https://climatejournal.news/ en https://climatejournal.news/news/starting-a-sharing-revolution-with-circular-packaging <div class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item"><span>Starting a sharing revolution with circular packaging</span> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://climatejournal.news/news/starting-a-sharing-revolution-with-circular-packaging" data-a2a-title="Starting a sharing revolution with circular packaging"><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin_hover.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"> Share </a></span> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/circular-packaging" hreflang="en">Circular Packaging</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/sharing-economy" hreflang="en">Sharing Economy</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Topic</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/circular-business" hreflang="en">Circular Business</a></div> </div> </div> <img alt="Starting a sharing revolution with circular packaging" title="Starting a sharing revolution with circular packaging" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/news_full_main_image/public/bsp-images/news/1538.jpg?itok=2vAQMCWT" width="687" height="687" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4740 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4931 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>This article is part of the <a href="https://climatejournal.news/partner/celebrating-circular" target="_blank">'Celebrating Circular`</a> initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.</p> <hr /> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4741 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Despite the evident negative environmental impact, single-use coffee cups are still part of our daily lives.</p> <p>Ireland is one of the most polluting countries in Europe, given that approximately 22,000 disposable cups are used every hour, which makes up about 200 million cups every year, creating 3,700 tonnes of waste, according to a Government of Ireland study published in 2020.</p> <p>When Sarah Fliessbach moved to Ireland from Germany six years ago, she was surprised to see that disposable cups were the norm.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4744 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--66-33"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4742 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>“It struck me that even events were dominated by single-use cups, and when COVID hit, this approach spread like wildfire since refill was not an option in order to stay aligned with health directives. It was crazy to see all those disposable cups and food packaging piling up,” Sarah recalls.</p> <p class="font-subtitle">Finding an alternative to single-use plastic cups</p> <p>She started to research options that could offer another viable solution with the potential to be scaled up in time.</p> <p>At the beginning of the journey, Sarah talked with many businesses to determine whether there was an appetite for an alternative and how this could realistically work.</p> <p>After gathering inputs, the idea of creating <a href="https://www.weareshareclub.com/" target="_blank">shareclub </a>was born to offer circular packaging solutions for events, workplaces and takeaway services to minimise waste.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4743 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1539.jpg" width="478" height="712" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Sarah Fliessbach, Founder of shareclub, a start-up offering circular packaging solutions.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4745 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Receiving funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2023 as part of their Green Enterprise Innovation initiative provided a great opportunity to kickstart the business and further develop the idea.</p> <p>“We designed a mobile application that allows users to scan a QR code on our cups to join the rental system and practically rent a cup for the duration of an event or elsewhere.</p> <blockquote> <p>Using shareclub at events presents organisers with a very tangible outcome in terms of costs and savings as well as avoiding mountains of unnecessary waste.”</p> </blockquote> <p>With this solution, they can cater all kinds of small and large events alongside coffee shops or canteens.</p> <p>“Thanks to the app, we can precisely show partners their impact and savings, which they can use as reliable data in their impact report or communication.”</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-callout paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--width--full callout-style--b" id="callout-4752"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="callout-body"> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4751 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Shareclub now provides circular packaging solutions for events, workplaces and takeaway services to minimise waste by offering an easy-to-use rental service.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4749 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--33-66"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4746 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1540.jpg" width="390" height="423" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4753 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p class="font-subtitle">Inspiring return and meaningful sustainability efforts</p> <p>Unlike other deposit schemes, Sarah would like to inspire people to return the cups, as she says this enhances overall sustainability.</p> <blockquote> <p>“Our goal is to keep these items in circulation and use them many times. So far, we have reached a promising 98-99% return rate.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4750 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>To ensure the long-term usability of their products, they use high-quality plastic cups, which are practically unbreakable, dishwasher and microwave-safe, and can be remade into a new product at the end of their life.</p> <p class="font-subtitle">The power of learning in building a circular enterprise</p> <p>Building a circular enterprise tests Sarah and her team’s skills, and learning is part of their journey.</p> <p>“I`m always curious to learn more, and sustainability is constantly evolving. It's great to have initiatives like the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/modos-circular-economy-training-tickets-988609476557?aff=erelpanelorg&amp;keep_tld=1" target="_blank">MODOS training</a> where you can catch up and see what others are doing in this space. The little ideas and seeing the creativity of other businesses were truly inspirational.”</p> <p>Learning about zero-waste business models and product development was especially interesting for Sarah.</p> <p>“Looking at water usage was one of the aspects of the training that resonated with me since our cup cleaning process involves water usage through washing facilities. It made me explore this area further and ensure we take a circular approach, especially when we scale and have a bigger volume of cups.”</p> <p>She mentions that discovering available supports as part of the MODOS course, such as the <a href="https://www.localenterprise.ie/" target="_blank">Local Enterprise Office</a> offerings, was a great addition to the learning part.</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4754 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p class="font-subtitle">Bridging the gap between intention and action</p> <p>Introducing a circular business is a challenge, as Sarah shares that while the intention and interest are there, taking action and committing to adopting a new system is different.</p> <p>“We need to be able to show how we can create value to bridge the gap between wanting to do this and actually doing it. At the moment, we focus on early adopters who already have the mindset, but scaling will require a lot of education.”</p> <p>Although Sarah thinks that government policy and the CSRD are pushing businesses to think differently and actively seek opportunities to adopt sustainable practices.</p> <p class="font-subtitle">Making a circular solution fun and appealing</p> <p>One of their recent collaborations with the Dublin Coffee Festival proved that their concept works well and that people are more than happy to participate if you make it fun and convenient for them.</p> <blockquote> <p>“We managed to avoid using single-use cups throughout the whole event. It worked without a glitch, which we are really proud of. We wanted to help people engage instead of making them uncomfortable.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Their goal is to make shareclub accessible and hassle-free for partners and users and spark change to make the event industry circular step by step.</p> <p>“We would like to become an influential player in transitioning Ireland to a more sustainable economy and make it the new norm at events to use our solutions.”</p> <p>Once they establish shareclub in Ireland, Sarah would like to explore the potential of replicating the model in other countries. She believes that with the circular movement growing stronger, they could be there to provide a ready-to-use solution.</p> <p>“Climate change is personal for me, and having two small children makes it very real as they already ask questions. I want to be able to say that I was part of the solution. I want to contribute and act now and find a way to make change happen.”</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4755 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <hr /> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4758 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--66-33"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4756 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Explore other inspirational stories as part of the <a href="https://climatejournal.news/partner/celebrating-circular" target="_blank">Celebrating Circular</a> initiative supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Dublin City Council.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><a href="https://climatejournal.news/partner/celebrating-circular">Read more stories&gt;&gt;</a></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4757 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <a href="https://climatejournal.news/partner/celebrating-circular" target="_blank"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1542.jpg" width="302" height="302" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-hover field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1543.jpg" width="302" height="302" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-background-style field--type-list-string field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Background style</div> <div class="field--item">Light</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sponsored field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Sponsored?</div> <div class="field--item">No</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden field--item">October 2024</div> <div class="field field--name-field-collaborative-content-with field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Collaborative content with</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="/partner/celebrating-circular">Celebrating Circular</a> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:14:33 +0000 Szilvia Szabó 343 at https://climatejournal.news https://climatejournal.news/news/embracing-the-sharing-economy-with-a-practical-innovation <div class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item"><span>Embracing the sharing economy with a practical innovation</span> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://climatejournal.news/news/embracing-the-sharing-economy-with-a-practical-innovation" data-a2a-title="Embracing the sharing economy with a practical innovation"><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin_hover.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"> Share </a></span> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/circular-economy" hreflang="en">Circular Economy</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/sharing-economy" hreflang="en">Sharing Economy</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/start-up" hreflang="en">Start-up</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Topic</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/sharing-economy" hreflang="en">Sharing Economy</a></div> </div> </div> <img alt="Embracing the sharing economy with a practical innovation" title="Embracing the sharing economy with a practical innovation" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/news_full_main_image/public/bsp-images/news/1420.jpg?itok=mDpgy_Q6" width="687" height="687" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4369 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4370 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>When you need to use a tool, the first thought that probably crosses your mind is to buy it, which in some cases means adding something to your storage space that you`ll only use once or twice.</p> <p>The concept of a Tool Library is built on the idea that instead of buying and then not using things, you could borrow items when you need them.</p> <p>Tool Libraries have gained popularity in recent years as a way of embracing the sharing economy, which is good for your pocket and the environment.</p> <p>“Honestly, how often will you use a drill?” asks Anna C W de Matos, CEO and Founder of the <a href="https://www.circularlibrary.network/" target="_blank">Circular Library Network </a>(CLN) based in Reykjavik, Iceland.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4373 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--42-58"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4371 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Her team created a solution that provides innovative self-checkout hardware library systems to municipalities and organisations worldwide and is in the process of scaling.</p> <p>She adds that an average drill is only used for about 12 minutes in its lifetime but has thousands of minutes of capability.</p> <p>Asking a friend or family member to lend such an item to you can be complicated, considering what would happen if something went wrong, potentially affecting your relationships.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4372 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1421.jpg" width="580" height="439" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Tool Libraries are offering an opportunity to share items instead of buying. Image: CLN</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4374 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <blockquote> <p>The ultimate goal of the Circular Library Network is to make it easy for people to borrow and share various items while reducing waste and promoting sustainability.</p> </blockquote> <p>So let`s say you borrow a drill in our system. You can be sure it was checked before you take it, ensuring that it is in good condition, but also, you won`t be responsible for the tool forever. If something breaks, it can be repaired or replaced.”</p> <p>This automated system is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, making it user-friendly, reliable, and customisable to meet unique needs.</p> <p>At this stage, they are moving from being a tool library to becoming an infrastructure provider, helping other institutions to create their own sharing libraries.</p> <p>“The way we are doing it in Reykjavik is if something breaks or needs to be replaced, we ask for a donation from the user and find the best alternative for replacement on the best price or second-hand item in good condition, trying to keep the cost to the minimum.”</p> <p>Their user model runs on a subscription base, so members can check what items are available and use what they need, when they need it.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4377 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--58-42"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4375 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1423.jpg" width="891" height="590" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Founders of the Circular Library Network, Sébastian Nouat, Kristofer Henry and Anna C W de Mato. (from left to right)</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4376 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>The idea to design a borrowing system was born from Anna's experience of moving to Iceland in 2017 after living ten years in the UK.</p> <p>“I realised that I don`t know anyone. I didn`t really have anything of my own, so when I wanted to put some holes in my wall and couldn`t afford to buy or rent a drill, I thought there must be a better way of doing this.”</p> <p>She started to research and found out about the tool libraries, most specifically the Toronto Tool Library, which was at the time the biggest one with four locations.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4378 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>“I contacted them and arranged a visit to Canada to find out more about running it and learn more insights. After returning to Iceland, a health issue forced me straight to the hospital, spending three weeks there.” Anna used her extra time to take action.</p> <p>“My body was sick, but my mind wasn`t, which led me to start a crowdfunding campaign with a terrible website. But it worked, and by the time I left the hospital, I raised the funds I needed to start.”</p> <p>In 2020, after getting an innovation grant to design a prototype, Anna approached Sébastian Nouat and Kristofer Henry to come on board with the development process, and they became Co-Founders.</p> <p>Shortly after launching, they raised about 500 items to be added to their tool library, calling it Munasafn, which stands for collection of stuff in Icelandic and is about to change now to be called the Circular Library Network (CLN).</p> <p>Initially, it was a struggle to keep opening hours, and when COVID hit, they decided to automate the process, trying to create hardware to match the software that could handle the lending and returning process.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4381 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--58-42"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4379 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <blockquote> <p>“By now, we have developed a completely modular infrastructure that operates as a white label system, so once you become a partner, you can do everything for yourself, from branding to starting your own membership and so on, using our method.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4380 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>From the business point of view, they realised early on that they had to find a viable financial model that would allow them to work on this full-time and take it to the next level.</p> <p>One of the first steps was to go through the Climate-KIC accelerator program for circular cities, which was pivotal in figuring out what to do with the whole idea.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4382 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>They came up with a sort of franchise system that can be used by organisations such as actual libraries or other institutions and even other tool libraries that want to reach locations where they don`t necessarily have the human resources.</p> <p>“We also developed our own social platform where our clients can get peer-to-peer support and access best practices, with an opportunity to contribute to a road map that would help determine where we are heading with the project.”</p> <p>At this point, they are actively collaborating with five institutions in seven locations to build up their systems, including Germany, the US, Switzerland, and other places.</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-callout paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--width--full callout-style--b" id="callout-4384"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="callout-body"> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4383 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>A critical area to handle in bringing her idea to life was finance, and Anna admits that it hasn`t been an easy road to secure funding.</p> <p>She participated in several accelerators, attended dozens of business conferences, and went through a tough process to identify the type of financial solutions and investors that suited their goals.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4385 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>“I spent a whole year educating myself on investment since I had to decide on funding, and after doing four accelerator programs, still, it wasn`t clear what we gain or lose with various agreements and conditions.</p> <p>I did the Greentech Europe accelerator for women-led startups in Europe working on sustainability products delivered by Village Capital, which was one of the best I took part in as they did go into more details about finance.”</p> <blockquote> <p>She highlights that it would be crucial for any founder to have an in-depth knowledge of financial options to make good decisions regarding funding their ideas.</p> </blockquote> <p>Anna had to overcome many challenges and face many uncomfortable situations before gaining total confidence in the solution they offered.</p> <p>Recalling the ups and downs of her fundraising journey, she says: When you start meeting with investors and pitching your idea, you need to learn not to take things personally.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4388 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--58-42"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4386 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>"At first, I cried when they turned me down.</p> <p>But I kept consistently doing it, attending business conferences and talking to investors and others while I repeatedly heard a standard sentence: `You don`t fit into our portfolio strategy`.”</p> <p>One factor that made it difficult for Anna to attract investors is that their solution is hardware-based, and everyone is looking for digital software solutions.</p> <blockquote> <p>“It is an overwhelming process, and no one will be there holding your hands, saying what you need to do, so you must become confident on your own.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Battling her way through the investor landscape was a steep learning curve that led her to change her attitude and approach things differently.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4387 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1424.jpg" width="446" height="522" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">The Circular Library Network is now scaling its operations in five countries. Image: CLN</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--4389 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Now, she can stand up for herself, seeing investors` relations in a different light, saying that you need to find the right match with an investor and let go of others who are not interested or don`t understand what you are doing.</p> <p>“You will enter a long-term relationship with an investor, so you should better be on the same page from the start.”</p> <blockquote> <p>She says that things take a turn once you cross that line within yourself to feel genuinely confident, not just pretending to be confident. But you need to go through getting punches and build yourself up.</p> </blockquote> <p>Besides the personal journey, Anna also decided to focus on onboarding clients early to prove that this idea has a space on the market.</p> <p>As it turned out, she was right, as they are in the process of securing funding to scale their model and impact while also looking for further investments.</p> <p>Also, they decided to split activities between the NGO format and the social enterprise, which offers a great structure to focus on community building and education while building up a business model for selling the infrastructure for running tool libraries.</p> <p>Looking at the following steps, she hopes they can build a team and expand their operations.</p> <p>Introducing a circular solution is still not obvious, as everyone is still debating how a circular economy should work, but practical solutions such as CLN are definitely a significant step forward.</p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-background-style field--type-list-string field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Background style</div> <div class="field--item">Light</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sponsored field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Sponsored?</div> <div class="field--item">No</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden field--item">March 2024</div> <div class="field field--name-field-collaborative-content-with field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Collaborative content with</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="/partner/profit-with-purpose-magazine">Profit with Purpose Magazine</a> </div> </div> Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:43:27 +0000 Szilvia Szabó 317 at https://climatejournal.news