Designing for circularity

Think Circle is a platform to openly address the issues in designing for circularity and move towards finding solutions. By reflecting differing viewpoints from a range of contributors — such as leaders from academia, business, NGOs and other key institutions — we hope to move the circularity dialogue forward and contribute to a common understanding.

All articles
24.02.2021 · Regulatory environment

Who could oppose better regulation?

The European Commission’s recently drafted Better Regulation agenda sets a framework for a policy making process which is supposed to deliver evidence-based, transparent and adequate regulations, while ensuring that the views of those affected are taken...
27.01.2021 · Regulatory environment

The many challenges on the path to better regulation

Patrick ten Brink, Deputy Secretary General and Director of EU Policy at European Environmental Bureau, imagines a more circular future in which legislation is stronger and fairer, but reflects on the various hurdles that must be cleared in order to get...
27.01.2021 · Regulatory environment

If regulators want to achieve robust legislation, they must be more pragmatic

Citing the complex trade-off nature of banning and incentivizing, Dr. Lorenzo Allio, Senior Policy Analyst at European Regulation and Innovation Forum calls for environmental policymakers to think as much about the questions of 'how' as the questions of...
27.01.2021 · Regulatory environment

Systemic regulatory change comes from a truly unified effort

European value chains involve numerous stakeholders. Fatma Sahin, European External Affairs Manager at Unilever says that when decision-makers craft legislation, every part of the value chain must work together if there are to be regulations that work...
27.01.2021 · Regulatory environment

For the EU to achieve better regulation, it needs to balance ambition, innovation and protection

Alexandre Affre, Deputy Director General at Business Europe, reminds that when it comes to pushing for a more circular economy, everything should be driving the principle of making Europe more innovative.
27.01.2021 · Regulatory environment

Better Regulation should underpin green collaboration

The call for better regulation is not a call to slow things down. In fact, it is a call to actually speed things up and in a way that is viable for all stakeholders, says Thomasine Kamerling, EVP, Sustainability and Communications, at Huhtamaki...
27.01.2021 · Regulatory environment

Good environmental and economic decisions go hand in hand

Long-term sustainable growth comprises more than environmental decisions – it also includes economic and social ones. According to MEP Henna Virkkunen, only by thinking about economic decisions more seriously can the EU achieve environmental regulation...
10.11.2020 · Retail

Simplified materials, recycling technologies and infrastructure can create a true circular economy

The simpler the material, the more likely it is to be used in a circular economy, says Andy Parton, Vice President Petcare Commercial at Mars Petcare. Advanced markets should move first.
09.11.2020 · Manufacturing

Investment is the necessary driver for circularity

The business case for circularity is clear, says Kate Daly, Managing Director at Closed Loop Partners. It’s all about maximizing the value of materials.
07.11.2020 · Manufacturing

Sustainable food packaging can support a rapidly changing world

Achieving circularity objectives requires both systemic changes and a network of stakeholders working as one across the entire food value chain and driving a common understanding of sustainability, says Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO of Huhtamaki.  

07.11.2020 · Innovation

Innovation in circularity requires the creation of open infrastructure and open-source solutions

Today’s large-scale industrial food production is not sustainable, argues Food System 6 CEO Caesaré Assad. Instead, we need food systems based on right-sized entrepreneurship and decentralized operations where innovation starts at the local level.
07.11.2020 · Regulatory environment

Wanted: a coherent policy framework to support circularity at EU level

While policymakers continue to build appropriate legislation, food packaging companies can lead the change, says Petri Sarvamaa, Member of the European Parliament.
06.11.2020 · Regulatory environment

Regulation should set the goals – companies should choose the methods

We won’t have circularity without the markets, and we won’t have the markets unless we create the rules for them, says Jyrki Katainen, president of Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.
06.11.2020 · Waste

Waste has to become a resource offering financial incentives

Two billion people across the globe lack access to waste management. “Producers should play a bigger role in the recovery and reuse of plastic waste,” says WasteAid Network Director Michelle Wilson.
06.11.2020 · Waste

Banning plastics completely will harm circularity – composite materials are needed

EU’s efforts to reduce marine litter by banning single-use plastics may lead to unintended consequences as circularity needs composite materials and single-use containers, says research professor Ali Harlin.
06.11.2020 · Retail

Tax systems should support sustainable materials and practices

Everyone wants to protect the environment as long as the price is right, says Hesburger chairman Heikki Salmela. The politicians should set that price right through taxation.
05.11.2020 · Retail

Circular solutions must also provide a great customer experience

Circular economy requires innovation in materials and design as well as broad partnerships to tackle issues in recycling infrastructure, says Frank Heidlberger, Director of Global Packaging at McDonald’s. For businesses, customer experience remains a...
05.11.2020 · Retail

Small businesses need help in switching to sustainable packaging

To create truly functioning circularity in food packaging, small businesses need to be supported and end-users need to be educated, says Darragh Flynn of The Happy Pear.
05.11.2020 · Manufacturing

Reinventing manufacturing for circularity can increase profits

Business executives’ fear of shareholders’ fear prevents them from initiating major changes, argues Professor Steve Evans. Yet adjusting business models and production processes towards circularity can increase efficiency and profits.
05.11.2020 · Materials

Designing for circularity needs global scale

Packaging regulation that is too local and extensive will slow down innovation, says Stora Enso CEO Annica Bresky.

"Business executives are fixed on a mental model that sustainability will mean short-term loss in gains. This is not true."

PROFESSOR STEVE EVANS, 10/2020