How can you align your circular economy initiative with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation principles?

There is no silver bullet to reduce plastic waste. Designing out plastic is a key lever. In our experience, changing how we deliver our formulas or benefits is required, e.g. concentrate liquid products.

Design conscious to embed principles of circularity to reduce waste is paramount to curtail the issue of waste. This designing aspect builds on the fact that technical aspects need to critically evaluated which may call for collaborating with multiple stakeholders (academia, suppliers, industry players). Also change management and communication of how these products are better need to be done to create awareness and customer feedback. It clearly isn't a process that can be achieved in isolation and each stakeholder has a role, even if this is led by the manufacturer

I fully agree that eradication at source is the primary win. We all need to be bold, stretch our thinking and most importantly… go faster. If eradication isn’t an option then minimization has to be next but we can’t stop there. Eventually someone will come up with an idea that breaks through to solve the problem.

I agree, materials studies are evermore significant to understand how a product/its packaging affects the environment. Lead was a popular ingredient in paint, but has been replaced by other, less toxic ingredients. Larger fundings allocated for research, awareness in consumerism, alternate paint availability and price regulation aided this shift.

Rethink supply chain policy. The raw materials causing the most harm are also the most subsidized... at least in the US. The burden carried by taxpayers to unintentionally support petroleum-based synthetics and conventional cotton is more than enough to usher in a new paradigm in scalable healthy solutions.

One key our ESG and Supply Chain teams put in place was forcing any local vendors to reuse their transport cartons. We save them in the manufacturing process and the vendors pick up at next drop off. They then must reuse them until they no longer can function. They actually thank us after a few months as they save money. Win win.

Another consideration of this principle is the role of packaging. Most of the focus on what is mentioned is keeping materials in use that are part of the product, but the packaging also needs to be considered. Many companies and organizations are doing amazing work on reusable packaging and refillable product formats (see Refill/Reuse matrix from Ellen MacArthur Foundation), and have tried many different pilots and various formats, but the challenge comes back to making these models work at scale in a global supply chain. Packaging needs to be considered an asset, and in the future "packaging-as-a-service" models may have potential for collaboration across multiple companies (manufacturers, retailers, service providers).

To extend the useful life of products, the marketing of parts and spare parts at a reasonable price is key. The call is to incorporate this line of business and find a way to optimize its costs

Technology can drive greater product reuse - online platforms like marketplaces and sharing apps (e.g. Vinted) already enable exchange, resell, and share used items. Expanding these solutions across industries and countries can extract maximum value. AI and smart packaging with digital functionality have a place in reuse, e.g. QR codes that provide information on recycling, reuse options, and product lifecycles benefit circularity. Technology provides solutions, but more consumer awareness and engagement is vital. The environmental benefits of reusing and recycling products and materials should be part of every country's national curriculum. Overall, technology can optimize reuse, but requires consumer buy-in to make desired impact.

An interesting take on this approach is the idea of concurrent uses of land. Instead of separating agriculture, built environment, recreation and nature, explore ways in which they can coexist: new woodlands planned for agroforestry and diversity vs forest only, hedges and urban corridors for wildlife and supporting human wellbeing. Look for mutual benefits, such as bats contributing to mosquito control, natural fertilisers based on byproducts or phosphate capture. Future landscapes will hopefully blur the lines much more.

One of the key principles is the transition towards regenerative design and systems thinking that is inspired by nature. It is pertinent to create an eco-system of supply chain that is truly inspired by nature - adoption of natural materials, designing entire supply chain inspired by elements of bio diversity that reinforces the principles of reduce, restore, regrow and regenerate. Some of the core examples are the use of natural materials, reducing waste, transition towards biomaterials are critical to reinforce the ecological and societal balance. It is a move towards regenerative sustainability to achieve resileint societies.

A significant financial investment is required to implement this principle. Regeneration generates general benefits, making it difficult to raise private capital. Therefore, governments must intervene and financially sanction those who have irresponsibly extracted resources from the earth and invest the proceeds exclusively in regeneration

Most entities might understand these principles and may want to abide by them. However, there is yet to be a fluid marketplace of ideators, tools, interconnectivity, education, etc., at a scale necessary to change how corporations affect the world now. The opportunity is in this space. Consultants' selling ideas have never been enough - we need ready, globally, and interculturally sensitive guidance teams to help connect the dots.

An important element to consider is how we can work with companies outside our own industry. Many times, as we look to collaborate with others as we transition towards a circular supply chain, we think how we can better work with our suppliers and our customers. But other industries and firms outside our own typical manufacturing partners bring new insights and usually have looked at some of the issues we are facing and have solutions for them already.

The way to be aligned with these principles is as simple as it is complex. Be aware of your decisions as much as you can and take responsibility

Start by assessing your current operations, focusing on product and warehouse space utilization. Set clear vision and goals, communicating them transparently to stakeholders. Look for old products or materials that can be sold through alternative channels like Amazon, and partner with recycling companies for responsible disposal. Transition to digital workflows to reduce paper consumption.

A final strategy that is extremely successful is cross industry collaborations. This has been the hallmark of successful companies. Industrial symbiosis, where the waste, unused and unwanted resources, can be used as inputs and raw materials in a completely different industry is a perfect example of this. There are many successful examples of this being put into place.

Promoting Product-as-a-Service Models - Shift from selling products to offering them as services. This aligns with the foundation's principle of keeping products and materials in use. In my experience, this not only extends the lifecycle of products but also encourages innovation in business models. Fostering Collaboration Across the Value Chain - Collaborate with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders to create a circular value chain. My strategy involves building partnerships that focus on shared sustainability goals, in line with the foundation's principle of creating and scaling up circular business models.

Where possible, we should look for direct complementarities: for example, server rooms need cooling and pools need heating, and we start to see examples of matching the two.

It’s crucial to prioritize effective communication within the internal team across different departments to ensure the success of the plan and strategy. Clear and open communication facilitates alignment and collaboration, enabling smoother implementation of circular economy initiatives. Deploying a monitoring tool allows the company to track progress and identify areas for optimization, ensuring continuous improvement and sustainability in the long run.