Look around you.
Everything you see was put there by one of us. By a supply chain professional. Every material that is in our economy today is there because we planned, sourced, made, moved, and managed it to where i is now.
Today, the relationship we have with materials needs to change.
The Circular Economy is an idea that materials deserve another shot at adding value in our economies. If we can use the principles of circularity, we can save the planet. In supply chain, we are the guardian angels of materials and inventory, and we have the power to change how to we operate today.
Across industries and around the world, supply chain professionals ask the same questions about what circularity means for our profession. The answers to these questions lay the foundation for us to have the conversations we need to have to keep our supply chains running - even as materials inside the earth dwindle and carbon emissions are on the rise.
Questions about Circular Supply Chains are answered in this book, such as:
- Why should we use Circular Supply Chains?
- Where can I get Circular Materials?
- Can we make our supply chains shorter?
- What about technology?
- How do I take the next step?
And 12 more…
01
Want to grab a drink?
And explore my most favorite topic in the whole world?
For the past three years, I have explored Circular Supply
Chains over several rounds of drinks with people from all across the globe. I have given dozens of keynotes and interviews about what the Circular Economy means for supply chain, and what supply chain means for the Circular Economy. When I travel to conferences and speak with Circular Economy experts, I am struck with one crazy realization.
Where are all the supply chain professionals?
There is a disconnect between those planning for circularity and those who will operationalize it. I see this as I split my keynoting time between:
- The circularity community: Pleading with them to include their supply chains in planning and designing for circularity.
- The supply chain community: Strongly recommending we invite ourselves to the circularity party.
The lack of supply chain professionals at the circularity party is outright bonkers, because supply chain professionals are extremely well placed to solve for circularity.
As supply chain professionals, over and over again, we:
- Identify the constraints in our supply chains
- Optimize the system within those constraints
Circularity is a great, big, super cool chance to do what we do best.
It’s full of impossible constraints and complicated systems. The good news is that as supply chain professionals, we love solving “impossible” problems. Impossible problems are our favorite type. Solving for circularity is right up our alley.
But we have not been given the chance to solve for
circularity, and we are not taking it upon ourselves
to solve for it. To be fair, though, we can’t solve a problem that we do not know exists. Too few supply chain professionals know about circularity, too few are aware of the consequences of continuing to operate as we do today, and even fewer realize the power we hold in the decisions we make.
FROM LEADING THINKERS IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUPPLY CHAIN
“An engaging introduction to the untapped opportunity of circular supply chains.
Thorough yet succinct, Deborah’s friendly tone makes the topic accessible and actionable.
It’s a refreshing read, like a having a candid conversation with Deborah over a drink.”
Lauren Phipps
Circular Economy VP , Senior Analyst
Green Biz
"This is THE short book I will gift everyone who wants to understand the problem and the solution in supply chains today. In this decade of change, your 17 (+5) questions light up the pathway to circular supply chains.
After reading your book, waste will never be the same.
A must-read for anyone participating in the linear economy.”
Ivonne Bojoh
COO, Head of Digital
Circle Economy
“Circular Supply Chain is a winner. Deborah's affinity for and grasp of supply chain principles are clear throughout this thought provoking book.
Most impressive is her ability to build logical bridges between classic supply chain concepts and the many breakthrough ideas she offers including the "characteristic" based BOM, "slow" inventory, and "X-as-a-service" business models.
This book is engaging, credible and important.”
Kevin O'Marah
Supply Chain OG