The document discusses the concept of a circular economy and provides examples of businesses that have adopted circular business models. A circular economy aims to minimize waste and make continued use of resources by designing products to be reused, recycled or composted. This contrasts with a traditional linear economy where production involves extracting, making, using and disposing. The examples highlighted include furniture made from old wharves, container houses made from shipping containers, and textile fibers produced from waste milk. Adopting circular models can create new partnerships and business opportunities around resource effectiveness and closed-loop production systems.

1. Green your business, SCION DTU, 11.12.2013
Circular Business models
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
Svend Erik Nissen,
Project Manager
Innonet Lifestyle - Interior & Clothing
Development Centre UMT
Rethink Business
Svend-erik@innonetlifestyle.com
Svend-erik@rethinkbusiness.dk
Member of the European Cluster-Excellent Initiative
Member of the European Cluster Manager´s Club
Member of the TCI global network for clusters and innovation
Innonet Lifestyle – Interior & Clothing
Innovationsnetværket Livsstil – Bolig & Beklædning
Innovationsnetværket Livsstil - Bolig & Beklædning
Birk Centerpark 38
DK - 7400 Herning
+ 45 9616 6200
www.innonetlifestyle.com

2. Why rethink business - The challenges for us all
Price index for raw materials
Global impact on the strategies
in companies
Quelle: Thierry Malleret og GMO Commodity Index, 2012.
Quelle: UN Global Compact
2030
 1 billion more people in the middle class segnment with more money, demands (Source: McKinsey &
Company)
 60% of the world population is living in cities (Source: McKinsey & Company)
 Lack of ressources (e.i. energy prices raise with 30-50% (Source: International Energy agency)
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
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3. Linear economy
Production is defined by:
 Raw material – production – consume – dispose
 Following the logic of an industrial society
 We do as we use to do
 The societal economy is based on money
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

4. Circular economy
Production is defined by:
 Products are designed to be reused
 Waste = Food. Minimalize environmentally poluting materials
 Bio- and social diversity
 Use of renewable energy
 New business models and intelligent solutions
 Following the logic of a knowledge based society
 The societal economy is based on ressource effectiveness
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

5. Circular economy creates new partnerships and business models
 Circular production, where ressources continuosly are being used (Desso, Mosa)
 Ressource effectiveness – sharing material flows (Van Houtum, Advance Nonwoven)
 Lack of ressources and use of new materials demand new value chains (Xella Denmark)
 Sustainability
People – Planet – Profit
 New competences; SME´s make themselves attractive for new talents (Gabriel)
 Use of renewable sources of energy
 Communication, storytelling (Van Houtum, Egetæpper, Gabriel)
Rethink Business
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DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

6. From trash to treasure...
www.innonetlifestyle.com

7. Skive municipality: ”Rethink Business – reuse of torn down buildings”
www.skive.dk
Vision: No torn down building parts must leave the municipality
.
Aim: Build a new industrial cluster on demolition of buildings
www.gamlemursten.dk
C2C Ceiling plate Nature by Troldtekt, www.troldtekt.dk
The ceiling plate, Nature, is C2C-silver certified and consists of cement and sproose fibres from
forests nearby the plant in Jutland. The product does not have any damaging influence on the
environment and can after use be disintegrated in a biological system. Sound absorbing.
Rethink Business
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DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
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info@rethinkbusiness.dk

8. Designed furniture of old wharfs, www.thors-design.dk
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

9. Containerhouse, www.worldflexhome.com
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

10. Toilet paper and hygiene solutions from Van Hotum, www.vanhoutum.nl
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

11. Qmilk, Wastemilk, www.milkotex.com
The Qmilch GmbH has developed a textile fiber from milk which
cannot be used for consumption.
For the production of 1 kg of fiber we need only 5 minutes and
max. 2 liters of water. This implies a particular level of cost
efficiency and ensures a minimum of CO2 emissions.
Qmilk fiber is biodegradable and leaves no traces.
It is naturally antibacterial and ideal for people that suffer from
textile allergies.
Fabrics made from Qmilk fiber provide high wearing comfort and
a silky feel.
0% chemical additives.
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

12. Green Growth House, DGIH, www.dgih.dk
• Partners:
• SCION DTU, project manager
• Growth House Capital City and Sjælland
• Accelerace
• DTU Management
• Innonetlifestyle – Interior & Clothing / Rethink Business
• Support entrepreneurs, micro businesses, small companies with green transition
• Development and design of green products and services
• Green business models – development of skills
• Testing, Fab Lab
• Bringing the product to the market – financing, marketing
Rethink Business
Birk Centerpark 38
DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk

13. www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
www.epea.com
www.c2cexpolab.eu
www.dgih.dk
www.innonetlifestyle.com

14. Questions?
Rethink Business
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DK-7400 Herning
+45 : 96 16 62 03
www.rethinkbusiness.dk
info@rethinkbusiness.dk