Business case

Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Impact on the ease of innovation, and facilitating uptake of innovations

Innovation

Reduced use of virgin materials and/or an increase of the use of secondary and bio-based materials

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Reduced use and withdrawal of water and rate of recycling and reuse of water

Save Water (SDG6)

Producing and providing services that utilise the creative talent of individuals to generate intellectual property, including movies and television shows, music, live performances, advertising, marketing or public relations services, newspapers, magazines and books, and commercial printing services

Creative Services

Working together with industry peers to engage in business activities or exploratory projects that advance the circular economy

Joint industry ventures, projects, pilots

Provide guidance or professional training to educate employees to use circular economy principles

Training on the circular economy

Other

Impacts

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Industries

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The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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  Ontwerpers Ondernemers Overheid Docenten         
Ik neem deel aan een CIRCO Circular Design Class.
Ik ondersteun als activatiepartij de netwerkpartners in de activatie van bedrijven voor een CIRCO Track.

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Ik neem deel aan een CIRCO Demo (miniworkshop).
Ik neem deel aan een CIRCO Track.

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Ik organiseer een CIRCO Kick-off event om zo de CIRCO-methodiek aan meerdere relevante thema’s en programma’s te koppelen en gezamenlijk een nog te definiëren hoeveelheid Tracks te ontwikkelen.
Ik organiseer als netwerkpartner een CIRCO Demo (miniworkshop).
Ik organiseer als netwerkpartner een CIRCO Track in mijn regio. Hierbij kan ik partijen betrekken die deelnemers werven (activatiepartijen).
Ik neem CIRCO mee als een instrument in het beleid.

Lees meer               
Ik neem deel aan een CIRCO Teacher Class.
Ik neem het onderwerp Circulair Ontwerpen op in mijn lesprogramma met de CIRCO Curriculum Kit.

Lees meer        

Netherlands

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CIRCO 

<p>CIRCO powers the development of the circular economy, driven by design. Companies work together with designers on developing applicable circular business products, sharing knowledge, experience and inspiration with their network. CIRCO offers workshops and classes, both for designers and entrepreneurs in the fields of consumer goods, plastics, construction and the manufacturing industry. These Circular Business Design Classes and Circular Business Design Workshop Tracks both follow the CIRCO approach, which enables entrepreneurs to take the next steps towards a circular business model. These sessions are carried out together with a network of CIRCO trainers as well as various sector and regional organisations. CIRCO consists of a growing community around 'creating business through circular design'. CIRCO started in 2015 and has been made possible by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Read more at:</p>