[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/02\/16\/circularity-strategy\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/02\/16\/circularity-strategy\/","headline":"Circularity strategy: How to become a sustainable business","name":"Circularity strategy: How to become a sustainable business","description":"With the rise of conscious consumerism, businesses need to prioritize circularity. Discover how brands can become more sustainable in the circular economy.","datePublished":"2022-02-16","dateModified":"2024-07-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/geert-leeman\/#Person","name":"Geert Leeman","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/geert-leeman\/","identifier":636,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c5cfa20610e2093b065e87f3796777cf9b64f4b5181391f5eaeb624b9525f2b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c5cfa20610e2093b065e87f3796777cf9b64f4b5181391f5eaeb624b9525f2b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Commerce","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","width":172,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/circularity-22_R_1200x375.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/circularity-22_R_1200x375.jpg","height":375,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/02\/16\/circularity-strategy\/","about":["CPG",{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/","name":"Purpose","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purpose"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/purpose-general\/","name":"Purpose","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purpose"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/commerce\/sustainability\/","name":"Sustainability","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sustainability","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q219416"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/sustainability-in-business\/","name":"Sustainability in Business","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sustainable_business"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/thought-leadership\/","name":"Thought Leadership","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thought_leader"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/thought-leadership-2\/","name":"Thought Leadership","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thought_leader"]}],"wordCount":709,"keywords":["Circular Economy","CPG | Consumer Packaged Goods","Sustainability"],"articleBody":"More than ever before, customers want to buy from brands that prioritize people and the planet as much as profits. Doing so builds the foundation for a more sustainable business\u2014and in turn, a more sustainable future for everyone.\u00a0But first, a foundation needs to be built, brick by brick. Companies must start by embracing circularity. That means using operating principles to reduce, reuse, recycle, and reclaim materials in order to minimize waste and speed adoption of sustainable business processes.There are three steps companies of all sizes and industries can take to join the circular economy and drive long-term business success:Work to eliminate waste and pollutionDevelop a reclaim-and-reuse business modelAdopt holistic principles to deliver positive environmental impact      Ethical supply chains in 2025: Definition, examples, trends                Consumers expect more from the brands they buy from, and an ethical supply chain is now a requirement. Learn what it means and how to get started.      Circularity in business: No more wasteRight now, 91% of material resources are lost into landfills or leaked into the environment after they’re consumed. Gartner predicts that circular, waste-free economies will replace linear economies by 2029. That means going from a traditional system of using raw material for production of products that are thrown away after use to a circular model of reuse.Shifting from a linear economy to a circular one will not only transform the way your organization makes and delivers your products and services, but will also influence (and help change) how your customers use them. As governments around the world establish new regulations for environmental protection, organizations will need to take greater responsibility for their products and services in order to keep up.\u00a0One example of an organization leading the way in working to eliminate waste and pollution is Unilever. The consumer goods company has set goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2039 and halving the use of plastics in its packaging.      Green is the new pink: Sustainable fashion will rule the runway                Consumers are changing the face of the fashion industry via their demands for sustainability. Discover four ways retailers can rule the ethical runway.      Reclaim and reuse for greener businessThe key to sustaining circularity is finding economic value in reclaiming and reusing products.\u00a0One way to do this is to lease products instead of selling them. For example, someone could rent a dress for a wedding and return it after use instead of buying a new one they may never wear again. Another strategy is to design your product(s) to be recycled. This will require your organization focus on supply chain traceability, transparency about sustainable sourcing and production, waste recovery throughout the product lifecycle, and keeping materials in use longer. Businesses can no longer separate the sourcing and disposal of materials.Your organization may also need to partner with other organizations that have the technological expertise \u2014 or that may be best able \u2014 to reuse the reclaimed materials.      Corporate social responsibility and sustainability: How to save the earth                Today corporate social responsibility must include sustainability. Discover examples, definitions, and how to attain sustainable commerce.      Do good: Take a holistic approach to circularityAccording to a World Economic Forum report, organizations that put nature first will generate more than $10 trillion a year in business opportunities. That is, companies that prioritize practices that not only protect, but regenerate nature will come out on top\u2014ethically and financially.\u00a0Reforestation initiatives, wetland restoration, rehabilitating coastal areas, and introducing natural elements (e.g., plants and trees) into urban environments are all ways organizations can deliver positive environmental impacts. Companies must also look for ways to support the communities they serve. Anglian Water, an England-based water company that focuses on drinking water as well as recycled wastewater,\u00a0 has dedicated itself to improving the human elements of sustainability. In addition to its goals of creating a flourishing natural environment and reducing the company\u2019s carbon footprint, Anglian is taking action to foster a more equitable and inclusive workplace culture where everyone can thrive.\u00a0It\u2019s time to go beyond doing \u201cless bad\u201d to adopt approaches to do \u201cmore good.\u201d Our future depends on it.\u00a0  Giants don’t leave (carbon) footprints.Future-proof your business \u2013and the world.Get your free trial\u00a0HERE."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"16","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/02\/\/16\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Circularity strategy: How to become a sustainable business","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/02\/16\/circularity-strategy\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]