Ed Weenk - Mastering the Circular Economy: A Practical Approach to the Circular Business Model Transformation

The transition to a circular economy is a do-or-die choice facing business and society. More and more companies are willing to make the journey, but still lack the necessary insight, skills and tools to succeed. Mastering the Circular Economyis a must-have guidebook for transforming business into a proactive force for good. This vital book by Rozanne Henzen and Ed Weenk will broaden your perspective on the circular economy, deepen your knowledge and raise your aspirations to do more and better. The chapters weave together important concepts and best-practice examples, while offering helpful tools to turn ideas into reality. This book gives vital clues to how we can and must avoid overshoot and collapse in nature, society and the economy. I highly recommend it.

Wayne Visser, presenter of Closing the Loop, the worlds first feature-length documentary on the circular economy; holder of the Chair in Sustainable Transformation at Antwerp Management School; Fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Here are my two suggestions on how to enjoy this very practical and at the same time rigorous book: either as a perfect complement to the Blue Connection business simulation game (my favourite option!) to design a whole course around these two clear and powerful teaching tools and get the most out of them, or as a source of inspiration for a multitude of mini-cases and exercises to have a hands-on learning experience on the circular economy.

Valentina Carbone, Professor, Scientific Co-director of the Circular Economy Chair, ESCP - Paris Campus, France

Hands-on and engaging writing style with a brilliant structure where the reader is taken on the journey from idea to practice, and towards envisioning the future. Truly recommendable!

Desire Knoppen, Head of Academic Department. Associate Professor of Circular Economy and Supply Chain Management, EADA Business School. Barcelona, Spain

At last: supply chain featured prominently in Mastering the Circular Economy! Operationalizing the circular economy poses a great challenge across our industry and profession: this book gives a solid foundation to grasping the importance of supply chain as we transition our operations, business models, and economies towards circularity.

Deborah Dull, Founder, Circular Supply Chain Network , USA

Mastering the Circular Economyis a very timely and appealing book for multiple reasons. First and foremost the transition from traditional linear models to circular ones is of course a major societal and business challenge. Second, the book contains numerous relevant practical examples and exercises, with a prominent role for the Blue Connection simulation game. Third, the book provides a truly integrated learning approach, hence facilitating an experiential learning journey. And finally, this learning experience is supported by numerous inspiring illustrations. My favourite? It is difficult to make a choice, but I would opt for , The T-shaped supply chain manager. This picture elegantly captures the complexity of the circular economy challenge, starting already in primary education. So, in the spirit of the Blue Connection simulation: Game on!

Bart Vos, Professor of Supply Chain Innovation and Scientific Director, Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI), Maastricht University, Netherlands

Mastering the Circular Economyis an engaging and hands-on approach to applying the concepts of circularity to business practices and developing the leadership competencies to drive organizational transformation. It gives clarity where we tend to see complexity and makes caring for our people, our organizations, and our environment accessible for managers worldwide. It is a must-read for purpose-driven people leading purposeful organizations.

David Dinwoodie, Centre for Creative Leadership, Spain, and co-author of Becoming a Strategic Leader: Your role in your organizations enduring success

Our current linear approach has got to change and adapt to a more mindful approach that recognises the impact our activities are having on the world. Adopting a circular approach that seeks to reduce our impacts that benefit all stakeholders is critical. One major challenge is How to transition existing linear supply chains and business to a more circular approach? Managers both current and future will need to develop their understanding of the different strategies to achieving this. The Blue Connection is a simulation that allows us to manage this transition for an electric bicycle manufacturer. It surfaces many of the challenges we will face in reality and allows us to test different solutions and approaches to understand the interactions and inherent complexities.