David Greenfield
Vice President, the Circular Economy Institute
A circular economy — where products and materials are kept in circulation — is the foundation of sustainable business, but how can organisations embed circularity into their supply chains?
To achieve a truly circular economy, businesses must transition from linear ‘take, make, dispose’ models to circular supply chains, but there is a gap between understanding and implementing circular economy principles.
Priorities for a circular economy
David Greenfield, Vice President of the Circular Economy Institute and member of the Circular Economy Taskforce, has spoken extensively on the subject, stating: “90% of products are thrown away within six months of purchase. While awareness of circularity is growing, critical barriers persist from a financial, infrastructural and knowledge perspective.”
The UK Government committed to supporting businesses through this transition by the creation of a Circular Economy Strategy, outlining six priority sectors: textiles, transport, construction, agri-food, electrical equipment, chemicals and plastics. It aims to align policy and practice, delivering tangible outcomes for a ‘truly circular and future-proof economy.’
Sectors like construction
increasingly view waste as a valuable
resource rather than a byproduct.
Implementation of circular economy strategies
Real-world examples demonstrate that it has moved beyond a theoretical concept. Sectors like construction increasingly view waste as a valuable resource rather than a byproduct, reducing reliance on virgin materials. From refurbishment to buy-back and resale schemes, the circular economy is becoming more mainstream, but significant gaps remain.
Globally, strong policy frameworks and increased consumer engagement have helped the shift from linear to circular — focused on extending, retaining and recovering materials, rather than extracting and disposing of them.
However, a critical part of building circular supply chains lies in strategic partnership and supplier selection to avoid ‘greenwashing.’ Authenticity and the desire for genuine change beyond commercial profitability are essential.
Long-term benefits and outcomes
A concerted effort from producers, consumers and governing bodies is required for economies to fully adopt circularity. It’s not just an environmental sustainability need; it’s an economic opportunity that drives innovation, creates jobs and builds long-term resilience.
Businesses must adopt closed-loop systems through innovative processes, better design, conscious materials selection and a continuous focus on repair, reuse, refurbishment or remanufacturing, resale and recycling. In short, businesses must prioritise long-term durability and repairability. This is the only way to transition to a circular economy that values resources and minimises waste.
