Articles

The circular economy has the ideas, the commercial logic, and growing policy support. What it still lacks is connective tissue. We spoke with David Watson, whose platform Circular Connect is working to close that gap, about the possibilities for people coming from adjacent industries, where the real tech opportunities are right now, and why more OEMs are finally doing the maths on circularity.

Nancy Rhodes built Alternew after nearly two decades designing products destined for landfill. Her AI platform embeds tailoring and repair into the fashion shopping experience, turning the moment a button pops off into a loyalty opportunity. The technology connects brands, customers and local skilled trades. The magic, as ever, is human.

Cathy Benwell's platform A Good Thing connects businesses' surplus stock to local charities. And it works beautifully. But the software was only part of the story. In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Cathy talks honestly about the human effort, the chicken-and-egg early days, and the harder questions she still sits with.

HappyPorch didn't set out to serve only circular economy companies. It happened gradually, as we noticed how well our mix of technical skill and values-driven thinking fit the specific challenges circularity presents. This piece walks through how we see the space: why circularity makes sense environmentally, socially and commercially, and where technology fits into that picture.

Recertifying as a B Corp is a moment to celebrate the progress we’ve made while staying true to our values. The process, challenges, and lessons along the way remind us that living our values is an ongoing journey.

Vibe coding has made it far easier for non-coders at Circular Economy startups to freely experiment with creating products, at a far lower cost than before. But there are several things to consider, in order to optimise the experience of and benefit from using them. 

Come explore a journey that many software teams will recognise: the challenging transition from building internal tools to creating commercial products. You'll get valuable lessons about embracing uncertainty, learning from users, and the surprising ways business pivots can unlock new opportunities.

How do you make circular rental feel as good as buying new? How can tech best enable that? These are the essential questions we explored in a frank, insightful conversation with Büsra Zanner of Wearr, an event oriented premium clothing rental company out of Germany, serving across the EU.