Slashing corporate waste and upping investment in reuse is a big market opening — and one that could unlock new supply chain value and job opportunities at companies that can get out ahead.
At furniture designer and manufacturer Steelcase, for example, designing for the circular economy is increasingly seen as an "entrepreneurial gig." All told, the company sees potential to double the value of the $3 billion business, said Director of Global Sustainability Angela Nahikian.
"This could double the size of our company," Nahikian said late last week at the GreenBiz 17 conference in Phoenix, Arizona. "Each of these opportunities has to be stitched together with competencies that we already have and investments that need to be made."