We have contributed to the transition to a more circular economy for decades. The projects below are the tangible result of our efforts, and have resulted in lasting positive impact.
Together with a number of brands, we set up tailored return logistics for used safety shoes to create volume for economically viable recycling. We then set up an independent legal entity to implement so-called extended producer responsibility (a foundation and execution entity), prelaving on EU legislation.
Circular concepts must be followed, otherwise sustainable design loses its added value. C_passport® is the solid basis of products ‘as-a-service’. You capture products, including all relevant information, such as maintenance, dismantling, product composition and impact. This is how we take the step from ambition to transition: the circular concept comes to fruition.
We support a company that mechanically recycles plastics in setting up a fine sourcing network for materials to be recovered, a network for pre-sorting and processing, as well as in developing next-use applications, both high-end and mass. The recovered material is recorded in C_passport®.
If you are already there… embrace your new role! For an international facility management organisation, we organised a workshop and conducted a feasibility study on how to migrate to a circular economy, what the company’s role would be and where to start today.
For the automotive industry, we developed a concept and prototype: convering fossil-fuelled cars to electric-powered cars on a semi-industrial scale, taking into account existing homologations and permits.
For a multinational waste management company, we examined how and with what roadmap its operations could migrate to a central role in moving towards a circular economy and where to start from its existing portfolio.
For a regional economic development group, we investigated the potential of integrated circularity in the day-to-day operations of both member companies and government agencies united in public-private partnerships.
For a number of manufacturers in the metal industry, we introduced the concept of design-for-disassembly into their processes, allowing the concept of ‘product-as-a-service’ to be applied, leading to additional added value for both customer and manufacturer. Products could be refurbished or remanufactured much more easily, use periods could be extended and once recycling had to take place, the value of the recovered material was much higher compared to average market prices.
We hebben een retourlogistiek systeem opgezet voor flacons van een internationaal schoonmaakbedrijf. Hiermee hebben we aangetoond dat het zich uitbetaald om retourlogistiek te regelen. Het was daarnaast hét moment om het product door te ontwikkelen voor circulariteit. Daarom zijn we aan de slag gegaan met verbeterd ontwerp voor ontmanteling, recycling en volgend gebruik.
We developed a circular furnishing concept for a large supermarket chain. This project involved more than 20 suppliers and service providers. By finding better solutions for next-use applications, we were able to move from 80% waste to more than 80% reuse of materials. In this way, we achieved a significant capex reduction and a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions related to material use.
All furnishing elements were recorded in digital product passports, making all relevant information to put the circular concept into practice always available. This makes this project a blueprint for the supermarket of the future: circular.
We participated in a study that looked at chemical recycling of specific plastics from a technical and business case perspective. Despite a number of technical challenges, we contributed to the sourcing of fine raw materials, return logistics, pre-treatment, and connection to a network of recycling initiatives. Last but not least, we found next use solutions for the recycled plastics.
Taking a ‘Redesign the Existing’ perspective, we turned used work and safety clothing into new products. Even at component level, products are often not designed to be taken apart. Yet these materials can still be used for other applications. The project has grown into a complete company – Pour Product, which has since grown independently and structurally allows people with a distance to the labour market to contribute to the creation of new products.
We set up a company – GAIA Circulair – for reverse logistics for personal protective equipment, work- and safety shoes, and workwear. When the company was operating in five countries, we transferred the business. Since then, its operations have expanded: even more customers, volume, countries and article groups. We are still closely connected, which means we can often help our customers with reverse logistics solutions. A crucial part in closing the loop.
We gave a workshop for a multinational company in the energy and installation sector, with the central theme: how do we make the transition to a circular economy? It is important to get everyone on board if you want to make this transition successful as a company. The end point is clear, but how do you get there? During the workshop, we defined the role the company wants to play in the future, and identified the first steps they can already start working on now. A learning experience that was then turned into action.
We advised an international holiday park company on material composition choices for their cottages. We did this from different perspectives: circularity, material availability, capex, maintenance and derived emissions. By applying our advice in practice, they are preparing for the European ‘Fit for 55 programme’, which aims to reduce net emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
We have developed a reclaimed thread from textiles in a German-Dutch collaboration. The used material thus gets a new life. The thread is currently used to make car seat covers, among other things. Within the project, we made sure that the input material was delivered, return logistics were organised and, not unimportantly, that, thanks to the recording in C_passport®, we also know for sure that this circular concept can be put into practice.
We developed circular collections with safety shoe manufacturers. To ensure that these shoes are circular not only in design but also in practice, we then set to work on operationalising circularity. How we did that? Organising recycling, finding next-use applications and weaving circularity into operations. Personal protective equipment such as safety shoes is an ideal product group for applying circularity. In this project, we managed to close the loop, a great result!
