aware_ partner and digital design company Goodpatch has launched a whitepaper where they present five steps to move a business towards a circular economy
More and more initiatives are springing up, the content of which aims to make citizens more environmentally aware and to manage consumerism and review our habits. But there is still a long way to go – as individuals – but also companies need to be clear about their impact on the planet and how they engage the different stakeholders.
One way to make a positive impact is through the circular economy model. By definition, the circular economy is a regenerative system that promotes the responsible use and reuse of resources and raw materials, the protection of the environment, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and innovations in waste management (bee smart city). It aims to make products and materials last without consuming additional resources. This can be achieved through durable design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing or recycling (circular Berlin).
A circular economy is based on four principles: understanding finite resources, preventing waste and pollution and other negative externalities, preserving materials by designing them for reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling, and finally preserving natural capital by circulating nutrients and creating regeneration (Smart City Hub).
But this shift comes with some challenges. In this regard, the independent design firm Goodpatch has developed a framework to guide companies toward a circular economy. The company’s goal is to demonstrate the power of design by creating sustainable value for people, organizations and the planet.
Goodpatch is driven by the mission to prove the power of design. The company with studios in Tokyo, Berlin and Munich creates designs with sustainable value for people, organizations, and the planet. With their flexible services, Goodpatch meets their clients’ needs – from large, multinational corporations to local start–ups, in industries that span from health care to mobility. Whether it is a strategy, product, or service, Goodpatch works with their clients every step of the way to make complex ideas tangible (Goodpatch).
Their team of strategists has worked on sustainability projects for manufacturing and service companies in areas such as construction, footwear, and financial services. Here, Goodpatch’s own design methods have been applied, finding circular opportunities for their clients. This led to product and business innovations, designed in co-creation. And to take it a step further, Goodpatch’s goal is to fundamentally change the system and build ecosystems so that more circular solutions can be implemented and society as a whole can benefit.
“The road to a full circular economy is still long. We cannot change an entire company overnight, but we can build on our strengths and start small by validating initial circular solutions. Because now more than ever we as a society need to change how we treat our planet,” says Léa Montavon, Design Strategist at Goodpatch. The company shared a whitepaper with aware_ that shows in five steps where the opportunities for a circular economy lie and how it can even become a strategic direction for companies.
- Find your starting point.
- Discover circular opportunities.
- Start small and gather evidence on a circular solution.
- Define metrics and assess your opportunities.
- Create momentum.
The whitepaper includes maps and other techniques to guide through the process. Among other things, there is a Miro board where you can find circular opportunities depending on your needs.
You can request the whole whitepaper for free on their website.
– by Marie Klimczak
