¿Cómo convencer a los líderes de las empresas para que adopten una economía circular?

Elevate your company's sustainability journey by advocating for the adoption of a circular economy. Highlight the economic benefits, emphasizing reduced waste and resource efficiency. Showcase successful case studies of companies that have thrived through circular practices. Illustrate potential cost savings in the long term, from decreased raw material expenses to efficient waste management. Emphasize the positive environmental impact, aligning with current consumer trends and regulatory expectations. Position the circular economy as a strategic move to enhance brand reputation, attracting environmentally conscious consumers and investors. Propose a phased implementation plan, focusing on small, impactful changes to ease the transition.

Embracing a circular economy is not just a sustainability measure; it's a strategic move that aligns with economic, environmental, and social benefits, ensuring the company's resilience, competitiveness, and long-term success in a rapidly evolving business environment.

In my experience, navigating towards a circular economy commences with a thorough assessment of the business's environmental impact. Tools like circularity gap assessments unveil resource wastage, emissions, and value loss. This analysis not only pinpoints inefficiencies but also reveals improvement opportunities and potential challenges. Armed with this insight, proposing a shift becomes not just an environmental initiative but a strategic move, showcasing the holistic benefits of sustainability and persuading leadership to embrace the circular economy model

Actualmente creo que ya no es solo una cuestión de preferencias, el modelo linear actual está llegando al límite de su capacidad física y es necesario explorar otras alternativas, con lo cual los lideres actuales deben entender que la reutilización podría ahorrar dinero a las empresas y que avanzando hacia una economía más circular podría generar beneficios como reducir la presión sobre el medioambiente, mejorar la seguridad de suministro de materias primas, estimular la competitividad. De igual manera este modelo puede proporcionar a los consumidores productos más duraderos e innovadores que brinden ahorros monetarios y una mayor calidad de vida.

I suppose a significant requisitie in influencing leadership to adopt a circular economy is whether; A. the business can exist if completely circular, B. the leadership is listening. We are in an era where anything other than 100% circular is frowned upon, but that doesn't mean it is best... it might simply mean that it is popular. Ask yourself if the business can get there, or should get there. We also know that some initiatives may be good, or even great, but if they aren't under the microscope at that time... ideas might fall on deaf ears. Ask yourself if this is your opportunity to be heard, or whether its best delivered when leaders are listening.

Crafting a compelling vision for a circular economy starts by aligning it with the business's mission and values. Articulate a narrative that showcases how the circular model resonates with the core identity of the organization. Set specific and measurable goals that reflect the desired outcomes and impacts of circular initiatives. Utilize tools like circular economy indicators or science-based targets to define objectives and track progress. Ensure alignment with the broader industry, customer expectations, and stakeholder interests. This holistic approach not only emphasizes environmental responsibility but also positions the circular economy as a strategic imperative woven into the fabric of the business's identity and purpose.

Align with the vision and goals. Show how circularity can support and enhance your company's vision, mission, values, and strategic objectives. You can also link circularity to the relevant trends and drivers in your industry, market, and society, such as customer demand, regulation, innovation, and sustainability.

While there are several steps, the most important is to ensure everyone truly understands the circular economy concept and is on board. Defining a vision involves articulating how adopting this model will benefit the company, society, and the environment. As you set the goals, they MUST be incorporated into the overall corporate strategy. This may involve adjusting business models, operational processes, and product designs. Foster collaboration and co-creation, and provide training and development as needed to get key internal partners and department heads on board.

Any management needs to be shown Advantages commercially as well as socially as well. It is important to align the Roadmap in such a manner that it helps insisting Circular economy effect. The moment Management realised and trusts the person who needs to Handhold the process, things are put in motion.

Here we have to learn to value profit from the balance between the 3 P: PROFIT, PEOPLE, PLANET. We have to understand that the transformation to the circular economy and the transformation towards the goal of sustainability is not an expense for companies, but an investment in the contribution of transforming our business into benefits for all these three areas. A company that develops the circular economy, based on the new regulations, with the aim of achieving its objectives, will be a desirable company for its customers, its employees and its entire ecosystem. This will help it to grow in results and in its purpose.

Regularly measure progress against the set goals and report these findings both internally and externally. This transparency helps maintain momentum and shows commitment to the circular economy.

It's very important to show the value proposition. Use data and evidence to demonstrate the potential benefits and opportunities of circularity for your company, such as cost savings, new revenue streams, competitive advantage, customer satisfaction, and risk mitigation. You can also use case studies and best practices from other companies that have successfully implemented circular business models and achieved positive outcomes.

We have to communicate the market demand for such a change. There is a huge public sentiment towards future sustainability and environment consciousness. Adopting circular economical principles not only save costs and increase resource utilization ( which also increases the return on investment ), but also leaves a net positive impact on the environment. This would fulfil the company's CSR goals and also, if communicated properly, would create a positive brand image in consumers about the firm. Consumers always compare the product with other competitive products before buying anything and conscious consumers would appreciate our effort in investing in a circular economy which, then would work as our product differentiation.

Effectively addressing barriers and risks when advocating for a circular economy involves a systematic approach. Leverage tools like the circular economy transition framework or risk assessment to identify and prioritize challenges—be they regulatory, technological, organizational, or behavioral. Propose tailored solutions, such as collaborative partnerships, innovative investments, or stakeholder engagement, to overcome or mitigate these obstacles. This proactive stance demonstrates a thorough understanding of potential impediments and showcases a strategic plan for navigating them, thereby bolstering the case for embracing the circular economy within the company.

Acknowledge and address the potential challenges and risks of circularity for your company, such as organizational culture, operational complexity, technological readiness, stakeholder resistance, and financial investment. You can also propose solutions and mitigations for these issues, such as pilot projects, partnerships, incentives, and training .

Acknowledge and address potential barriers and risks associated with transitioning to a circular economy. This might include initial investment costs, changes in operational processes, supply chain restructuring, and the need for new skills and capabilities. Discuss how these challenges can be mitigated or turned into opportunities. For example, highlight how initial investments can lead to long-term savings and how new skills and capabilities can open up new business areas. By proactively addressing potential concerns, you can help alleviate leadership’s apprehensions and demonstrate a well-thought-out approach.

It is essential to define a roadmap designed and created essentially for your project. You have to set out your own improvements year by year: they have to be feasible, achievable, inspirational for your ecosystem. In the world of fashion and other industries, we are used to work with a short term vision, collection by collection, capsule by capsule. We have to go on fulfilling the small achievements stage by stage to achieve this transformation towards the circular economy in a long term.

I think it's important to allow enough room for change in the Roadmap's development. The path to a circular approach isn't straightforward. The journey the organisation will take may have setbacks, unexpected effects, and in some cases, might even be quicker than anticipated. It's vital to build flexibility into the timeline and not focus too strictly on dates. Instead, concentrate on gaining support and giving leadership roles to those with the most intrinsic motivation, keeping them in charge of milestones in the transition plan.

You can use storytelling and emotion to engage and inspire your leaders to adopt circularity. You can share your personal passion and motivation for circularity, and appeal to your leaders' values and aspirations. You can also use visual aids, such as images, videos, and infographics, to illustrate the impact and potential of circularity.

A circular economy can only be achieved if there is a good cooperation across the full supply chain. Having partners in your own value chain that are willing to join you in building circular products is a great way of convincing your board. It can be either suppliers or customers (definitely in a B2B setting).

Employee engagement becomes a qualitative metric, highlighting how embracing circular economy principles enhances morale and engagement. Regulatory compliance is approached proactively as a metric, positioning the company ahead of potential regulations. Success stories and pilot programs provide tangible metrics, offering proof points from other industries and showcasing potential success within our own operations. The long-term vision becomes the overarching metric, aligning a circular economy with the company's broader mission and values. t's about presenting a comprehensive case that doesn't just secure immediate gains but ensures sustained success and resilience in an ever-changing industry landscape.

Promoting a strong culture that drives commitment towards a circular economy is crucial. Unlike action plans, we cannot set targets to achieve it. Culture is a living thing and it needs to be nurtured through approaches similar to Incubate, Launch and Entrench. Onboarding the minds of the organisation is the first step in collaboration with the stakeholders across the supply and value chains in CE.