ADOPTING THE CIRCULAR APPROACH: HOW AND WHY?

Christian Mabey, Managing Director of Optima Products, takes a closer look at the benefits of achieving circularity in your business.

The linear take-make-waste model, the antithesis of a circular economy, is putting increasing strain on the planet’s scarce natural resources. But shifting principles and practices couldn’t be simpler, and many of these can be achieved in the modern workspace. For example, upcycling furniture, purchasing a previously-owned laptop or putting used clothing in the recycling are small gestures that can make a big difference when taken together.

Whilst these changes are incremental, the savings mount up as more and more people embrace them.

It’s speculated that adopting this ‘circular’ approach could essentially reduce global CO 2 emissions by up to 40%, boost biodiversity and release the immense pressure we currently place on our planet, by limiting resource exploitation and redistributing nutrients to depleted soils.

There are more strategic benefits too, with circular economic principles proven to simultaneously lower overheads, boost productivity and build brand recognition. It’s incredibly important, as manufacturers are now expected to decarbonise their operations and processes and prove it. Why then, since circularity delivers all these upsides, isn’t it being practised by everyone?

The requirement to eradicate waste from current products and processes is a common barrier for many businesses. And many manufacturers shudder when faced with the financial challenge of altering products to increase their lifespan. Furthermore, organising logistics for returns, classifying recyclables and sourcing sustainable materials and components are all examples of expenses that can add up quickly. Unfortunately, a lot of companies fail to make it past these upfront obstacles, which require a significant investment in time and money.

For any organisation, achieving circularity must be a goal that is both attainable and sustainable. In order to ensure that the value of additional services and products can be realised, it must be a long-term process carried out cautiously and gradually.

Simply examining the amount of energy your equipment consumes or the origin and make up of the materials you use can reveal areas that could leave room for improvement to be more sustainable.

Assessing the value that is lost during production, sale, use and disposal, then focusing on conserving and maintaining that value, is another clear route to circularity. Furniture is a prime example. Pre-owned furniture has been available for purchase for many years; sometimes it is kept in its original form, and other times it is upcycled and made into a new product. If we can do this with furniture, we can certainly do it with building supplies, fixtures and fittings.

The good news is that a number of forward-thinking manufacturers are starting to approach this issue from a more comprehensive perspective. In a recent project, a major social media brand has chosen to fit-out its London office space by adopting our Adaptable Meeting Rooms (AMR) and glass partitions to form one of our largest AMR fit-out projects yet. Designed to be reused time after time, these demountable, relocatable and sustainable systems seamlessly fall within a circular strategy while enhancing user wellbeing.

I believe it is crucial that business owners embrace and raise awareness of the circular economy whenever, and wherever, possible, including what it actually entails and how we can get there. When applying the principles of circularity, it can be easy to overlook or dismiss the near-term benefits because doing so comes at a hefty upfront cost. In the long run, though, it will be worthwhile and it is crucial if we are to ensure a more sustainable built environment for the future.