VCI featured in the 2022 Responsible Care Awards Gallery: ‘striving for resource efficiency’
High consumption of resources and climate change require a rethinking of economy and society. A central component on the way to climate neutrality is the circular economy. The aim is to decouple economic growth from resource use and consumption.
The conversion of the raw material basis, the development of recyclable products and product-related services such as take-back systems result in new business opportunities for companies. To take advantage of this, a strategic reorientation of the company is required. All operational functions are impacted by the switch to a circular economy: from the development of new products, through procurement, logistics, production and sales to marketing and product-related services.
The stronger networking of companies also plays an important role, since processes in the sense of the circular economy go beyond their own value creation. The early conversion of the business model offers the chance to gain a competitive advantage and to maintain the future viability of one’s own company. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the transition from a linear to a circular economy is often a challenge. With the guideline “Getting started with the circular economy”, Chemie3 would like to offer strategic and operational guidance, especially for SMEs, on a switch to a circular and sustainable economy. But even larger companies will find suggestions to review their previous path and, if necessary, to break new ground.
The guideline contains suggested solutions along six design areas, ranging from the selection of the products through manufacture, design and recycling to approaches such as how the company’s products promote recycling among customers or end-of-life products can be taken back. Practical examples show which solutions are already being pursued by companies.
Six approaches to the circular economy
In order to achieve a circular economy, many approaches can and must be taken. In the guide, six approaches are deepened and supplemented by case studies from companies.
- Selection of raw materials for products
- Design and manufacture of products
- Packaging and transport of products
- Own products as enablers of the circular economy for customers
- End-of-life solutions for products
- New business models
By elaborating guidelines, the VCI (Verband der Chemischen Industrie) is fulfilling its obligation to communicate best practice and to support its members in implementing the Responsible Care programme. These commitments, as well as the collaboration within the framework of the alliance, results from the signing of the Responsible Care Global Charter for associations.