Understanding the circular economy opportunities in a jurisdiction or company, requires merging a top-town system’s approach with bottom-up anecdotal evidence. Shifting Paradigms relies on a metabolic analysis to map out the systems flows, conversions and stocks of materials and energy. Rather than looking at the individual elements of a linear “take-make-waste” supply chain and aiming for incremental improvements, we focus on the systemic opportunities which can drive change.

The systems’ analysis is combined with information on the socio-economic, cultural and spatial context, with anecdotal evidence on existing circular economy initiatives and with regional development ambitions. By preference, Shifting Paradigms collaborates with in-country experts, supporting them with trainings on the circular economy, systems' analysis data collection and visualisation, circular design, business models, finance and policy.