The Circular Strategy Scanner
Become inspired with a comprehensive overview of CE strategies.
BEGIN WORKING WITH TOOL
Want to download tools freely?
Click the button and assess your company to access all the tools and to get a customised transition path and tools just for you.

What is the tool about?
Use the framework to gain a comprehensive understanding of circular strategies and map current initiatives and future opportunities. The Circular Strategies Scanner is a framework developed as a contribution to circular economy transition methodology. The scanner provides a taxonomy of circular strategies for manufacturing companies engaging with circular economy integration and it serves to:
1) Create a comprehensive understanding of circular strategies
2) Map current CE initiatives
3) Generate ideas for increased circularity.
The Circular Strategies Scanner can be used in a workshop or similar to describe the circular strategies currently applied for a product or service while aligning perceptions throughout the organisation. Subsequently this mapping can be used as the starting point for a scanning of new opportunities to enhance or append additional CE strategies, thereby support the formulation of shared vision for circular oriented innovation.
The tool has been developed with manufacturing companies participating in the CIRCit project, specifically to establish a clear vision as part of the action research to set a direction for the further work with the companies.
The valuable outcome
Comprehensive understanding of circular strategies.
Mapping of current CE initiatives
Idea generation of CE strategies.
Relevant Value Chain Layers and their Dimensions
Preparation for use
It is recommended that the facilitator read and understands the article and the Circular Strategies Scanner prior to the workshop as is provides a good portion of terminology, that you need to undestand to get the full value from the exercise.
Preparation Time: 1-2 hour
Competencies involved: Business development, business innovation, sector-specific knowlege, technology, life cycle thinking,
Tool kit: Print either one big A0 of the scanner or two copies of the downloadable canvas in A3for each group. Bring pens and post-its in two colours.
The steps to take
In the workshop do the following steps...
Step 1: Start by presenting the Circular Strategies Scanner and its different sections. (15 minutes)
Step 2: Do a silent brainstorm for five minutes on your current initiatives to get started. Collect and map the different perspectives of your company on Circular Economy to understand the ways in which your company is already circular. This can be done using post-its and apply them on the first printout of the Circular Strategies Scanner. (30 minutes)
Step 3: On the second printout of the Circular Strategies Scanner or with another colour of post-its in the A0, identify the strategies that you could improve on, and the strategies that represent untapped opportunities. Do a silent brainstorm for five minutes on how you might create initiatives in your business based on these (30-60 minutes)
Step 4: Compare, consolidate, discuss and prioritise these to set the scope going forward. This can be done by dot-voting or by useing our 'Prioritization matrix' (30 minutes)
Setting: Workshop
Total co-creation time: 2-3 hours
Keywords
circular strategies framework; closed loop; resource productivity; manufacturing companies; innovation
Source article
Title: Developing a circular strategies framework for manufacturing companies to support circular economy-oriented innovation
Authored by: Fenna Blomsma, Marina Pieroni, Mariia Kravchenko, Daniela C.A. Pigosso, Jutta Hildenbrand, Anna Rùna Kristinsdottir, Eivind Kristoffersen, Sasha Shahbazi, Kjartan Due Nielsen, Anna-Karin Jönbrink, Jingyue Li, Carina Wiik, Tim C. McAloone in 2019
Journal of Cleaner Production 241 (2019) 118271
Can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bQh8mb
Readiness fit
- Not started / Understanding the potential
- Planning pilot Implementation
- Piloting initiatives
- Planning scale-up
- Scaling up initiatives / Full scale implemented
Decision level
- Strategic
- Tactical
- Operational
Participation
- Individual
- Team
Phase of transition path
- Explore strategic opportunities
- Define direction
- Develop initiative
- Evaluate & plan implementation