Our approach for a sustainable circular economy

Revolutionary thinking, evolutionary implementation

For us, setting up cycles in which nothing is wasted is the best investment in a secure future. For many companies this means a revolutionary rethink, because at the moment the focus is often on selling the products. Circular Economy means thinking further – what happens to the products and materials after use? How can I ensure that these created values are not destroyed (burned, dumped or landfilled)? But the waste of materials is only one aspect. Circular Economy is only truly sustainable if it integrates people and nature into its thinking. Healthy products right from the start, appreciative cooperation with business partners and consideration of the ecological effects are part of this.

This new way of thinking requires new processes, procedures and behaviors. For start-ups this can be implemented quickly, for established companies it meets an existing, functioning structure and culture. Therefore, from our experience, an evolutionary approach is needed for implementation. A healthy pragmatism is important to us. Appreciation for what is there and inspiration for the creativity and ideas of the employees are important to us. We don’t usually start out on a “greenfield site”, but look at the existing business, customer contacts and the own skills to introduce new products, services and ways of working. You decide how radical the changes will be!

Practice shows: If you manage to present a positive vision of the future that employees are convinced of, then success is likely. Together we look for solutions and accept setbacks as learning fields and insights. If you share this basic attitude, together we will find your sustainable path!

What makes our approach special?

We do NOT tell you what to do. We help you to find your way and stay on track. We set impulses and inspirations, show you solutions, structure, network and help you to design your internal structures for sustainable success.

We use sustainable project management methods to bring the circular economy to life. We cannot accept waste – neither of working time and talent nor of materials we take from nature. That’s why we use our Circular Economy PS approach to find solutions for our customers that meet user needs in the most efficient and effective way. And turn users from buyers into loyal partners. So that we achieve the best for all parties in the sense of a Win⁵ thinking: the company, the people working there, the business partners, the users or customers and the environment. Ideas of the common good economy drive us to include all aspects of our actions and the cooperation.

How ready are you for the Circular Economy? Check out our Readiness Assessment for Manufacturers and other providers to get a feeling how prepared you are.

We are driven by the establishment of local and regional cycles with international networking. Our network is global, many circular economy ideas are existing, but they are not implemented everywhere. And they cannot be implemented everywhere in the same way. Local conditions and laws as well as cultural differences mean that strategies have to be adapted for your own area. We help both companies that want to implement existing solutions locally and those that want to share their best practices and pass them on to partners internationally.

What assumptions are behind it?

When we develop the next steps towards a sustainable circular economy with you, we should agree on our desired future. Here are the assumptions that we believe are necessary for the success of a project. With people who share these assumptions, we will find solutions.

1. You strive for a long-term solution that is good for people and the environment – for the entrepreneurs and people who work in the circular economy as well as for business partners and users. Quality of the product is a key concern for you.
2. The focus is on the future security of companies – Circular Economy means long-term success.
3. You aim for a solution that is supported by the employees, who are integrated into the solution finding process.
4. The solution puts the product users at the center of the consideration – the needs of the users are the main focus and are achieved with the least possible use of resources.
5. The users are prepared to pay a reasonable price for good quality and customer-oriented behaviour/customer service.
6. Your focus is not on maximum profit, for which suppliers and customers have to go to the limit, but on a good profit that secures jobs and business activities in the long term
7. The solution involves collaboration between several companies along the Circular Value Chain – all of them earning a reasonable return on their investment and continuously working on improved solutions to meet customer needs.

How do we proceed?

Our approach is individual and evolutionary. We build on what already exists in the company and develop a plan for the future with you. In an agile way. We take the liberty of constantly learning and adapting our plans accordingly. The following steps describe by example how we can create a solid basis for success.

We generally start with an initial workshop to determine where we can add the most value and whether you resonate with the way we work. We will find the way together with you – from our experience it makes sense to proceed in 8 steps.

1. Identifying the potential – analyses, workshops, training of the Circular Economy Opportunities Kit, design thinking with user groups
2. Define the change program to optimize the Circular Economy approach and the required organization / stakeholder analysis and involvement.
3. Identifying the employees who are committed to the implementation.
4. Evaluate and select the projects to be launched – taking into account existing resources (portfolio management).
5. Setting up the projects with the most important stakeholders, project management training for the project managers/the team.
6. Coaching and mentoring of the project teams, if necessary project management support, training on agile project management and Scrum – agile approach within the projects.
7. Steering of the projects through individual phases with feedback and communication of the successes.
8. Continuous identification of further potentials for Circular Economy implementation.

The first step is always the hardest – and often the most important. Set off with us – because the Circular Economy offers many possibilities. A free 30-minute strategy talk will help us to see if we are thinking in the same direction.