Our inaugural Re:Business event was a resounding success! Nearly 70 passionate changemakers gathered, united by a mission: making business a force for impact.
A Night of Insightful Conversations
Throughout the evening, attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions, sharing both their triumphs and challenges in building sustainable, impact-driven businesses. The highlight? A deep dive into Bever’s circular journey, offering key takeaways for anyone navigating the shift towards a circular economy.
Key Lessons from the Night
🔄 Design a Consumer-Driven Circular Ecosystem
Sustainability alone doesn’t sell—stories do. A well-worn pair of hiking boots isn’t just a product; it’s a memory worth preserving. Businesses must create experiences that keep products in circulation.
⚙️ “Servicization” is the Future
A true circular business isn’t just about individual products—it’s about the entire system of circular services. Some may be immediately profitable, others may not—but it’s the sum of all parts that drives real impact.
💰 Government Policies Need a Rethink
Why are secondhand products taxed the same as new ones? This double taxation raises critical questions about how policies can better support circular business models.
Circularity Trends: Key Figures subscribe the need to continue this initiative
The concept of a circular economy is gaining significant traction globally. In the Netherlands, the government has set an ambitious target to achieve a fully circular economy by 2050, with an interim goal of reducing primary raw material use by 50% by 2030. citeturn0search0
Globally, the circular economy model is projected to grow substantially, with estimates suggesting it could reach a market size of $2,882 billion by 2031, up from $696 billion in 2024. citeturn0search1
However, challenges remain. As of 2020, only 13% of the materials used in the Dutch economy were recycled, indicating that there is still considerable room for improvement in implementing circular practices.
As Christian De Jong aptly put it, doing circular business isn’t always “rozengeur en maneschijn”—but it’s a challenge worth taking on.
What’s Next?
This event was just the beginning. We’re already looking ahead to our next edition on March 13!
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💬 Were you there? Let’s keep the conversation going! Join our LinkedIn community (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13103631/ and be part of the movement shaping the future of business.
