The Circular Economy: From a Linear to a Circular Economy
This case study describes how to move from a profit-driven organization to a multiple-added-value organization using an applied scientific approach. It sketches the developments from moving from a linear economy to the circular economy, shows new developments, structures, and strategies, and discusses how to translate them into real-world practices.
What are the values and new perspectives that companies need to embrace in a circular economy? How do society- and value-based business models support circular economies?
Developments
There are three important developments when considering the subject 'Sustainable Strategy & Innovation'. First, the principle of circularity requires a shift in thinking about processes in terms of sustainability. It requires finding a balance between 'people, planet and profit' and in the end this has an effect on how people and organizations will relate to each other in a sustainable and connected way. A logical consequence of this development is a shift in thinking from (product) innovation to multiple value creation. Circularity has stimulated this way of thinking: two-thirds of our economic growth consists of this type of innovation. The third development concerns a state of transition. As a result of these new developments and also driven by government policies and technological innovations, world powers, organizations and civilians find themselves in a state of transition. All three developments will be covered in detail in the following sections.