News & Insights

Experts setting the scope

Circular consulting

Step #2

Always make sure that your circular cooperation is distinct and tangible. And that its goals are relatively easy to reach. And, when you start the collaboration process, it’s much more important to find the mutual benefits, than to try to solve all your problems at once.

In the film, you meet Louise Eriksson, Circular Design Specialist at Stena Recycling, and Jens Leffler, Sustainability Lead Wellbeing at Electrolux. Louise Eriksson tells us that it’s wise to down-scale the project to a graspable one, and not try to do too much.

– In this collaboration we chose to work with a small series of a single model of vacuum cleaner, and in a smaller geographical area. Thus, learning from the project a lot faster, so that we could get the insights and then move on in our ongoing collaboration.

Partners in insights

They both explain how the collaboration is characterized by transparency and shared expertise, both equally important for the success of the project. Jens Leffler also tells how Electrolux sees an important competitive advantage to be involved at an early stage.

– We manufacture products and market them, but then they disappear, out of our sight. We need to know more, to acquire the knowledge we get in collaboration with Stena Recycling, that handles the products at the end of their life cycle. Made from recycled materials and recycled components, this prototype is great example of these insights.

Follow the collaboration in 6 steps

Stena Circular Consulting has in partnership with Electrolux, produced a vacuum cleaner prototype. A completely recyclable prototype, that’s been put together from 100 percent reused components and recycled materials.

Let's collaborate to succeed!

Step #1 – Starting your circular business isn’t that hard. Yes, there are some challenges. And yes, you need to have a clear business target. But if you find others to collaborate with, you’ve already gotten to a good start.

Let's collaborate to succeed!

Experts setting the scope

Step #2 – Always make sure that your circular collaboration is tangible, with easy to reach-targets. In the startup part of the process, it’s more important to make sure you will find mutual benefits, than to solve all problems at once.

Experts setting the scope

Reusing components is possible

Step #3 – There are plenty of ready-to-use components in much of the electronic waste we dispose of. These components sometimes have more than 80 percent of their service life left, even if the product they were in reached its end-of-life.

Reusing components is possible

Premium circular raw material

Step #4 – Making sure that the recycled materials are high-grade enough for new use is essential. This way, they can easily replace the virgin materials, thus supporting a circular economy. And save resources for the companies involved.

Premium circular raw material

Components of 100% recycled material

Step #5 – High-quality recycled material gives high-quality new components. And helps to maintain a fully functioning manufacturing process. This ensures that the producing companies can put their brand on the products produced.

Components of 100% recycled material

Prototyping your insights

Step #6 – Developing a prototype of a circular product provides a wealth of insights. This is one of the conclusions from the Electrolux’ and Stena Recycling’s development of a 100 % recycled and recyclable vacuum cleaner. Insights that you can take to the next level.

Prototyping your insights