Course overview
The traditional industrial model takes raw materials, makes products, and discards what is left. A circular economy treats that leftover as a design flaw. It keeps materials in use through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling, so value is retained instead of thrown away, and the business depends less on volatile commodity prices.
This course, held at EuroQuest International Training, shows how the idea translates into practice: circular business models, resource-efficient operations, and value chains built to recover materials rather than lose them. Named frameworks, standards, and regulations are treated as educational subject matter, and the focus stays on decisions a business can actually make, from product design to supplier contracts.
Why circularity is a business case, not just an ethic
Circular practices are often presented as an environmental duty, which undersells them. Reusing materials, extending product life, and cutting waste lower input costs and reduce exposure to supply shocks, and they open service-based revenue that a sell-and-forget model never reaches. Treated as a strategy, circularity earns its place in the plan. Much of the value is realized upstream, in the sourcing and logistics decisions covered by Environmental Sustainability in Supply Chains.
What you will be able to do afterwards
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Identify circular economy opportunities in a business.
- Design a business model that retains material value.
- Improve resource efficiency across operations.
- Engage regulators and stakeholders on circular targets.
- Build a value chain that recovers rather than discards materials.
Course outline
Unit 1: Introduction to the circular economy
- Linear versus circular economic models.
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation framework and 9R strategies.
- Cradle-to-cradle design thinking.
- The business and environmental case together.
Unit 2: Designing sustainable business models
- Product-as-a-service and access-over-ownership models.
- Designing for durability, repair, and disassembly.
- Reverse logistics and take-back schemes.
- Revenue from remanufacturing and refurbishment.
Unit 3: Resource efficiency and waste reduction
- Material flow analysis and where value leaks.
- Waste hierarchy and diversion from landfill.
- Energy and water efficiency in production.
- Life-cycle assessment (LCA) as a decision tool.
Unit 4: Stakeholders, regulation, and governance
- Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.
- The EU Circular Economy Action Plan and comparable policy.
- Engaging suppliers, customers, and regulators.
- Governance and reporting of circular targets.
Unit 5: Green innovation and market opportunities
- Sustainable materials and substitution.
- Circular product and packaging innovation.
- Positioning and communicating credible claims.
- Avoiding greenwashing and its reputational cost.
Unit 6: Building sustainable value chains
- Industrial symbiosis and shared by-products.
- Supplier standards and circular procurement.
- Traceability and material passports.
- Collaboration across the value chain.
Unit 7: The future of circular and sustainable business
- Linking circular goals to ESG reporting.
- Digital tools and the role of data.
- Building an internal roadmap and targets.
- Measuring circularity and demonstrating progress.
How the course is delivered
The course is delivered through facilitated discussion, worked examples, and documented case studies of businesses that have adopted circular models, with structured analysis of participants' own operations. It builds practical judgment and is educational; it does not certify a sustainability standard.
Who should attend
The course suits managers in operations, product, procurement, and sustainability, along with strategy and business-development staff shaping how their organizations use materials. Those working on the supply side will find Environmental Sustainability in Supply Chains a natural companion.
About EuroQuest International Training
EuroQuest International Training, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Bratislava, delivers professional courses to more than 15,000 participants across over 1,000 titles, in cities including Dubai, London, Barcelona, Istanbul, Vienna, Paris, and Geneva, led by experienced practitioners.
Frequently asked questions
Is this course only for sustainability specialists?
No. It is built for general managers and staff across operations, product, and procurement who influence how materials are used. Sustainability specialists will find it useful, but no prior expertise is assumed.
Does the course certify my company as circular?
No. It treats standards and regulations as educational subject matter and builds the judgment to design circular practices. Certification against a specific standard is a separate, formal process.
Will we work on our own business model?
Yes. The course uses worked examples and structured analysis so you can apply the frameworks to your own products and operations instead of only studying them in the abstract.
Related courses
- Corporate Sustainability and Strategic Leadership
- ISO 14001: Environmental Management Standards
- Natural Resource Management and Sustainability
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Operations
Register for this course
To reserve a place or ask about dates and in-house delivery, contact EuroQuest International Training and our team will help you arrange the details.
All Course Dates & Locations
27 dates · 13 cities · Sep 2026 – Jul 2027