Circular Economy

The switch from selling products to offering product-as-a-service has transformed industries, from music to mobility. For the latest installment of our Circular Economy podcast series, Dave Mackerness from Kaer reveals how the company is disrupting the world of air conditioning, improving efficiency and folding sustainability goals into the bottom line. 

What do you do with that old laptop, kettle or toaster you no longer need? As it stands, your options are limited: throw it in the bin, take it to the tip, arrange a donation to a local charity shop, or hide it away and deal with it later.

The Earth is a closed system: Nothing comes in and nothing goes out. Everything we have is a limited edition. Yet our economic system sees resources as infinite, and so treats certain material as waste.

Behind the scenes at businesses large and small, a paradigm shift is quietly taking place. The very concept of waste is being redefined, with materials of all kinds being given new life, in turn saving carbon emissions, preserving natural resources and boosting companies’ bottom lines.

Driven by the dovetailing demands of conscious consumers, tighter regulations and internal sustainability goals, companies of all kinds are striving to make their supply chains more transparent. 

What happens when you throw something in the recycling bin? The fact that we don’t know, and that there’s no way to find out, renders it an act of blind faith.

For the second podcast in our podcast series exploring the role of tech in driving forward the circular economy, we chatted to Lieke van Kerkhoven. Lieke is co-founder of Floow2, a dynamic asset-sharing marketplace built around the principles of circularity.

The circular economy holds vast potential for businesses, helping them to add value, save money, connect with customers and stand out from the competition.