How sustainable production systems will accelerate the transition to a circular economy

Less than 6% of the global economy can be considered circular, underlining the fact that substantial work is required to reconfigure consumption and production systems. 

The transition to a circular economy will require increased investment flows in new infrastructure, collaboration between and within sectors, and scaling up of emerging circular economy business models. 

The series considers nine case studies of circular innovation occurring at different scales across various sectors end European geographies, each of which represents an effective strategy for implementing circular economy principles. 

“This set of diverse, but pioneering cases illustrates that reconfiguring the economy and implementing circular strategies is complex and poses many challenges” says Sira Saccani, Director of Sustainable Production Systems at EIT Climate-KIC. “It demands multi-sector, multi-stakeholder collaboration at every stage, from business model design to supply chains, physical and digital infrastructures, policy and finance.”

See the Case Studies

About the insights

Accelerating the Transition to Sustainable Production Systems is a series of ten peer-reviewed insight documents written by renowned climate innovation experts.

The series was commissioned by Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest public – private partnership dedicated to climate innovation to share recent experiences of exploring different ways to nurture and sustain partnership and cross-sector collaborations for a circular economy.

The series reveals the strategies, approaches and challenges developed and deployed, as well as the lessons learned. Capturing this knowledge is vital to creating the conditions that enable innovation in a context where there are few precedents or existing protocols.

Explore this series of ten expert insights to find out:

  • how can Industry 4.0. enable circular economy practices
  • how electronic waste flows can be converted into resources for additive manufacturing
  • new concepts for reusing waste electric and electronic equipment
  • innovative products and business models based on the Internet of Things
  • innovative circular economy practices related to food production and distribution
  • how digital technology can enhance circular economy practices in industrial parks
  • ways policy can revolutionize the implementation of circular business models

The Climate Innovation Insights was launched at the Productronica trade fair in Munich on the 15th November 2018 together with the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA).

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