Circular Economy: examples and case studies

Having grasped the urgency for change, several companies are at the forefront of this revolution that have resolutely embraced the principles of the circular economy and are still driving innovation toward more sustainable business solutions.

Presented below are some of the most interesting companies that are leading this circular revolution in every sphere of the economy.

How to read these examples. A useful case explains which resource remains in use and which activity changes. Recovering a by-product, extending an asset’s life and sharing supply-chain information are different mechanisms and need different indicators. A recyclable product, for example, is not necessarily recycled where it is used.

Before transferring a solution, ask: what is the baseline process? What volumes are actually handled? Who uses the output material or product? What collection, sorting and logistics costs remain? These questions distinguish a promising idea from a replicable model and an already demonstrated result.

The examples illustrate approaches and technologies; they are not environmental certifications of the companies mentioned. Impact claims need data with explicit boundaries and time periods. Digital applications are explored further in our AI & Circular Economy guide.

Fashion and textiles

• ORANGE FIBER
  From orange juice, fabrics are made. It’s not magic: it’s the unique technology coined by Orange Fiber to create circular yarns from Italian citrus waste. Did you know that “the pulp,” or what’s left after citrus juice production, accounts for 60% of the fresh fruit’s weight? Through their transparent processes and supply chain, Orange Fiber recovers this food industry waste and turns it into perfect fabrics for brands and designers who really care about sustainability.

• CANDIANI
  A made-to-measure jeans, designed to fit every body shape, created to express everyone’s originality.  In response to the environmental impact of the fashion industry, and the production of jeans, Candiani gives a unique experience in the heart of Milan by offering high quality and sustainable service. Their jeans are made using components produced in Italy within a 238 km radius, biodegradable and compostable materials, free of toxic substances, to enable virtuous end-of-life solutions.

• INFINITED FIBER
  Infinited Fiber develops technology that converts textile waste into Infinna™, a fibre with cotton-like characteristics. The case illustrates textile recycling and the replacement of virgin raw materials. Material performance and industrial scale-up are distinct: production capacity and plant start-up dates should be checked against the company’s latest updates.

Food and bioeconomy

• NOVAMONT
  Mater-Bi is a family of biodegradable and compostable bioplastics, wholly or partly plant-based. Novamont describes technologies based on starches, vegetable oils and their combinations. The case concerns materials designed for specific uses and end-of-life conditions, not a generic conversion of organic waste into plastic. Disposal should follow product and local collection-service instructions.

• EXTRA CAVIRO
  Great things can come from processing grapes, and no, we’re not just talking about wine! Extra Caviro embraces the principles of circularity by valorizing the by-products of Italian agro-industrial supply chains. Every year it collects about 624 thousand tons of production waste, translating them into semi-finished products and raw materials for agronomic, industrial, pharmaceutical and food companies. There is also talk of energy production from renewable sources, such as bioethanol obtained from the by-products of the wine supply chain. Another example, from red pomace it is possible to obtain a natural alternative to dye for beverages and food products: your ice cream can be completely plant-based!

• RECUP 
  Giving new value to food is easy with Recup: an association committed to combating food waste, the climate crisis and social exclusion through the active participation of the whole community. Their projects incentivize citizens and businesses to give unsold food a second chance through markets, to bring out children’s creativity in workshops related to food education and the circular economy, such as learning to create natural colors from fruit and vegetable scraps.

Technology and innovation

• TERRACYCLE
  Recycle the unrecyclable. How? With TerraCycle! The American startup founded in 2001 with a mission to “eliminate the idea of waste,” creates innovative solutions in recycling, recycled content and reuse. TerraCycle stands out in the recycling world by taking care of waste that local household recycling centers usually do not accept. This is made possible by partnering with brands, retailers and other interested parties willing to finance the recycling process.

• CIRCULARISE
  Circularise offers tools to collect, trace and share supply-chain information, including Digital Product Passports. Selective data sharing can support traceability and confidentiality, but does not automatically eliminate privacy risks or the need to check data quality and permissions.

• GREYPARROT
  Greyparrot applies computer vision and AI to analyse waste on sorting-facility conveyor belts. Data on stream composition help operators identify recoverable materials and inefficiencies. It is an example of AI supporting circularity: the benefit depends on the operational actions enabled by the data, not object recognition alone.

• RELEARN
  Monitoring and measuring waste is possible with ReLearn, an innovative company that, thanks to the NANDO sensor, provides data on the quantity and quality of each type of waste, including the recycling rate. This device, which can be easily installed in any trash container, enables companies and institutions to raise employee awareness toward a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle and improve corporate waste management.

Buildings and materials

• MOGU
  By combining mycelium, the vegetative stage of fungi, with other agro-industrial wastes, biomaterials can be obtained. From their processing, products can be made that can be applied to different sectors: packaging, automotive, textiles and leather. Mogu is committed to managing its production processes using low-value materials, which have no other valid application in the industry, giving them a new value: PLUMA is the collection of mycelium-based panels, designed for interior wall coverings.

• BIOHM
  The future is circular and biomimetic with Biohm. Inspired by nature, they create architectural and construction solutions in harmony with environmental, economic and human needs. Their designs are made from bio-based materials: for example, insulation from mycelium, interior furniture or lampshades from organic waste such as oranges, grass clippings and coffee. Innovation and creativity thus help develop building projects that minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency by promoting a sustainable future. 

• STONE CYCLING
  From an awareness of the environmental impact of the construction industry, contributing to global waste generation and carbon emissions, comes the desire to make construction sustainable. By reusing waste construction materials and studying ecosystems, Stone Cycling offers virtuous alternatives for the production of bricks, facades and concrete. Some examples? The facades of the Sands End Arts & Community Centre in London, enabling the recycling of 28,000 kg of landfill waste; the bricks of the offices of the Dutch company Adyen in Amsterdam, recycling 77,250 kg of waste.

Packaging and plastics

• MOVOPACK
  Goodbye single-use plastic: circular economy as a tool to produce reusable packaging. This is the challenge of Movopack, the startup that offers e-commerce companies and consumers an alternative, sustainable and circular solution. Movo is designed for reuse; anyone can decide, for various reasons, to return the envelope or box received and give it a new life: returns follow the service’s specified process and geographical coverage.

• REMAT
  Polyurethane waste from industrial processing, automotive, and furniture can be saved from landfills and turned into eco-friendly mattresses thanks to startup ReMat, part of the IrenUp group. In other words, your old car seats can become vehicle padding, thermal insulation or semi-finished products for mattresses, and much more!

• CIRPLUS
  If you are a company or supplier looking for a global marketplace for recycled materials and plastic waste, or are simply interested in circularity, Cirplus enables its safe, traceable, and cost-effective online purchase and sale.

Cosmetics

• NASTE
  “Sustainable down to the hair”. From the agri-food waste of apples and hazelnuts to the formulation of skin and hair products. Not only care in material selection, Naste is also committed to reducing its environmental impact in manufacturing, choosing sustainable energy sources and processing water recovery systems, and in packaging, using recycled and recyclable materials. Their commitment does not stop with the environment; the social fabric also takes on value with collaboration with social cooperatives in the area, generating employment and positive impacts for disadvantaged and disabled categories of individuals.

• BIOCASTANEA
  From research on circular bioeconomy to the production of bio-cosmetics with organic waste. Born from university research, Biocastanea is a line of ecological and certified organic cosmetics based on PGI-certified chestnut husk extract from Mount Amiata. The special feature of this product is the benefits obtained from the extraction of the chestnut husk, in fact we are not talking about cosmetics but cosmeceuticals, that is, bioactive cosmetics like pharmaceuticals.

• UPCIRCLE
  Commitment to using recovered and recycled ingredients, helping to reduce waste and promote the circular economy, are hallmarks of cosmetics company UpCircle, also B Corp. certified since 2022. Mainly their ingredients come from food industry waste: coffee grounds, blueberry juices, date seeds, residual fruit waters. Their efforts also focus on packaging, 99% plastic-free, refill services are offered to encourage customers to recycle and reuse as well.