12 Quick-Win Circular Economy Tactics to Start Changing Your Business in 2025

Thinking

By Larissa Scherrer de Quadros

9 January, 2025

The start of a new year is always filled with big goals, fresh plans, and ambitious ideas.

But let’s be real: most big sustainability plans don’t get off the ground until well into the year, or when it’s time to comply reports.

Why? Because we overcomplicate things.

We’re not saying that the circular economy is easy to implement. But, instead of starting with the quick wins, we see many businesses trying to dive headfirst into massive system overhauls, only to lose steam halfway through.

But what if you could get a head start in 2025 without feeling overwhelmed?

What if there were some easy, actionable circular economy tactics you could start implementing right now?

That’s exactly what we’re diving into: 12 low-hanging fruit circular economy tactics to get your business on a more sustainable track before the new year even begins.

These are the kind of quick wins that not only reduce waste and costs but also set the foundation for long-term sustainability success.

Audit Your Waste Streams:

Understanding what you’re throwing away is your first step to circular success. Start with:

Document all waste streams in your operations

Identify the top 3 waste sources by volume or cost

Look for immediate opportunities to reduce or repurpose these materials

Set up simple measurement systems to track improvements

Implement a Take-Back Program:

Turn waste into opportunity by starting small:

Choose one product line for a pilot program

Set up a simple return system for customers

Offer incentives like discounts on next purchases

Document the materials you recover for future recycling initiatives

Learn more about Takeback Program

Create a Materials Passport:

It’s not news that the Digital Product Passport will be mandatory from 2026 for many industries. You can download our detailed DPP white paper to learn all about it in detail. The key is to start building this foundation now, so when regulations kick in, you’re already ahead of the game. Plus, early adopters are finding that customers are willing to pay more for products with this level of transparency. Here’s how to begin without getting overwhelmed:

List all materials used in your top-selling product

Document their sources and recyclability

Identify potential substitutes for non-recyclable materials

Share this information with your supply chain partners

Optimize Packaging:

Quick packaging wins can make a big difference for both your bottom line and environmental impact. As we explored in our recent article “5 Things Business Needs to Know About Reusable Packaging,” the shift away from single-use doesn’t have to be complicated:

Remove unnecessary packaging layers

Switch to recycled or recyclable materials

Design packaging for reuse where possible

Educate customers about proper disposal or return

Start a Repair Program:

With Right to Repair laws gaining momentum, making your products repairable it’s becoming a legal requirement. Here’s how to get started:

Create basic repair guides for your products

Stock essential spare parts

Train staff in simple repairs

Prepare your customer service team, both online and offline, by setting up dedicated repair request channels and clear communication flows

Offer repair services or partner with local repair shops

Launch Resource Sharing:

Find sharing opportunities within your business network:

Identify underutilized equipment or space

Connect with complementary businesses

Set up simple sharing agreements

Track shared resource usage and savings

Create a Circular Procurement Guide:

Make sustainable purchasing easy:

List preferred sustainable suppliers

Set simple criteria for circular purchases

Create a checklist for buyers

Start with office supplies and work up

Design for Disassembly:

Begin with one product line:

Document current assembly methods

Identify opportunities for easier disassembly

Make simple design modifications

Train assembly teams on new methods

Start Material Recovery:

Begin capturing value from waste:

Set up basic sorting stations

Train staff on material separation

Find local recycling partners

Track recovery rates and value

Create Circular Metrics:

Measure what matters:

Choose 1-3 key circular metrics from each of those buckets: Circular Inputs, Circular Outputs, Circular Revenues and Operational Waste

Set up simple tracking systems

Create visual dashboards

Share progress with team and stakeholders

Start User Research:

Begin understanding your customers’ circular needs:

Create a simple survey about sustainability preferences

Interview 5-10 key customers about their repair/reuse habits

Test circular packaging alternatives with a focus group

Document sustainability features customers will pay for

Track and analyze product returns and repair requests

Prototype Circular Business Models:

Test new revenue streams without major investment:

Map current customer pain points around product end-of-life

Design a small-scale subscription or product-as-service pilot

Test reuse/refill models with your most engaged customers

Document early learnings and customer feedback

Calculate potential scaling costs and benefits

Make 2025 Your Circular Economy Breakthrough Year

These quick wins are just the beginning. By starting with these simple, actionable steps, you’ll build momentum toward a more circular future. The key is to start small, measure results, and build on your successes.

Not sure which of these quick wins would make the biggest impact for your business? Our team of circular economy experts is here to help.

Book a call

Let’s make 2025 the year your business truly embraces circularity—one practical step at a time.