How can you effectively communicate the benefits of circular economy?

In a world of over 8 billion people, the old buy-use-throw paradigm of the linear economy has become obsolete and is leading us into an uncertain future. Unfortunately there is a lot to fix, we don't have much time and we lack much experience in recycling some materials, but the huge advantage is the growing global awareness and the extraordinary initiatives that are being carried out on a daily basis and that must necessarily start in each of us. In the textile sector, the demand for recycled fibers continues to grow and will continue to do so at an even faster pace. So is the supply of second-hand stores or the new on-demand manufacturing systems. Any good initiative that optimizes our resources.

In our industry, the reason why many still stay away from circular storytelling is because it focuses too much on 'the problem'. People working in business are human, so they naturally care about environmental topics. But the company they are part of was not created to reduce environmental issues. It was created to deliver value. Focusing too much on the social, green or 'responsibility' side of CE can alienate your story from the main drivers of the company. They are not Greenpeace.

It is easy to make a point and infinitely hard to make a difference. We have to nuance the message and delivery in a manner that makes both accessible to the audience. If it does not make sense to the person across the room any conversation is at best a monologue

There are plenty of examples to choose from to showcase the value of the circular economy. Now it's about promoting those to stakeholders in an intriguing and understandable way. Using stories and eye-catching visuals are a great way to showcase the many benefits of the circular economy. Take Fairphone for example, a company that has made strides in sustainable electronics by creating ethically sourced and long-lasting smartphones. By sharing success stories like Fairphone's, we can captivate stakeholders' interest and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the circular economy’s benefits.

Circular economy may not be a straightforward concept to everyone but saving money is. When talking about circular economy, make sure to emphasize the monetary benefits a solution may bring. For example, did you know that one of the biggest household waste is cotton pads? Buying reusable cotton pads will not only reduce your household's waste amount but also make you save money in the long run as you can use your reusable pads forever!

Company pioneers really see circular economy as a major business opportunity. The topic is strategically implemented, budget is reserved, they are actively experimenting and they believe that a financial positive result go hand in hand with circular steps. Read the stories from these pioneers, get inspired and learn from them. They will clear out the path towards the circular economy. And mainstream companies will hopefully follow if they see the advantages. Most of the times it started with individuals having the intrinsic motivation for circular economy within these pioneering companies.

- The positive and negative effects of CE have to be communicated effectively and in an intriguing way to all stakeholders as well as customers and general public. - Storytelling is a powerful tool which captivates your audience and helps them understand the problem easily. - Storytelling can be started right from schools and universities to encourage integrating circular economy into lives at a much earlier stage. - Case studies can be told as stories which will help people understand that they can also be part of the solution as the companies which use circular economy. - Storytelling helps in capacity building and knowledge sharing as well.

After 34 years of research and 5 years of proof of concept, it is now possible to recycle and reuse 100% of all solid, liquid and gaseous waste. This system turns garbage leachate: extremely polluted water - into drinking water in 30 minutes. It produces green hydrogen from urban waste. It produces new generation materials extracted from the waste, such as bio-cement (zero emissions cement) and high strength building panels.

Storytelling happens to be the most useful tool that engages audience in ways unmatched. If one can highlight the following aspects in any story, it goes well with people - Unsustainable practices- That cannot be continued for long - Underutilisation through lifecycle- Ones that can be utilised better before discarding - Underutilisation through capacity - Ones that don't operate with full efficiency If the above practices can be defined, it becomes easier to communicate any story.

Using simple language increases accessibility of the concept, but to drive real impact we must increase accessibility to the actual solutions. Give people agency and clear opportunities for engagement, coupled with simple language they can understand. You need both.

A simple language that describes the clear advantages and results of the method, leads to easy understanding, which must be our point. I'll use the "Green Farm" example I gave in the previous points: Green Farm turned their waste into wealth. They made their soil healthier, saved biodiversity and water, all while saving money. Now, their crops are healthier, and the environment is better off!

In nature there is no such thing as waste. Everything is broken down for reuse in a new cycle of growth. The only reason we do not have a circular economy is because we have not applied the basic laws of nature to our production processes. The 7Cbasalia system is nature based and decomposes and reuses everything.

We need to evolve past the perception of many that this is about waste management and recycling. Transitioning to a circular economy is a complex, systemic, multi-sectoral approach that provides the means and opportunities to achieve the global goals of sustainability and all 17 SDGs, climate change, biodiversity protection, carbon offsets, and a just transition for people, planet and profit...

Waste is a symptom to the bigger challenge in the system. We have been treating the symptoms for many years, and this has provided a false sense of doing good and given license to make and consume more (and more complex) stuff. The circular economy is a fundamental reset of our economy. It is a reconnection to nature and regeneration.

It is very easy. Waste nowadays has a cost. If everyone were to be well rewarded for waste (because it contains everything our economy needs), that would be a game changer. Therefore if all waste is converted into value - as is the case in the basalia system - waste collection becomes a gold mine

My biggest lesson learned: We have to "walk the walk". Every single day, even if it's hard. We need to demonstrate to all who want to change - how to practically do that. It's powerful to share your personal "story of change": how you integrate circularity into your daily life; for the clothes you lease, the mobility solutions you share or the modular houses you build. Thanks!

Circular economy benefits can be presented as a combination of Circular business models and Circular value chains. Create a business use case by understanding the challenges organisations face and turning them into an opportunity for circular design innovation using the technical expertise of industrial stakeholders, while highlighting the positive outcomes. These can be further reinforced through successful and impactful case studies that present systemic change. Philips, hp, Ingka group, etc have set some great examples for circular transformation.

In a circular economy, consumers share responsibility for sustainability, which may require paying more to incorporate external costs into business practices. Externalities, such as unaccounted health costs from emissions, are key. Renewables, despite upfront costs, offer job creation and reduced environmental impact, lowering the true production cost when externalities are considered. Integrating these externalities into business models is crucial in a circular economy.