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?
1.1 From Linear to Circular
Our current 'linear' economic model is based on a firm belief in achieving short-term profit. We consume natural resources and apply our human resources in an unethical manner; the magic words are 'cost saving'. We buy products that are mostly designed on the basis that they will end their lifecycle as waste: the product to waste chain.
The call for the pursuit of a circular economy aimed at sustainable value gets louder and louder. In such a system capital is not only represented by money but also by social, human, and natural values. We move from profit made per product to profit per customer and value for employees. We refer to this as the new way of innovating.