Circular economy

The human factor Working together for a common good is at the heart of symbiotic relationships in businesses too Long-term success thanks to the commitment of the companies and all staff involved The Kalundborg Symbiosis is an industrial ecosystem located in Denmark, where the residual product of...

From rags to rugs... Jeans company values its product's full life cycle It provides information on how to care for its products, sourcing, recycling and reuse options Swedish denim label Nudie Jeans provides detailed information and recommendations to its customers regarding the environmental impact...

Baby clothes for the sharing generation Innovative baby clothes subscription and sharing system saves resources Reusing and ultimatley recycling clothes is at the heart of the circular economy Circular economy thinking is the cornerstone of the Danish baby clothes brand Vigga. Baby clothes like...

Environmental and social benefits rolled into one Programme to recover used cooking oil and convert it to biodiesel saves resources and cuts CO2 Social enterprise running the operation creates new jobs for disadvantaged groups In hotel kitchens and restaurants, large quantities of used cooking oil...

A diaper company applies cradle-to-cradle principles to its products It creates a reusable, disposable and partly biodegradable diaper gDiapers, a company producing diapers (nappies) decided to reduce the environmental impact of its products. Indeed, diapers are largely made of synthetic materials...

Long history of sustainability on display Clever scheme to promote end-of-life product remanufacturing Almost no waste sent to landfill, and huge reductions in energy and water use Caterpillar is an American heavy machinery- and engine-maker with a strong brand and long history in remanufacturing...

Xerox sees the 'green' light Copy machine-maker develops strong remanufacturing business model Its reverse supply chain activities save around € 107 million annually and divert 35 million kg of waste from landfill Xerox ventured into the managed service sector by enabling customers to lease its...

Renting and leasing means that you can use a product without owning it. This can be favourable, for example if you only need a certain tool once, or if it is a complex tool that needs a lot of maintenance, it is most likely a lot cheaper to rent or lease it than to buy it. By not buying an...

Industrial symbiosis is an association between two or more industrial facilities or companies in which the waste or by-products of one become the raw materials for another. This is usually done for both commercial and environmental reasons. It involves a collective approach to competitive advantage...

Re-used ... re-loved Office equipment and furniture finds a new home or new purpose if not thrown away Community centres and schools can make use of the equipment Valuable materials contained in the used items can be repurposed as well Office waste can be reduced by ensuring that discarded office...

Remanufacturing is the rebuilding, repairing or restoring of an end-of-life product or part to return it to like-new condition. Remanufactured products or parts should be backed by the same or similar level of warranty as new products. From a customer viewpoint, the remanufactured product can be...

Matches made in... Turntoo Clever sales models are reshaping the producer-consumer relationship with energy and resource benefits Intermediaries can design match-ups that yield good results for businesses, consumers and the environment The Dutch company Turntoo shapes business models based on new...