CIRCULÆR - Learning as a tool for faster development of better, sustainable products

CIRCULÆR promises to enable Norwegian industry to tackle economic and environmental challenges by combining lean thinking with circular economy (CE) principles. The European Green Deal defines the EU's environmental strategy and CE plan to halve waste by 2030. Following this notion, Norway’s’ environmental policy brings to focus that its industries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize harmful discharges to water and increase energy efficiency. As such, Norwegian industry must embark on the transition to zero- / low-emission solutions, while simultaneously advancing beyond the dominant linear economy, to remain competitive. For Norwegian companies, this transition requires new skills and capabilities throughout the organization. A core Lean insight is to replace instructions with challenges and problem solving – to engage and educate people rather than control them. As such, the underpinning idea and motivation for this project is to encourage and help organizations to discover and learn new ways of realizing opportunities for circularity throughout their entire product portfolio.