Circular economy does not emerge without encounters between people.
While this claim may be debated, it is clear that circular solutions are rarely created or implemented alone. Instead, functioning ecosystems—where one actor’s waste becomes another’s resource—are often key to successful outcomes. In a complex transformation like the circular economy, business opportunities are not created solely through strategies and actions, but also through interaction between different actors, which builds the conditions for collaboration and new ideas.
Circular economy requires collaboration
The goal of the circular economy is to achieve economic growth without the consumption of finite natural resources. It represents a complex systemic change for which there is no single solution, nor any individual company or actor capable of delivering it alone. Therefore, advancing the circular economy requires systemic and cross-boundary collaboration.
Research has shown that solutions to circular economy challenges may emerge in informal discussions. One challenge is encouraging companies to think in new ways so that they can identify even hidden opportunities.
In addition to informal discussions, it also matters who we interact with. The concept of “weak ties” highlights the importance of connections outside one’s immediate circle. When people meet others beyond their own networks, they gain access to new ideas and information that their close contacts cannot provide.
Encounters as enablers of business
Face-to-face encounters play a key role in building collaboration in the circular economy. They create opportunities for trust-building, knowledge sharing, and the emergence of new ideas.
When companies from different sectors meet, they can better recognize opportunities to utilize each other’s resources, develop new business models, and create value collaboratively. Diversity within the network strengthens this process, as it brings together different perspectives and expertise.
Conclusion
The development of the circular economy is not only a technical or strategic process—it is also deeply social. Interaction between people, informal discussions, and diverse networks are essential for generating new ideas and enabling collaboration.
In this sense, circular economy truly emerges between people: in encounters that connect actors, build shared understanding, and open up new business opportunities.
Writer: Sanna Antola, Laurea
English version translated and adapted from an original Finnish version with the assistance of Copilot.
Kiertotalous syntyy ihmisten välillä – kohtaamiset liiketoiminnan mahdollistajana | Laurea Journal