We have mapped several online tools, that are useful, if you start with the circularity journey within your business or want to have some tools available to support your clients as an innovation and circularity advisor.
ready2LOOP circular readiness assessment (https://ready2loop.org)
This tool is being developed by Technical University of Denmark. The holistic tool helps define seven key Value Chain layers for manufacturing companies to make a successful transition to Circular Economy. Application is also possible to other types of companies, like logistics providers, product retailers, maintenance & repair services and value recovery companies.
The 30-45 min. Circular Readiness Assessment will be followed up by company profile analysis with prioritization suggestions (Action Plan). A library of 100+ transition tools will support the action plan/roadmap implementation. The approach emphasizes importance of building the value chain partnerships for circularity.
Certification is needed to become a ready2LOOP consultant.
Circular Economy Toolkit (http://circulareconomytoolkit.org)
Circular Economy Toolkit, developed already in 2013 at the University of Cambridge by Jamie Evans, provides free, open-source materials to help create sustainable products, services and business models. The website provides a 5 Minute Assessment Tool, which analyses SMEs product/service and gives guidance on 7 potential improvement areas according to opportunity and feasibility.
Additionally, tools are available to start ideation workshops with the SMEs to improve the key areas for circularity. The toolkit is a bit outdated in terms of the user interface, but the content is still highly relevant and usable for both SMEs as business advisors and other facilitators.
Circular Economy Business Models Toolkit developed by R2PI project in 2019
R2PI project, funded by Horizon2020 program, was carried out 2016-2019. As the website is not available any more, toolkit with canvases, templates and questionnaires used can be accessed via project publications, e.g. the case study reports (search: r2piproject in scholar.google.com).
As a basis for circularity assessment, the toolkit uses circular business model patterns (see figure below), presenting the different steps of products’ life-cycle from production to consumption and end-of-life. It is presented in a circular way to illustrate the possibilities of creating circular business model by connecting products’ end-of-life to the production of new products. The individual business analysis is carried out in different stages with specific tools utilized as needed, e.g. business model and value proposition canvas, business context analysis tool, circularity questionnaire, strengths and weaknesses analysis, etc.
R2PI project use cases publications (search: r2piproject in scholar.google.com, if links do not work):
Other online tools and guidelines:
| # | Tool | Link | Tool developer/provider | Description |
| 1 | Circular Pathfinder | https://www.ideal-co.nl/pathfinder/ | IDEAL&CO | Ideation tool. Based on the best practices of other companies, to explore and identify the most suitable circular pathways for their products by answering a few questions. Outcome: general advice. |
| 2 | Moveco Checklist | https://danube-goes-circular.eu/sites/default/files/uploaded%20Innovation%20Tools/MOVECO_1_CHECKLIST_FINAL.pdf | Interreg Danube Region MOVECO project | 50 questions, 5 categories. Checklist with questions and fact sheets to support SMEs • to increase their know-how on circular thinking • to identify their status quo regarding CiE • to ask themselves the right questions • to get an extensive list of supporting tools. |
| 3 | Toolbox from Circular Economy playbook | https://teknologiateollisuus.fi/circular-economy-playbook | Sitra, Technology Industries of Finland and Accenture Strategy | Excellent overview of Circular Economy and linked tools incl.: 2 tools to identify the most relevant circular business models: business model development toolkit, value case tool 1 capability maturity assesssment tool to understand the starting point and areas to develop 1 technology maturity assessment tool to prioritise technologies to focus on Set of tools to get started with the circular transformation journey (cultural gap, ecosystem identification partner, funding requirement analysis, roadmap development). |
| 4 | Circularity Deck | https://www.circularitydeck.com | Jan Konietzko | Facilitated brainstorming tool for creation of new circular business innovations. Miro board version available. |
| 5 | Circular Design Guide | https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-design-guide/resources | Ellen MacArthur Foundation and IDEO | The guide lines up a number of activities to help to understand, define, make and release circular innovations. Many good worksheets to discover CE opportunities. |
| 6 | Circularity assessment | https://cat.ganbatte.world/ | Circle Economy Foundation | Good tool for client uptake for circularity advisors. Easy to use and short. Examples/case studies within key topics. |
| 7 | Circular Canvas | https://circulab.academy/circular-economy-tools/ | Circulab Academy | Several canvases (value chain canvas, business model canvas) to help organizations rethink their business model or projets and create long lasting impacts. Embraces systems thinking to find a balance between economic viability, the ecosystem and sustainability. 2nd level assessment tool for interested companies, but training is needed for users. |
| 8 | Circularity measurement tool in French | https://eenmaturitecirculaire.evalandgo.com/form/364943/s/?id=JTk5cCU5OHElOUUlQUM%3D&a=JTk3byU5NXElOUElQUM%3D | EEN Méditerranée | Free tool used by French partner in Up2Circ, currently in French, but can be translated to different languages. Provides spider graphs on key topics. Assessment divided in different sections: – challenges and ambition – internal organisation – business model – product and service design |