Business case

Producing and providing leisure and personal products and services for consumers, such as cleaning products, sports equipment and toys, personal and beauty care products, as well as domestic and personal services such as caretaking, cleaning, hairdressing and other beauty treatment, funeral and related activities

Personal Products and Services

Producing transportation equipment for the movement of goods and people by air, rail, sea, and land, including airplanes, spacecraft and military equipment, ships, boats, rail locomotives and rolling stock, motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, and related equipment, as well as repair services for such equipment

Transportation Equipment

Working together with stakeholders and parties in other unrelated industries to implement circular economy strategies and opportunities

Cross-industry projects, pilots

Other

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

Urban Opportunities

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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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If there's anything the French hate more than gas-guzzling Family Trucksters, it's bad skin. It is therefore with much amusement but little surprise that we learned the interior Renault's Zoe Z.E. electric car concept was designed with help from cosmetics manufacturer Biotherm.Hinting at a production vehicle that officially debuts in 2012, we first saw the Zoe Z.E. at the Frankfurt auto show earlier this year. It's hard to miss, since it's a 13-foot-long bubble with 20-inch rims and gullwing doors. That exterior is coated in a thick polyurethane gel that protects it from minor scrapes and bruises – much like a good foundation masks crow's feet and laugh lines.Renault says the Zoe is ideal "for men and women who want to take care of the environment while taking care of themselves – even behind the wheel." Since unsightly blemishes and wrinkles are as much an anathema to French sensibilities as Velveeta and Wonderbread, the automaker made the interior a spa-like experience.According to Renault, the Zoe's climate control system is worthy of installation in one of Paris' finest spas. Air conditioning can really dry out skin, which is why Biotherm redesigned the Zoe's AC to focus on keeping air cool and hydrated. If you get stuck behind a bus belching diesel fumes, the on-board toxicity sensor closes the car's air vents before free radicals destroy your healthy complexion.In addition to looking good, the Zoe can help you feel good. With an electric diffuser built into the climate control system, the car can emit "essential oils." We had a Renault Medallion in the '80s that emitted most of its essential oils from the rear main seal, but that's a whole other story. The Zoe uses specially developed scent oils from Biotherm that, according to Renault, are "exclusive active substances adapted to the needs of the driver: dynamic in the morning, relaxing coming home from work, and awakening vigilance while driving at night."Spa features aside, the minicar can be charged in 4 to 8 hours from a conventional European outlet, 20 minutes at a "quick charge" station. If that doesn't work, you can always swap the battery in less than 3 minutes. Additionally, solar cells that cover the roof provide a trickle charge on sunny days – the sort of days when any self-respecting Parisian would be wearing SPF 50 sunscreen.Image: RenaultSee Also:

France

Europe

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<p>Renault’s Zoe Z.E. electric car concept was designed with help from cosmetics manufacturer Biotherm. According to Renault, the Zoe’s climate control system is worthy of installation in one of Paris’ finest spas. Air conditioning can really dry out skin, which is why Biotherm redesigned the Zoe’s AC to focus on keeping air cool and hydrated. If you get stuck behind a bus belching diesel fumes, the on-board toxicity sensor closes the car’s air vents before free radicals destroy your healthy complexion. With an electric diffuser built into the climate control system, the car can emit “essential oils.” Read more at:</p>

Cross-industry project to redesign car climate control system

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

Innovation

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Converting fossil fuel based operations to electric

Electrification

Using renewable energy like solar, wind, etc. or renewable fuels like biomass, etc.

Renewable energy, fuels

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

Joint industry ventures, projects, pilots

Impacts

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The three automakers, in a statement, said the new alliance sends a clear signal to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage the further development of hydrogen infrastructure worldwide."We believe we were never as close to reaching a breakthrough in fuel-cell cars as today thanks to this partnership," Daimler AG research and development chief Thomas Weber said.The partners are targeting production of at least 100,000 cars, Weber said today at a press conference in Germany. The manufacturers will invest equal amounts in the project to develop fuel-cell stacks and systems, they said in the statement, without giving details.Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW AG announced a partnership on Jan. 24 to develop fuel-cell systems, in addition to cooperation in other areas including light-weight technologies and a common sports-car platform.Fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, evaporating water as emissions when the car is driven. Compared to electric vehicles powered by batteries, fuel-cell cars have a range close to combustion engine vehicles and fueling time is comparable to filling up a gasoline tank.Nissan Motor Co. won't take a stake in the existing joint venture Automotive Fuel Cell Corp. between Daimler and Ford Motor Co. to avoid time-consuming contract negotiations, said Herbert Kohler, Daimler's head of future technology.Joint developments allow the manufacturers to share costs and achieve higher volumes once production starts."We can proceed quicker as we can develop around the clock," Weber said. The project will use the partners' existing development centers in Detroit, Tokyo, Vancouver and Daimler's hometown of Stuttgart, Germany.Each partner will market its own branded vehicles, probably starting with front-wheel-drive models, Weber said."This powertrain is the start of a modular strategy," he said. "It has to be adaptable into several models."The partnership is open to other manufacturers, including Nissan's French global alliance partner, Renault SA, Weber said.

Nissan

Daimler

Ford

  Nissan

<p>Three global automakers, Daimler, Ford and Nissan, have signed an agreement to jointly develop a fuel cell system to power zero-emissions vehicles. Powered by electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen, FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) emit only water while driving. The partners plan to develop a common fuel cell stack and fuel cell system that can be used by each company in the launch of differentiated, separately branded vehicles.</p>