Generally speaking, companies have strategies, structures and operations that remain entrenched in the linear economy. But is this still tenable? Here are five business models to help you think circular.

Today, it is no longer enough to invest in sustainable development here and there. Natural resources are becoming depleted and the environmental impact so serious that we can no longer be satisfied with doing things "less badly" than in the past. Companies are now expected to make a positive impact by breaking the link between growth and the use of natural resources. 

The head of any company that claims to be responsible will be curious about the opportunities for growth that will present themselves if they do things differently, and wonder about the environmental, social and societal benefits (aside from financial) that they could generate using their own resources, technology and time frames.
To produce a positive impact, companies will need to free themselves from linear thinking before they can embrace the circular economy. They probably also have to reconsider their value chain, though they will not be able to do so overnight. In their quest for inspiration and greater momentum, some have been quick to emulate innovative SMEs. 

How can transformation occur, what are the priorities and where do we start?

An analysis of 120 cases carried out by Accenture drew out five business models representing the same number of approaches to the circular economy.

Introducing sustainability in the supply chain

The first potential way to change your business model involves modifying the choice of raw materials used to make the product. This entails looking for alternative, renewable materials by adapting the supply chain upstream in order to achieve the long-term goal of a sustainable product and a process that is ideally waste-free. For example, industrialists can replace plastic, a linear component, with bioplastic or another material that is renewable or can be recycled. Ecover is the best example to cite in this respect: by introducing a sustainable chemical ingredient when it launched the first phosphate-free washing powder in the 1980s, it reduced the demand for toxic and non-recyclable substances. It has since expanded its business to produce a vast range of products.

The same approach can be taken downstream in the production chain. An excellent illustration of this is Sigma: in the knowledge that our homes are generally full of toxic products, Sigma marketed the first paint that purifies the inside air.

Recovering rather than producing 

Among those inspired by this second model are certain carpet manufacturers including Desso and Interface, who are switching to 100% recyclable products. The challenge for them is to maintain contact with customers in order to recover their carpets as cheaply as possible when they are no longer needed. For carpets with an aluminium backing (a pure product that is easy to recycle), the companies may even need to make contact 20 to 30 years later and put in place a reverse supply chain.

What are the other challenges for carpet manufacturers who wish to recycle the potential residual value of their products? One is not to destroy the item during recovery. This is why Desso invented Refinity, a technique enabling it to separate the fibres – from the thickest to the finest. At the end of the purification stage, a new carpet can therefore be manufactured from the old one using their Cradle to Cradle^® technique. This process significantly reduces the amount of resources used and waste generated. It allows the product to be reconstructed without the need for new ingredients, closing the circle with almost zero waste.

Quentin Denis, from Accenture, says: "This choice to recover waste materials can produce surprising results, such as the metamorphosis of a mining company with processes that were 100% linear into the number one defender of recycling technical materials. This is the way in which Umicore drastically changed its core business to move from extractive mining to what is known as 'urban mining'. DSM is another mining company that has completely transformed itself to become what it describes as a manufacturer of circular products."

What is waste to some can become an ingredient for others. In other words, there is a different way to close the circle in a way that bypasses waste. For Engie, this meant establishing operations in close proximity to ArcelorMittal in Ghent so that it could transform all steam produced – wasted energy in theory – and feed it back into the electricity network. Another example from Switzerland is IBM, which transforms the hot air produced at its centre in Uitikon into hot water for the local public swimming pool. The company says the volume of heat produced can heat the equivalent of one swimming pool or 80 houses. 

To sell or lease? When obsolescence becomes taboo

Product-service systems, whereby a company prefers to sell its product as a service, are now in vogue. This third business model can occur alone or in conjunction with other concepts currently also emerging, such as the shared economy or the hub economy. But they can all operate in isolation, and confusion awaits the uninitiated.

An excellent example are the product-service systems operated by Rolls Royce, which has been producing turbines for aeroplanes and leasing them to airlines since the 1960s. How does Rolls Royce benefit? According to Quentin Denis, they "retain the right to carry out maintenance, allowing them to derive an additional source of revenue and improve performance. By leasing products instead of selling them once, they make their revenue more predictable because aeroplanes fly for decades. What really stands out is that this completely changes their focus on quality since they are concerned to ensure long-term performance in order to avoid breakdowns, for example", Denis continues. Which is one way for companies to turn their backs on built-in obsolescence...

The shared economy frequently illustrates that it can boost revenue insofar as it multiplies the number of users who can access an asset that is under-utilised. 

The hub economy: fighting against waste

Using an app to share information about a provider's excess capacity or to allow users (private or professional) to publicise an under-utilised product or service is the concept underpinning a further model based on the hub economy.
Lyft, a resource for sharing lifts in motor cars, was born from the observation that 80% of seats in urban vehicles are empty. Thus the app allows a user who needs transport to identify the vehicle of another user exactly when it is needed. The journey is paid for via the app and costs 20 to 30% less than a taxi, including the commission of 20% paid to Lyft.

The bicycle delivery service Deliveroo is another example. It allows restaurant kitchens to exploit their surplus capacity and to add a new facet to their business – home delivery. This then provides an additional source of revenue despite limited human resources in their restaurants. This idea can also be found in the logistics sector in relation to online hubs set up in order to share lorry capacity and prevent vehicles from returning empty.

Quentin Denis is in favour of the concept, providing its stated aim is to achieve a positive impact for all actors involved: "These hubs operate via a network effect", he says. "This is achieved when there is significant volume, both in terms of offer – service providers, owners of Airbnb properties or Uber drivers, for example – and demand from holidaymakers or passengers. This network effect gives the players a strong competitive advantage that they can potentially abuse to change the rules of the game overnight, increase commission or reduce earnings, for example." 

Products with longer lifespans

Components lost to the linear process once worn out can become useful again: this is the principle that motivates the final model. By improving a product, repairing it or making it again we can give it a new life, and the product can then go on to be resold or even personalised. And it is the challenge posed by obsolescence that Google is tackling by reinventing mobile phones that no longer meet the needs of users. By breaking them down into units it can choose to repair only what is broken and reduce costs, for example, and/or upgrade only the functions that are needed. The device lasts longer, and extending its use in this way can also lead to additional revenue. And as the need for resources diminishes, waste and cost amounts reproduce the same sort of curve. 

Are you ready to embrace circular thinking? Throw off your shackles and go for it wholeheartedly – but be aware that quick wins closely connected to the product are also a responsible step forward before transformation is possible.

A recently commissioned survey by BNP Paribas Fortis on mobility found that this remains a major challenge for the coming years. The bank is determined to play its part.

A survey among 2,000 people, and representative of the Belgian population, on mobility shows that the switch to electric driving is slowing. Almost 80% of those surveyed still drive a diesel or petrol vehicle, and more than a third of them have no intention of trading in their cars for a more environmentally friendly model any time soon. And yet almost 50% want to be driving electric by 2029. But before that switch, some hurdles first need to be cleared. According to two-thirds of respondents, the bank needs to take a proactive role in the transition to sustainable mobility.

• Only 10% of cars on the streets today are electric, hybrid or run on hydrogen. Users of these vehicles confirm they are very satisfied. Though most have their own charging station, public charging stations are a bottleneck.
• While fighting climate change remains the main argument for switching, changing mobility habits isn’t so easy. The switch to electric is slow, and more incentives are needed, such as new tax measures, and above all, a commitment from the government. Prices also need to come down. It is clear that the practical issues of driving and charging times mean people hesitate to make the switch.
• As a result, enthusiasm about new mobility initiatives is rather muted. Although, especially in big cities, an app that combines mobility options has good chances of success.
• Mobility and work are strongly linked. One in three people spend at least an hour a day travelling to/from work. It turns out that teleworking is a solution for only 50% of the people, and that the other half of the population don’t have the opportunity to work from home.
• More awareness needs to be created around new mobility. Not everyone is familiar with shared cars, bikes and charging stations yet.

Mobility partner

BNP Paribas Fortis is determined to contribute to more sustainable mobility and be a mobility partner for both professional and private customers. We are doing this by informing audiences of all the advantages of an environmentally friendly switch. And also by offering support through financing, insurance and leasing. Our goal is to provide a global response to tomorrow's mobility needs through innovative services.

More and more people are cycling to work. Mobility solutions expert Philippe Kahn explains how and why.

People are changing the way they travel to limit their environmental impact: behaviours are starting to shift, and the use of bicycles is rising, including and especially for travelling to and from work. We spoke to Philippe Kahn, Mobility Solutions Expert at Arval BNP Paribas Group, about these developments. 

Two out of three Belgians use soft mobility, mainly bicycles

According to Profacts’ “Mobility Tomorrow & Beyond” survey, two out of three Belgians have adopted soft mobility. "But the biggest change is the increasing use of bicycles for business travel and commuting. People are also using bicycles more on the school or nursery run, facilitated by the arrival of electric cargo bikes on the market," says Kahn.

A favourable regulatory framework

But what are the reasons for the increased use of bicycles for business travel?  “Let’s first take a look at how the regulatory framework has changed," says Kahn. "In Belgium, the creation of the federal mobility budget has made alternative ways of travelling attractive for all employees. The budget makes it possible to choose a comfortable company bicycle as part of a tax-friendly salary package. Moreover, this mobility budget can even be used to cover housing costs if you work from home more than half the time or if you live within 10 km of your place of work. So instead of having a company car, people can choose to have a combination of an electric bicycle and a contribution to their housing costs. Furthermore, two measures effective from 1 May 2023 should reinforce this trend: the bicycle allowance for commuting is increasing to €0.27 net per km travelled, and all Belgian employees will be entitled to this allowance. In practical terms, this means that those who choose to cycle for these journeys will be substantially rewarded.”

Investment in public infrastructure is paying off

Another important factor in the increased use of bicycles is the development of road infrastructure.

Philippe Kahn: "One factor that can convince people to cycle to work is the certainty of a safe journey. A few years ago, cycling to work in Brussels, for example, could be dangerous. But today, cycling infrastructure is making these journeys increasingly safe, in particular thanks to the cycle motorways on which only bicycles can travel. Infrastructure investments are now also happening in the rest of Belgium, not just Flanders and its major cities. In recent years, Brussels has undergone significant changes, and things are also starting to move in Wallonia.”

Half of all Belgians live within 15 km of their place of work

Distance from the workplace is also crucial in determining how attractive cycling is. "One in two Belgians lives within 15 km of their workplace, a distance that you can easily cycle," adds Kahn. "Along with the Improved infrastructure, this means that cycling to work is a realistic option for many Belgians. And the €0.27 per kilometre allowance will be an added incentive for them to make the change.”

78% of leased company bicycles are electric

To meet the needs of companies and their staff, Arval is now offering bicycle leasing. This full-service lease covers maintenance, breakdown assistance, insurance and repairs, as is traditionally the case for a car. Philippe Kahn points out some very significant trends in this area: "60% e-bikes and 18% speed pedelecs: in total, 78% of our leased company bikes are electric.

High-end bicycles costing several thousand euros, such as electric cargo bikes, are also highly successful, which is probably due to opportunity: the mobility budget or employer “cafeteria plan” benefits packages are making it possible for people to acquire these bikes. But it may also be a consequence of Belgium’s specific tax regulations: the more expensive the bicycle, the more significant the tax incentive. Another interesting observation is that when a  bicycle replaces a car, it’s usually the family’s second car. So we’re not yet seeing any radical replacement of cars by bicycles, but the emergence of the company bicycle is definitely reducing the total number of kilometres travelled by car.”

Digital applications: shifting up a gear

Lastly, Kahn points to another factor that could encourage more people to take up cycling to work. "I think that technology, and in particular digital applications, can make a big difference. We can expect strong growth in the market for apps dedicated to commuting by bike. The business model for on-the-go electric bike rental is already based on a smartphone app. So imagine the success of an application that gives you a safe and bicycle-friendly route for travelling to and from work, and the boost that this could give to this type of travel," concludes Kahn.

Producing biogas through fermentation of agricultural waste? That is exactly what they do at Biomethane du Bois d'Arnelle, Belgium's largest production facility in Hainaut.

You can spot the three large grey domes and a cone-shaped roof from a distance in the countryside around Frasnes-lez-Gosselies. This is a biogas production unit. It took its creator and CEO, Jérôme Breton, 12 years to complete this project due to the lack of a legal and administrative framework. But today, the unit is operational, producing 70,000 MWh of energy.

Turning food waste into biomethane

"We recycle food waste and agricultural materials, livestock manure, straw, beet leaves, peelings, etc. from farmers in a 15-km radius around the site", says Jérôme Breton. "We work with 100 farmers for whom this represents additional income. In digesters, i.e., concrete tanks that are heated to 40°C, bacteria digest the material and produce biogas, consisting of 45% CO₂ and 55% CH₄ methane. We recover this biomethane through filtration, before injecting it into the natural gas distribution network. Fermented matter or digestate, a black liquid that is rich in organic matter, which is very nutritious for crops, is spread as a fertiliser in the surrounding region, where it is used to permanently store CO₂ in the soil and completely replaces chemical fertilisers."

Unrivalled performance

About 15% of the biogas is converted into electricity and heat, half of which is used for the unit’s own needs. The remaining 85% is purified and transformed into biomethane. Once it has been injected into the grid, this biomethane can be used as fuel or as a raw material for petrochemicals. It can also be used to power turbines, and the heat generated can be recovered, just like in a car engine. “While a cogeneration engine, which produces electricity and heat simultaneously, has a total efficiency of between 40 and 80%, our system allows 99.5% of the biogas produced to be injected into the grid”, the young entrepreneur explains. "The pressure varies in a distribution network. That way, the infrastructure can absorb injections without the need for additional investments to store them."

Growing to valorise

The company also grows maize, beets and cereals to valorise them as biogas: "We made a deliberate choice to grow 600 hectares of energy crops to offer farmers a complementary diversification pathway. This accounts for 30% of our raw materials. These crops are stored to allow us to 'smooth' the inflows into our digesters, which depend on agricultural and food activity, on a seasonal basis."

BNP Paribas Fortis, the only bank with such advanced skills

Jérôme Breton says the project would not have been possible without the support of BNP Paribas Fortis. "We would not have gotten funding if it wasn't for the work of their expert. It is the only bank to have such high-level skills in-house. All the other partners also benefited from the analyses and information that he provided to us! A strong, lasting relationship of trust has developed as a result. In my model, I didn't want to rely on public financing for what I do. At the same time, I wanted to produce at the right prices. We produce and sell our biomethane at 100 euros per megawatt hour, while market prices were close to 350 euros last August."

Entrepreneurial success

At BNP Paribas Fortis, we are particularly proud to be supporting passionate, inspiring entrepreneurs. Because building the entrepreneurship of the future together is also an example of Positive Banking!

Elessent EMEIA is on a mission to make the chemical industry more environmentally friendly and sustainable through innovative methods and cleaner production processes.

"We strive to create cleaner, carbon-free production processes for our customers. Innovation is at the heart of what we do", says Sara Alvarez, Finance Manager at Elessent EMEAI. "We suggest less polluting alternatives to traditional industrial methods, allowing our customers to continue to develop products that are essential to our daily lives while significantly minimising their impact on the environment, particularly in terms of pollutants and CO₂ emissions."

4 key technologies

The metals, fertiliser, chemical and refinery industries make up the majority of the company’s customers, with Elessent EMEAI able to deliver complete turnkey production sites. Tjaart Van Der Walt, Director of Elessent EMEAI: "We have four flagship technologies. The first concerns the manufacture of a compound that is widely used in industry, from fertiliser manufacturers to pigment plants, namely sulphuric acid. This is obtained by burning sulphur. We have 90 years of expertise in site design – we have delivered more than a thousand sites – and process and energy recovery. These processes will be key to producing cleaner batteries."

Increased quality and yield

The company also has alkylation technologies (a reaction that is commonly used in organic chemistry) which is used to produce high octane fuels, for more efficient engines. These compounds are valuable for the petrochemical and refinery industries. "We operate at more than 100 alkylation sites around the world", continues Van Der Walt. "And 25 hydrocarbon hydrotreating sites. This is a crucial step in the refining process, during which some elements are removed from the oil. This includes reducing sulphur and nitrogen content to improve stability. Our proprietary soft hydrocracking technology allows us to recover more value from crude oil."

In addition to these processes, which optimise the quality and yield of hydrocarbons, the company also has “wet scrubbing” technologies, which are very effective in fume treatment.

Financial support and real industry expertise

"Our business is growing on a global scale. For our international expansion, we need the constant support of our bank, BNP Paribas Fortis, which, in addition to assisting us with the financial aspects, contributes its in-depth expertise in our industry", Sara Alvarez explains. "This cooperation is crucial in Morocco, Tunisia, India and South Africa, for example. For our long-term investments in these countries, we benefit from our bank’s advice, particularly in terms of resources and guarantees of payment: secured transactions, letters of credit, etc. The same goes for hedging currency risk, which is essential in the context of volatility. This partnership allows us to continue our international expansion."

Entrepreneurial success

At BNP Paribas Fortis, we are particularly proud to be supporting passionate, inspiring entrepreneurs. Because building the entrepreneurship of the future together is also an example of Positive Banking!