Material Matters: Developing Business for a Circular Economy

The book "Material Matters" proposes a new economic model that moves away from the linear "take-make-waste" economy towards a circular economy using renewable energy, data, and intelligence. It advocates for circular business models, designing products and buildings as resource banks, and equipping products with a "material passport" to ensure their usability for future generations. The book offers a concrete and comprehensive agenda for change, providing perspectives for businesses and individual consumers to take action.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Our planet, a closed system with finite resources, faces a pressing challenge: our current economic model, driven solely by resource extraction and disposal, is leading to the depletion of these precious resources. In response, this book presents a groundbreaking new economic model, offering an alternative to the linear 'take-make-waste economy.

Material Matters takes readers on a transformative journey toward a circular economy, harnessing the boundless resources at our disposal: renewable energy, data, and intelligence. It unveils a system rooted in circular business models, focusing on selling performance rather than ownership, designing products and buildings as resource banks, and equipping them with a 'material passport' to guarantee their usability for future generations.

In this paradigm shift, businesses assume the role of material custodians, responsible for the stewardship of resources rather than mere consumers and sellers of products. The book weaves a compelling narrative, backed by real-world cases developed in collaboration with major companies, such as Philips' decision to sell light instead of lamps, resulting in significant energy and material savings through the creation of a new, sustainable business model. This iconic case has become a symbol of the circular economy's potential.

Rather than presenting a bleak assessment of our planet's condition, Material Matters offers a concrete and comprehensive agenda for change, providing insights and strategies for both business and individual consumers to take action. It encourages a shift towards sustainable practices, resource efficiency, and circular thinking, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future.

By embracing the principles outlined in Material Matters, we can redefine our relationship with resources, preserving them for generations to come. Let us embark on this transformative journey and build a more sustainable and prosperous world for all.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 157 x 233 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032193274