The Circular Economy Handbook: Realizing the Circular Advantage

by Peter Lacy, Jessica Long, Wesley Spindler

Can we align global production and consumption systems with sustainability? Can business growth actually lead to a healthier planet? Can companies innovate through the circular economy to create competitive advantage and genuine impact? Waste to Wealth proved that the emerging circular economy advantage exists – now Lacy, Long and Spindler show you how to realize it at speed and scale in The Circular Economy Handbook . We stand at a crossroads, with rising geopolitical and geo-economic tensions, massive technological change and a host of social and environmental challenges. We are pushing planetary boundaries to their limits, with climate change and threats to biodiversity and oceans as just a few examples. Significant impacts are already being felt, and both people and planet face potentially catastrophic and irreversible consequences if we don’t urgently change our global model and systems. Our current linear “take, make, waste” models of production and consumption will not be sustainable in a world of some 9 billion people by 2050, especially with ever-expanding rates of consumption. Thriving within these dynamics demands more than incremental adjustments to business-as-usual. The circular economy offers a powerful means to decouple growth from use of scarce and harmful resources, enabling greater production and consumption with fewer negative environmental impacts―at the same time, making companies more innovative and competitive. In fact, this book shows that $4.5 trillion in economic value is at stake. Delivering on the promise of a circular economy demands impact and scale, extending through value chains and, ultimately, disrupting the entire economic system. In The Circular Economy Handbook , the authors illuminate the path from insight to action, from linear to circular. With case studies, advice and practical guidance, they show leaders how to pivot towards a holistic circular organization, embedding circularity internally and delivering broad-based system change. With unique insights across business models, technologies, and industries – featuring stories and real-world examples from circular pioneers – this book is the essential guide to help companies become leaders in the movement to secure the circular economy advantage.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sustainability, Economics

384 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2021

Reviews

[Al · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utterly disappointed and underwhelmed. Full stop.

This is exactly why the big consulting firms often do more harm than good. Banal, shamelessly stuck in the same broken paradigm that got us here. This is a firm grasping at fumes, clearly out of its element. I say this as someone who used to work at one of those giant firms, who thought you could do anything simply because you were so big.

Their solution, the “Wise Pivot” framework is obvious, simplistic. I think most logical people with any experience in life could have produced the same, if not better, in a matter of minutes.

Also, what was unimpressive we’re cherry-picked corporate stories of success we used to substantiate claims, as opposed to utilizing a more robust data.

Additionally, when data is leveraged, it’s done within the confines of a very tired framework. The Impact assessment exclusively focused on company profits to quantify potential. That’s it. Only in the finals pages did they authors truly challenge some of the assumptions of our current model and expand their thinking to other stakeholders.

I would discourage picking this one up. Poorly edited. Not written for anyone in particular. Too afraid to call out the wrongdoings of our current global stage. Also, the authors’ email addresses are constantly flagged at the beginning of each chapter, I felt I was being sold to more than anything. Highly disappointing and tacky.

To change the world and save the planet we must think bigger. Much bigger. We must offer new ideas. We must change old ways, not put green lipstick on the broken systems of our time.

[Nestor · Rating 1 out of 5]

The typical consulting firms book bullshit, especially, and in this case Accenture. They tell what others do without adding any value. This is another pamphlet book with a lot of sales tips and wishful thinking. A Vaclav Smil-type book, which has no value at all, that throws numbers randomly and so pretending to have some kind of authority on the subject, but it has no substance, no added value, like all the things that Accenture normally generates, valueless garbage for the brainless people.

I am in favor of the circular economy, but this book is not doing it any favors. On the other hand, the linear economy cycle could easily end if many of the products were not designed with planned obsolescence, for example, washing machines/dryers/refrigerators/cell phones/PCs. For example, there are PCs/Notebooks in excellent condition that cannot be used anymore because operating systems like Windows, and browsers like Chrome stop supporting them. They are still excellent, but the ambition of the companies forces users to replace them when they are in perfect working order and continue to serve the uses of many users.

[fernando javier riveros rebuffo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this would be a better book for those that are starting their path in circular economy. I was expecting more clues or in-depth topics per industry.
Nevertheless, it is a very mind opening book, assessing the opportunities that we have today.

[Sara Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an informative book. This is a new area of study for me, so it was a lot of new information to process. I appreciated the numerous examples which helped to understand the technical descriptions.

[Pascal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting to know that a lot is happening in terms of the green economy, to move away from the traditional linear vicious cycle: use and throw away. Good ideas for entrepreneurs and companies.

[Milton Bovega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thumbs up.

[Julia Blank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was a clear and useful overview of how companies can participate in the circular economy within and across industries