Circular Economy Consultancy

At Oakdene Hollins, we are circular economy consultants, offering comprehensive solutions to help businesses thrive within planetary boundaries. From strategic consulting to tailored research and analysis, we empower our clients to optimise resources, reduce waste, and unlock the full potential of the circular economy, driving business growth while safeguarding the planet.

We are at the forefront of driving the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy. Our team works with businesses, governments, and organisations to develop circular economy strategies, conduct life cycle assessments, implement waste management solutions, and optimise resource efficiency for a circular future.

What does the circular economy mean to Oakdene Hollins?

The concept of the circular economy has emerged as a transformative model that aims to redefine the traditional linear economy and address the urgent need for sustainability. It represents a fundamental shift from the "take-make-dispose" approach to a holistic, regenerative system that aims to maximise resource efficiency, minimize waste, and create long-term value.

At its core, the circular economy is based on the principles of a closed-loop system. It envisions a cycle where products, materials, and resources are used and reused, ultimately eliminating the concept of waste. Rather than considering products as finite entities with a single lifespan, the circular economy proposes a regenerative approach that allows materials and components to be continually cycled back into the economy, creating a virtuous loop of resource utilisation.
Key elements of the circular economy include:

In the circular economy, products are designed to last longer, be repairable, and modular. Durability becomes an essential consideration, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing waste generation.
The circular economy encourages the reuse of products and their components. By refurbishing and remanufacturing, products can be given a new lease on life, extending their lifespan and maximising their value.
The circular economy promotes efficient recycling systems to ensure that materials can be reclaimed and transformed into new products or materials of equal or higher quality. Recycling plays a crucial role in closing the loop and reducing the demand for virgin resources.
Transforming the way we perceive ownership, the circular economy advocates for a shift towards service-based models. Instead of owning a product outright, consumers access products or services on a "pay-per-use" basis, fostering a more sustainable consumption pattern.
The circular economy requires collaboration and cooperation across all stages of the value chain, from design and production to distribution and disposal. By establishing partnerships and sharing resources, companies can optimise resource usage and reduce waste generation collectively.

The circular economy is not just an aspirational concept; it offers tangible benefits. It can drive innovation, create new business opportunities, and generate economic growth while simultaneously minimising environmental impacts. It helps decouple economic growth from resource depletion, reducing pressure on finite resources and mitigating the environmental consequences of extraction and disposal.

By embracing the principles of the circular economy, businesses, governments, and consumers can work together to transition towards a more sustainable and regenerative system. However, achieving the full potential of the circular economy requires systemic change, supportive policies, technological advancements, and a collective commitment to transform our current linear model of consumption and production.

Ecodesign

What is Ecodesign?
Ecodesign is an approach aimed at reducing the environmental impact of products and systems throughout their lifecycle. It encompasses various principles such as minimising resource extraction, optimising energy efficiency, and promoting circular economy practices. Oakdene Hollins, a leading sustainability consultancy, specializes in ecodesign and plays a crucial role in driving sustainable innovation across industries.

Oakdene Hollins- A history of Ecodesign
At Oakdene Hollins, ecodesign is approached with the circular economy in mind, considering not just the direct environmental impacts of a product throughout its lifecycle and second uses. Oakdene Hollins works collaboratively with clients, helping them integrate and explore sustainable design and manufacturing practices for their operations. Through expertise, we identify opportunities for resource optimisation, waste reduction, and improved product performance.

Resource Efficiency

Oakdene Hollins can support private business (companies or trade associations) to improve current practices and develop/promote/motivate best practice design to reduce negative environmental impacts.

Resource efficiency is a process-focused approach to sustainably use and manage the Earth’s finite resources, through such means as reduction, looping or extending product life. Resource efficiency considers the processes involved in the entire lifecycle of a resource from those used in manufacturing, in use and during end-of-life treatment. Ensuring that we implement resource-efficient processes is vital to achieving one world living.

Resource efficiency can be addressed at both product and material levels although overlap exists. The product level efficiency considers the design of products, their use and reuse with a product-service system. Material resource efficiency refers to the productive use of components in the manufacturing process – such as plastic, steel, or wood – that contribute to the makeup of a product.

“Whatever the motivation for investigating, within the private or public sector, resource efficiency often results in cost savings and contributes to sustainability goals. We estimate that resource efficiency could deliver around £23 billion in business benefits to the UK economy.”

— Oakdene Hollins

Designing Out Waste

Designing out waste builds upon resource efficiency principles to select and utilise resources effectively at the design stage to reduce the content of wasted material. This method is much more design-focused than typical resource efficiency approaches which are process-focused. Designing out waste requires planning and awareness at the design level such that decisions made before the building/manufacturing stage of a product have minimal downstream impacts. These considerations are crucial as the upstream choices impact most significantly on the whole product lifecycle.

Governments and businesses are waking up to the idea that there needs to be more consideration given to this area. To kickstart efforts, we suggest prioritising three core tactics for designing out waste: reducing waste (efficient processes), integration of circular practices (rethinking the product and service to eliminate material needs) and ecodesign (designing out waste).