the world economy enriches more people and adds to the swelling middle classes, we will need to make more goods in a sustainable way. McKinsey research suggests that annual consumption in the rising markets will shoot up to $30 trillion by 2025, up from $12 trillion in 2010. Carrying on as we are, we would need five planets to keep the goods flowing.

Interest in a new, sustainable and profitable business concept is on the rise. In a circular economy, the role of consumer is replaced by that of a user. This does require a different mindset. Companies include service-based models enhancing this mindset, like pay per use and pay for performance. We find that through collaboration and through working together with our partners through the lifecycle value chain, we are finding we can make the shift to the circular economy.