‘No waste’ is becoming the new normal. Trash is no longer acceptable. Managing residue flows responsibly is not just good for the planet but also for the bottom line too.

#7

Technological innovation is going to create entire new markets and radically alter existing ones. Waste processing will become more important than ever and no enterprise will be able to do without material flow analysis.

#8

Measuring is knowing. Modern information technology allows us to map out the entire chain. Which is necessary, because problems can only be solved through careful analysis.

#9

Circularity is essentially hopeful and optimistic. Enterprises whose work focuses on solutions and who take a slightly idealistic approach, will be more highly appreciated than companies that emphasize the severity of the problem. Once solutions are found, we should celebrate that and get on with implementing them.

#12

Idealism is great, but realism remains a prerequisite. An enterprise that strives for 100% circularity and goes under, has a smaller impact than an enterprise that starts out with 70% circularity and innovates further from that position.

#11

However, value is not always quantifiable. Economic and ecological impacts are certainly important, but enterprises should also look at the intangible value they add to society. Within the circular framework, social, esthetic, and emotional impacts are equally essential.

#10

Disparate disciplines are becoming more interconnected than ever. Design and architecture are just as essential as ingredients and waste processing. In a circular system everything is interconnected and nothing functions separately from anything else. 

#4

Value creation is key. Every aspect of a successful circular concept must have a destination. We have to extract the maximum possible from every component, both financially and ecologically.

#6

It’s time for radical transparency. Not only partners, but also consumers expect complete transparency about a company’s circular aspects. So it’s important for companies to be able to give an account of their activities.

#5

Disparate disciplines are becoming more interconnected than ever. Design and architecture are just as essential as ingredients and waste processing. In a circular system everything is interconnected and nothing functions separately from anything else. 

#4

Partnerships are essential. Having close links with suppliers and producers is becoming the new norm. The problem is too big to solve in your own, so don’t try to.

#3

Keep the chain short. A shorter chain enables better oversight and more efficient management. Consumers prefer the story behind what’s on their plate to be close to home.

#2

Circularity is not the same as sustainability. Circular enterprise requires a sometimes radically different mindset, which takes account of the entire chain.

#1

Source: Nederland Circulair

10 R’s of circularity

retrieve energy from the materials

Recover

use products for completely different applications

Repurpose

process and reuse materials

Recycle

make new products from old products

Remanufacture

maintain and reuse materials

Repair

restore products for reuse

Refurbish

redesign with circularity in mind

Redesign

use materials again

Reduce

use materials again

Reuse

prevent usage

Refuse

Jelle Steenbergen & Frank Lindner   Sander van der Meij

If we follow through on the circularity trend, then
it will have the following twelve implications for the world of food:

Circularity is not sustainability 2.0, but rather a new approach to do business. With its own challenges. Everything, from furniture to dishwater, has a destination. Circularity in food means a closed chain, preferably as short as possible, without any wastage.

CIRCULARITY IN FOOD
12 IMPLICATIONS

editorial

Offline: This content can only be displayed when online.

  3 min

Offline: This content can only be displayed when online.

If we follow through on the circularity trend, then
it will have the following twelve implications for the world of food:

Circularity is essentially hopeful and optimistic. Enterprises whose work focuses on solutions and who take a slightly idealistic approach, will be more highly appreciated than companies that emphasize the severity of the problem. Once solutions are found, we should celebrate that and get on with implementing them.

#12

Idealism is great, but realism remains a prerequisite. An enterprise that strives for 100% circularity and goes under, has a smaller impact than an enterprise that starts out with 70% circularity and innovates further from that position.

#11

However, value is not always quantifiable. Economic and ecological impacts are certainly important, but enterprises should also look at the intangible value they add to society. Within the circular framework, social, esthetic, and emotional impacts are equally essential.

#10

Measuring is knowing. Modern information technology allows us to map out the entire chain. Which is necessary, because problems can only be solved through careful analysis.

#9

Technological innovation is going to create entire new markets and radically alter existing ones. Waste processing will become more important than ever and no enterprise will be able to do without material flow analysis.

#8

‘No waste’ is becoming the new normal. Trash is no longer acceptable. Managing residue flows responsibly is not just good for the planet but also for the bottom line too.

#7

Value creation is key. Every aspect of a successful circular concept must have a destination. We have to extract the maximum possible from every component, both financially and ecologically.

#6

It’s time for radical transparency. Not only partners, but also consumers expect complete transparency about a company’s circular aspects. So it’s important for companies to be able to give an account of their activities.

#5

Disparate disciplines are becoming more interconnected than ever. Design and architecture are just as essential as ingredients and waste processing. In a circular system everything is interconnected and nothing functions separately from anything else. 

#4

Partnerships are essential. Having close links with suppliers and producers is becoming the new norm. The problem is too big to solve in your own, so don’t try to.

#3

Keep the chain short. A shorter chain enables better oversight and more efficient management. Consumers prefer the story behind what’s on their plate to be close to home.

#2

Circularity is not the same as sustainability. Circular enterprise requires a sometimes radically different mindset, which takes account of the entire chain.

#1

Source: Nederland Circulair

10 R’s of circularity

retrieve energy from the materials

Recover

use products for completely different applications

Repurpose

make new products from old products

Remanufacture

process and reuse materials

Recycle

maintain and reuse materials

Repair

restore products for reuse

Refurbish

redesign with circularity in mind

Redesign

use materials again

Reduce

use materials again

Reuse

prevent usage

Refuse

Jelle Steenbergen & Frank Lindner   Sander van der Meij

Circularity is not sustainability 2.0, but rather a new approach to do business. With its own challenges. Everything, from furniture to dishwater, has a destination. Circularity in food means a closed chain, preferably as short as possible, without any wastage.

CIRCULARITY IN FOOD
12 IMPLICATIONS

  3 min

Overview magazines

Food Inspiration Magazine is the online magazine for foodservice professionals in search of inspiration and innovation. With the magazine we collect, enrich and spread inspiration. The free subscription magazine is published eight times per year and is an abundant source of inspiration for food and hospitality professionals. Our readers can be found in the U.S., Northern Europe, Latin America and Asia.
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