Circular Economy

We want and must use our resources appropriately

In a circular economy, it is recognized that all resources used in a manufacturing or utilization process are valuable. And that the value of products and materials must be preserved for as long as possible, since natural raw materials are scarce. So waste and resource consumption must be minimized: when a product has reached the end of its life, the product, its components or its base materials should be reused or reused. This way we only need a fraction of the resources and energy for (re)manufacturing products.

First of all, the circular economy relates primarily to physical resources. But it also has a social focus and sees itself as an integrative economic system that integrates values such as equality, justice and sustainability in a holistic manner.

The goal of the circular economy

The aim of the circular economy is to decouple resource consumption and economic success. This is done, among other things, by redesigning products and processes and, above all, by redesigning value creation. So people’s needs will be met without reaching the ecological and social limits of the planet and without causing harm in the form of emissions, pollution, waste or exploitation.

The different models of the circular economy

The circular economy wants to steer resources and material flows in such a way that they remain in the economy or in use for as long as possible:

• circular design and production models
• Models for long-term and circular use
• Circular recycling models
• Models to enable circular economy solutions in other organizations

The models are aimed at manufacturing companies as well as trade and services, with digitization playing a central role.