StrategyinaCircularWorldTomovebeyondexperimentation,leadersaresettingbolderambitionsandlinkingcircularstrategiestobusinessobjectives.ByJoshuaHinkel,TessaBysong,HernanSaenz,andJennyDavis-PeccoudCopyright©2023Bain&Company,Inc.Allrightsreserved.StrategyinaCircularWorldAtaGlance`Morethanhalfofcircularityinitiativesarelimitedtorecyclingorwastemanagement,aBainstudyshows.`Asindustriesgocircular,profitpoolswillshift,creatingnewopportunities.`Companiesthatinvestearlyincircularoperatingmodelsandbusinessmodelswillhaveafirst-moveradvantage.Formanyleadershipteams,thetransitiontocircularstrategiesandbusinessmodelsfeelslikerollingahugestoneuphill.Theyknowit’simportant,butprogressispainfullyslow.Initiativesremainnarrowinscope,havelimitedimpact,andaredifficulttoscale.Partoftheproblemisthatseniorexecutivesoperatewithalinearmindset.That’sunderstandablesincetoday’sbusinessesweredesignedforalinearworld.Buttomakethemostofcircularsolutions,executivesneedtorethinkhowtheyrunthebusinessanddecouplegrowthfromresourceconsumption.Thatrequiresoperatingmodelsandbusinessmodelsdesignedtopreservematerials,increaseproductutilization,andextendproductlifespans(seeFigure1).It’sahugebreakwithindustrynormsandbestpracticesinthepastcentury.Withoutnewbusinessmodelsandreconfiguredvaluechains,operationswillremainlinearandprogresstowardcircularityincremental.ArecentBainstudyof400leadingorganizationsfoundthatwhile55%hadmadecommitmentstocircularity,morethanhalfoftheinitiativeswereconfinedtorecyclingorwastemanagement(seeFigure2).Sucheffortsarelaudable,buttheywillnotsparkacirculartransformation.Tomovebeyondsuchnarrowgains,someleadersaresettingbolderambitions,linkingcircularstrategiestobusinessobjectives.Thoseobjectivesmayincludeefficientuseofresources,supplychainresilience,newmarketentry,revenuegrowth,andenvironmentalsustainability.Thesefirmsstartbyanalyzinghowandwheretheindustry’sprofitpoolsarelikelytoevolve.Thatallowsexecutivestoidentifystrategicopportunitiesandreimagineproducts,services,andvaluechainsforacircularfuture.Shiftingprofitpoolsprovidecriticalcontextfordevelopingacircularstrategyandforsequencingfutureinvestmentsbasedonsignposts.NewsourcesofvalueHowcanleadershipteamslearntothinkabouttheirbusinesswithacircularmindsetwhenmostexecutiveshavespentdecadesoptimizinglinearsupplychains?Themosteffectiveapproachistoviewcircularityasthefoundationoflong-termvaluecreationaswellasashort-termbusinessgoal.Leadingcompaniesarechangingtheirmindsetbyimaginingtheirindustryascircular15to20years1StrategyinaCircularWorldFigure1:CircularoperationsmodelsandbusinessmodelscanhelpcompaniesgetbeyondexperimentationCurrentfocusofmostcompaniesAdditionalfocusrequiredReduceRegenerateReuseandRecoveryAnythingrepurposeservicesas-a-servicemodelsTransformTransformmaterialbusinessmodelsmodelsRecycleRepairEnablingCircularservicesmarketplacesRemanufactureandrefurbishSource:Bain&CompanyFigure2:Corporatecircularityinitiativesfocusmainlyonrecyclingandwastemanagement100%CompanieswithcircularitycommitmentsTypesofcircularitycommitmentsNocommitmentsClosedloop5%25%Sustainableinputs10%WithonlyemissionscommitmentsPlasticuse10%20%Reductionofinputs15%WithcircularitycommitmentsRecycledwaste10%55%Relativewastereduction5%Absolutewastereduction20%Recycledorrecyclableinputs25%OthercircularitycommitmentsCircularitycommitmentsrelatedtorecyclingandwastemanagementSource:CompanyreportsandBainanalysis2StrategyinaCircularWorldfromnow.Thatallowsthemtodevelopnewstrategiesandbusinessmodelsforacircularworldandlaunchconcreteactionstodaythataresteppingstonestothefuture.Macroeconomictrendsincludingscarcityofrawmaterials,tradetensions,environmentalregulations,andglobalsupplychaindisruptionsalsoarepromptingleadershipteamstopursuecircularsolutionswithclosedmaterialloops.Inthefuture,companieswilldesignproductsforlongevity,sellproductsasaservice,andbuildonthesharingeconomy.Thesenewbusinessmodelscanboostinnovation,generatenewsourcesofrevenue,andreducecosts.Theywillalsohelpfirmsmanagematerialscarcityandincreasesupplychainresilience(seeFigure3).Leadershipteamsthatanticipatecirculardisruptionwillgainasignificantfirst-moveradvantage.Byinvestingearly,theywillbeabletoinfluencehowprofitpoolsshiftandshapethemtotheiradvantage.Forexample,companiesinvestinginrecyclablePET(polyethyleneterephthalate)bottlesalsoareinvestinginrecyclinginfrastructuretoimprovetheiraccesstocircularfeedstock.Quickerandcheaperaccesstosuchfeedstockswillgivecompaniesanedgeinacircularindustry.Threesourcesofcircularvaluecanhelpexecutivesassessacompany’sefficiencyinusingvirginmaterialsandaproduct’scircularperformance:thevirginmaterialconsumptionrate(relativetototalinputs),productlifespan,andproductcapacityutilization.TheseelementshavebeenwidelyFigure3:CircularbusinessmodelscandelivereconomicbenefitsResourceNextgenerationNewEconomicEnvironmentalefficiencyresilienceconsumersgrowthsustainability28%66%10x$4.5T39%lowermaterialuseoffirmswithcircularhigherrevenuegrowthofpotentialofgreenhouseincircularsupplystrategiesdidnotfaceforinsurgentbrandseconomicgrowthgasemissionschains,decreasingsupplychainissuesscoringhighestonifbusinessescanbecutbydependenceonduetothepandemic...sustainabilitycomparedswitchtoacircularadoptingcircularscarceresourceswithtraditionalbrandsbusinessmodelpractices...vs2%forothersSources:CircleEconomy,TheCircularityGapReport(2021);CircularFlandersandVITOresiliencesurvey,2020,(n=540);BainElementsofValueconsumersurvey,2021(n=8,303);WorldEconomicForum,TheWorldNeedsaCircularEconomy(2020)3StrategyinaCircularWorldusedinenvironmental,social,andgovernance(ESG)researchandreflectageneralizedformoftheKayaidentityequation.Thethreesourcesofcircularvaluealsorepresenttheareasofgreatestpotentialprofitpoolgrowth—anoptimumstartingpointforbuildingacircularstrategy.Companiesmakingdisposableorshort-lifeproducts,suchasplasticbottles,orproductscontainingscarcematerials,suchassmartphones,cancreatecircularvaluebyreducingtheuseofvirginmaterialsandensuringrawmaterialsarerecycledattheendoftheproductlifespan.Forexample,severalfast-fashioncompaniesareinvestinginnewregenerativeandrecyclablefibersandfabricstoachievethesegoals.Companiesthataimtoreducevirginresourceconsumptionmayfindgrowthopportunitiesinreverselogisticsandinfrastructurebusinessesorsupplyingcircularfeedstock.Companiesmakingdisposableorshort-lifeproducts,suchasplasticbottles,orproductscontainingscarcematerials,suchassmartphones,cancreatecircularvaluebyreducingtheuseofvirginmaterialsandensuringrawmaterialsarerecycledattheendoftheproductlifespan.TheCoca-ColaCompanypartneredwithlocalbottlerecyclersandpeoplecollectingwasteinMexicotocreateaclosed-loopecosystemforrecycledPET.Coca-Colaanditspartnersinvestedincriticaltechnologiesforextrudinganddecontaminatingplasticsousedbottlescanbeeasilyreused.ThatworkenabledCoca-Colatolauncha100%recycledPETbottleforitswaterbrandCiel.Leadersarealsoapplyingcircularstrategiestoproductscontainingscarceresources.Apple,forexample,developeddisassemblyrobotstorecoverscarcematerialslikegold,cobalt,tungsten,andrareearthelementsfromusediPhonesandotherproducts.ThecompanyredeploysthecollectedmaterialsinAppleproductsorsellsthemtoothermanufacturers.By2025,Appleaimstouse100%recycledrareearthelementsinallthemagnetsinitsdevices.Extendingaproduct’slifespanisaneffectivestrategyforhigh-valuepremiumproductsthatarebothdurableandeasytodisassemble.Forinstance,Michelinisdevelopingatireretreadbusinessandtire-basedservices.Itplanstoofferfleetmanagementcompaniesretreadtireswitharangeofservicesincludingon-sitemanagerstoperformhealth,safety,andmaintenancechecks.SchneiderElectrichasusedamodulardesignprocesstocreateAltivarprocessdrivesthatcanberefurbished,upgraded,reused,andrecycledattheendofthefirstlifecycle.AccordingtoSchneider,4StrategyinaCircularWorldthemodulardesignincreasesthelifespanoftheproductupto20years.Longerproductlifespans,inturn,willexpandprofitpoolsforspecializeddesignfirms,secondarymarketplaces,andproductauthenticationtechnologies.Companiesthatmakehigh-valueproductsthatrequirefastupgrades(orhaveshortlifespans)canincreaseproductutilizationbyexploringdifferentuses,salesmodels,andbusinessmodels.Increasingproductutilizationcancreategrowthinenablingservicesandplatforms,reverselogisticsandinfrastructure,andservice-and-leasingmodels.DellAPEX,forinstance,offerscustomizedpackagesofhardware,software,andcloudstorageasasubscriptionservice.Dellsaystheprogramgeneratescostsavings,digitalresilience,andefficiencyforthefirmanditscustomers.ArecentstudybyIDCfoundAPEXcustomers’three-yearcostofoperationsdeclinedbyasmuchas39%.SpottheinflectionpointsAkeychallengeisdeterminingwhentoimplementacircularstrategy.Successfulcompaniesanticipatechangestoprofitpoolsandtypicallyinvestaheadofthecompetition,buttheyarealsocarefulnottoinvesttooearly.Togetthetimingright,theseleadersmonitorinflectionpointssuchasdecliningunitproductioncostsandnewregulations,aswellaschangesinconsumerandcustomerbehavior.Suchsignalscanindicateanaccelerationintheshifttocircularity.Forward-lookingexecutivesalsowatchforthedevelopmentofinfrastructuretosupportcircularindustries.Companiesthattrackproductioncostsandadoptionrates,forexample,willbeinabetterpositiontopredictwhencircularmodelsareripeforscaling.Companiesthattrackproductioncostsandadoptionrates,forexample,willbeinabetterpositiontopredictwhencircularmodelsareripeforscaling.Thesefirmswillamongthefirsttoidentifytheinflectionpointswhennewcircularproductsandsolutionsarepoisedtobecomeprofitableandwidelyadopted.Toidentifyinflectionpointsaheadofthecompetition,leaderstracktheexperiencecurve(e-curve)ofnewcircularsolutions.E-curvesshowhowunitproductioncostsdeclinerelativetoincreasedproductionvolume.Companiescanusee-curvestoforecastwhencircularsolutions’productioncostswillreachparitywiththoseoflegacyproductsandservices.5StrategyinaCircularWorldE-curvescanevolveintwoways.Inthefirstscenario,circularsolutionsreachcostparitywithlegacyproducts,acceleratingadoption.Forexample,astheinfrastructuretocollectandsortrecycledPETgrows,thecosttoproducebottleswithrecycledPETnearlymatchesthecostofmanufacturingbottlesusingvirginPET.ThatencouragesconsumerpackagingcompaniestoincreasetheiruseofrecycledPET.Leadersinthesemarketswillseektomovedownthecostcurvefasterbypricinglowtoincreaseadoption.Inthesecondscenario,circularsubstitutescostmorethanlegacyproductsevenaftertheyreachlarge-scaledistribution.Tostimulateadoption,stakeholders(includinggovernments)willneedtoincorporatethecostofexternalfactorssuchastaxesoncarbonemissionsinlegacyproductstohighlightcostparity.Excessivewastelikesingle-useplasticscanbebannedortaxed.Governmentsalsocancreateincentivestousesustainableresourcessuchasgreenaluminumthroughsubsidiesandrebates.Inadditiontoe-curves,leadersalsomonitortheadoptioncurve(s-curve)ofcircularsolutions.S-curvesindicatethelikelihoodandtrajectoryofcustomeradoption.Keysignpostsincludeconsumerawarenessofthecircularalternative,theexistenceofsupportinginfrastructureforcircularservices,availabilityofabroadportfolioofcircularofferings,andcustomers’willingnesstochangebehavior.Forexample,intheelectricvehicleindustry,keysignpostsofconsumeracceptanceincludeOEMs’growingportfolioofelectricmodelsandthedevelopmentofcharginginfrastructure.Identifyinginflectionpointsaheadofthecompetitionallowsleaderstoscaleproductionattherighttimeanddefinethecircularbusinessmodelfortheirvaluechains.Itcanalsohelpincumbentsstayastepaheadofcircularinsurgents—akeyconcernforexecutivesdevelopingcircularstrategies.ChangingmarketdynamicsCompaniesattheforefrontofthecircularityshifthavebegunidentifyingandinvestinginthenewstructuresandprocessesrequiredtoreplacelinearbusinessmodels.Asthesenewmarketdynamicsdevelop,industrieswillbeabletogocircularatafasterpace.Importantly,thedynamicsofcircularitywillalsoshiftprofitpools,negotiatingpower,andsourcesofcontrolthroughoutthevaluechain,creatingnewwinnersandlosers.Importantly,thedynamicsofcircularitywillalsoshiftprofitpools,negotiatingpower,andsourcesofcontrolthroughoutthevaluechain,creatingnewwinnersandlosers.Atruckcompanythatshifts6StrategyinaCircularWorldtoaleasingmodel,forexample,willgaincontrolovervehiclesinthemiddleandattheendoftheirlifespan,whiledealersandserviceproviderslosecontroloverthosepartsofthevaluechain.Eachofthethreebasicsourcesofcircularvaluerequiredifferentstructuresandprocessestobecost-effectivewhendeployedindustrywide.Companieslookingtosignificantlyreducetheuseofvirginmaterials,forexample,willneedsteadyaccesstorecycledfeedstockmaterials.Somewilldeveloptheirownrecyclinginfrastructurewhileotherswillenterpartnerships.Companiesthatdevelopstrategiestodecreasetheuseofvirginmaterialswillalsooverhaultheirdesignprocesstomakerecyclableproducts.Thosethatleadtheshifttorecyclableproductsorprocesseswillhaveacompetitiveedgeasindustriesgocircular.Companiesseekingtosignificantlyextendaproduct’slifespanwilladapttheirbusinessmodelstoengagecustomersafterproductpurchase.Oneoptionistodevelopmodulardesignsthatallowcustomerstomakeeasyupgradesovertime.Cloudserviceproviders,forexample,areaskingequipmentmakerstodesignmodularserverssocomponentscanbereplacedmoreeasily.Companieslookingtoincreaseproductlifespansalsowilldevelopeconomicalrepairoptions,includingright-to-repairguarantees.Toachieveasubstantialincreaseinproductutilization,entireindustriesmayshifttoproduct-as-a-servicebusinessmodels,leadingtochangesinassetownershipandnewfinancingstructures.TechnologyOEMsthatdecidetoleasehardwareinsteadofsellingit,forinstance,willrequiremorecapitaltosupportbiggerbalancesheets.Companiesleadingtheshifttocircularindustrieswilldevelopstrongpartnerecosystemstoimproveaccesstovitalassetsandcapabilities.Thesepartnershipswillexistwithinandoutsideofacompany’svaluechain.Forexample,authorizedtreatmentfacilities(ATFs)suchasscrapyardsareavitalmarketstructureforautoOEMsseekingrecycledcontentandremanufacturedcomponents.LargeATFsintheEuropeanUnioncurrentlycompetefora€150millionprofitpool,whichisforecasttodoubleto€300millionby2030.ManufacturerscanpartnerwithATFstoremanufactureandrefurbishcomponentsfornewcarsandbenefitfromarapidlygrowingmarket.Cross-industrycommunitiessuchastheCircularTransformationofIndustrieslaunchedbyBain&CompanyandtheWorldEconomicForumarehelpingcompaniesexpandtheircircularecosystems.Thesecommunitiesleveragetheexpertiseandnegotiatingpowerofmultiplevaluechainstodevelopthetechnologies,operatingmodels,andpoliciesneededforacirculareconomy.Overthenextdecade,theshifttoacirculareconomywillreconfigureprofitpoolsinalmosteveryindustry.Firstmoverswillgainvaluablecompetitiveadvantagebyenvisioningthechangeaheadofothercompanies,developingacircularstrategy,andrapidlylaunchingcircularbusinessmodelswhentheturningpointcomes.7StrategyinaCircularWorldAsboardsconsidertheshifttocircularbusinessmodels,afewkeyquestionscanhelpfocusthediscussion:•Howwillyourstrategyandoperationsneedtochangeasyoutransitionfromalinearmodeltoacircularone?•Wherecanacircularapproachcreatevalueforthebusiness,suchasnewcustomers,newsourcesofrevenue,improvedsupplychainresilience,oraccesstoscarcesupplyofrawmaterials?•Howiscircularitylikelytoevolveinyourvaluechain,andwhatinflectionpointswillsignalchange?•Wherecanyoustartcollaboratingwithpotentialpartnersinthebroaderecosystem?8userid:73968,docid:142102,date:2023-10-10,sgpjbg.comBoldideas.Boldteams.Extraordinaryresults.Bain&Companyisaglobalconsultancythathelpstheworld’smostambitiouschangemakersdefinethefuture.Across65citiesin40countries,weworkalongsideourclientsasoneteamwithasharedambitiontoachieveextraordinaryresults,outperformthecompetition,andredefineindustries.Wecomplementourtailored,integratedexpertisewithavibrantecosystemofdigitalinnovatorstodeliverbetter,faster,andmoreenduringoutcomes.Our10-yearcommitmenttoinvestmorethan$1billioninprobonoservicesbringsourtalent,expertise,andinsighttoorganizationstacklingtoday’surgentchallengesineducation,racialequity,socialjustice,economicdevelopment,andtheenvironment.WeearnedaplatinumratingfromEcoVadis,theleadingplatformforenvironmental,social,andethicalperformanceratingsforglobalsupplychains,puttingusinthetop1%ofallcompanies.Sinceourfoundingin1973,wehavemeasuredoursuccessbythesuccessofourclients,andweproudlymaintainthehighestlevelofclientadvocacyintheindustry.Formoreinformation,visitwww.bain.com