Why circular economy skills are becoming essential and what most businesses are getting wrong

We’re at a turning point. Businesses across every sector are being asked to do more than reduce harm, they’re being asked to fundamentally redesign how value is created. That means moving away from the linear “take-make-waste” model that has shaped our economy for over a century. It means thinking circular.

And yet, so few organisations are actually prepared.

The circular economy isn’t a trend: it’s a strategic imperative

There’s a reason the circular economy is showing up in boardrooms, policy frameworks, and investor reports. It’s not just a buzzword. It’s a systems-level response to the converging crises we face, from climate and biodiversity to supply chain risk and material scarcity.

If you work in sustainability, procurement, product design, or lead business strategy, you’ll already be seeing the pressure building:

• Regulation is tightening: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Eco-design standards, and the EU’s Right to Repair laws are just the beginning. The Circular Economy Action Plan, CSRD, and CBAM are coming fast.
• Stakeholders are asking better questions: Investors want to know what happens at end-of-life. Customers are demanding more transparency. Young talent expects action, not slogans.
• Resources are getting more expensive and less predictable: From rare earth minerals to water stress, linear supply chains are showing cracks. Circular models help reduce dependency, increase resilience, and create new revenue opportunities.

This isn’t just about sustainability anymore. It’s about survival, competitiveness, and long-term value creation.

What most businesses are getting wrong

Despite the growing awareness, there’s still a massive implementation gap. I see it time and time again, even in large, well-intentioned organisations.

They’ve heard of the circular economy, but:

• They think it’s just about recycling or waste
• They assume it’s someone else’s job (usually the sustainability team)
• They don’t have the tools or language to apply it to real business decisions

One of the biggest blockers? Siloed thinking. The sustainability team might be working on a product take-back scheme while the procurement team is chasing cost reductions, and the design team hasn’t been briefed at all. Without a shared understanding of circular principles, or a clear strategy to embed them, the business loses coherence and momentum.

Business is also missing opportunities. Circular models can drive new forms of customer value, service innovation, cost savings, and risk mitigation. But these benefits don’t unlock themselves; you need people across the business who understand how to spot them.

Circular thinking is a skill, and a mindset

We’re not going to get where we need to go with good intentions alone. We need capability.

Circular economy isn’t a job title. It’s a lens. It needs to be embedded across departments. From operations to finance, marketing to supply chain everyone needs to understand the basics. And some people will need to go deeper: to build new metrics, design new business models, rethink logistics, rethink ownership.

That means training. It means frameworks. It means peer learning and real-world case studies. It means space to challenge your assumptions and rebuild them.

This is why I’m such a believer in professional development for circular economy and why I recommend the University of Exeter’s Circular Economy Masterclass to others in my network.

What sets Exeter apart

When looking for a way to deepen your understanding of circularity, you should look for something that is practical, strategic, and grounded in real business challenges. Exeter’s course delivers on all fronts.

It’s run by the Exeter Centre for Circular Economy, in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation which is the world’s leading circular economy organisation. This partnership matters. It means the content is informed by both cutting-edge research and global best practice.

Why it stands out:

• It’s built for busy professionals: flexible online delivery, but highly engaging
• The tutors aren’t just academics: they’re practitioners, consultants, and business leaders
• You get real tools: frameworks, diagnostic kits, and templates you can use straight away
• It brings people together: from 80+ countries, across sectors, all facing similar challenges

Whether you’re working in procurement, operations, product, strategy, or sustainability you’ll leave with a sharper understanding of what circularity means for your work, and how to drive change where you are.

What you can do next

If you’re reading this, you probably already know that change is needed. But maybe you’re not sure how to start. Or you’re trying to convince others in your organisation to take this seriously.

Here’s my advice:

• Don’t wait for perfect alignment: circular thinking often starts with one person asking better questions.
• Build capability across your team: the more people understand circular principles, the faster you’ll move.
• Find your peers: whether internally or externally, connect with others who are learning and experimenting.