Circular Revenue Models: Practical Guidelines for Businesses

In recent years, Copper8 has increasingly deepened its understanding of business models such as buy‑back and lease. These types of models are being used more and more by businesses to stimulate circularity. Yet, in applying such models, we noticed a gap between theory and practice.

For this reason, over the past year we explored the subject in greater depth. Together with partners KPMG Sustainability and Kennedy Van der Laan, we engaged in conversations with Dutch pioneers including Mud Jeans, Bundles, Desko, Gispen, Interface, Signify, and Auping. The aim of our research is to develop a better understanding of circular business models and to share this knowledge with other entrepreneurs who aspire to work circularly.

The first publication in this series is a practical guide for entrepreneurs. In this publication, we take a closer look at questions such as: which business models truly lead to circular solutions? And what is the ultimate circular business model? This resulted in the ‘Circular Business Model Ladder’, which clearly presents the considerations entrepreneurs need to make.

The second publication in this series will be released soon. In this second publication, we take a deeper look at the fiscal and accounting barriers we have encountered in the practical application of circular business models.

Want to know more about this research? You can contact one of the following colleagues at Copper8: Cécile van Oppen or Marijn Polet.

*Please note this publication is only available in Dutch.