Resilience strategies in turbulent times - how the Circular Economy can drive efficiency and new business growth

"Business model transformation requires new operating models, metrics and ways of working.”

After spending several years at McKinsey, this episode’s guest Dr. Manuel Braun joined Systemiq, a think tank and consultancy for the circular economy and for sustainable business transformation. Manuel is a lecturer at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and an author who just published his book „The Circular Business Revolution“ in July 2024.

In this episode of the Outcome Economy Podcast Manuel and Johannes speak about:

• The principles of circular business models and a more circular economy (2:35)
• Data from the “Global Resources Outlook” on the development of world wide resource consumption and its influence on climate change (04:20)
• “Nature risk is business risk”: Why circularity is relevant for business and how this relevance has grown over the last 7 years (6:30)
• Business model transformation and the 5 different business model archetypes building on circularity, combining business cases with an environmental case (9:18)
• How circularity is applicable to most industries, explained on the examples of Hilti and several other companies (16:55)
• How circular business models and strategies require a shift in ways of working and operating models (22:00)
• Three layers of implementation to make a circular business model transformation work and circularity strategies succeed (23:00)
• Strategic top level KPIs that need to shift in order to master the transformation, with an example of Philips (26:00)
• The relevance of partnerships and ecosystem oriented strategies for this transformation (30:55)
• What else you can learn from Manuel’s book and the mission he pursues with it (33:50)

Mentioned sources and recommendations

• The Global Resources Outlook: https://www.resourcepanel.org/reports/global-resources-outlook-2024
• Manuel’s book „The Circular Business Revolution“: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Julia-Binder/dp/1292458968
• The “XaaS: Everything as a Service” Paper: https://www.systemiq.earth/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/XaaS-MainReport.pdf
• Hilti’s Fleet Management Strategy - HBS Case Study: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=52550

How to connect with Manuel

• Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/manuelbraun2016
• Mail: [email protected]