A new digital course from Climate School, AXA Climate's green training and development hub, is aiming to help organisations rethink their business models by making better use of resources through reusing, refurbishing and recycling. Known as the ‘circular economy’, the adoption of such principles by businesses can support global climate targets, and help companies operate more efficiently and effectively.
 
The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In addition to optimising resources to deliver business efficiencies, the provision of sustainable services, product-as-a-service models and digital solutions can even generate new commercial opportunities for businesses.
 
The new Circular Economy course from Climate School provides direct advice on specific actions businesses can take to achieve the organisational changes that impact offers, production, purchasing and distribution processes, jobs, and business models.
 
“Corporate action plays a fundamental role in driving the shift to a circular economy yet many business leaders are unsure as to how best they can implement circular strategies,” commented AXA Climate Training VP, Antoine Poincaré. “There are vast opportunities for businesses to drive operational efficiencies. However, it must be understood that to move towards a circular model, it’s not a question of organisations simply becoming better at recyclingor improving their existing offers – it’s a rethink of their entire business models.”
 
The new Circular Economy course features examples from global brands including Michelin, which adapted its business model from replacing tyres to refurbishing them. Ford and Volvo are also showcased as both signed partnerships to recycle their electric vehicle batteries in the United States.
The course highlights and discusses current real-world discussions around the circular economy. These include the role of electric vehicles in decarbonising transportation, and the challenge of using copper and lithium for their batteries, as 90% of known copper resources are likely to have been consumed by 2050.
 
Poincaré added: “The Earth’s natural resources are being depleted faster than ever. This ecological overshoot is a consequence of our traditional linear economy, where the lifecycle of a product involves extracting resources, producing, consuming and then throwing them away. It is unsustainable. We must empower organisations to live within planetary boundaries. Educating businesses on how to transition to a circular economy while gaining other operational efficiencies is key to enabling them to take meaningful action.”
 
The course is delivered by leading the circular economy experts and researchers. These include Raphaël Masvigner, Co-Founder of Circul’R, Alexandre Fernbach, France Director of the industrial waste marketplace, Cyrkl, and Valentina Carbone, Co-Director of the Circular Economy Chair at ESCP Europe.  
 
Consisting of nine videos, each episode within the Circular Economy course covers a specific focus area to give businesses the tools they need:

• The linear economy: an unsustainable model
• Understanding the circular economy
• Ecodesign
• Use cases and business models
• Recycling
• Industrial ecology
• Advice for a circular strategy
• Sustainability and the circular economy

 
To learn more, watch the Circular Economy trailer or visit the Climate School website