In light of the net-zero goal until 2045 and the overuse of resources, the transition from a linear to a circular economy is crucial. But how can small and medium sized companies, the backbone of the German economy, sustainably transform their business model and thus, through a catalyst effect, enable and accelerate the overall transition?
“Make it circular! A gamified introduction to circular business models”
To facilitate a simple, yet impactful point of entry to the circular economy for medium-sized companies, acatech, WWF Germany and Johannes Kepler University Linz in a joint project, funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), developed a strategy game, consisting of a card deck with sector-independent, innovative business model cards and an accompanying workshop concept. Complemented with extensive informational material, the strategy game is adaptable to various circular economy knowledge levels and provides a foundation for companies to re-devise their business models aligned with circularity.
“Make it circular!” is available in English and German and can be downloaded free-of-charge. While the game was designed with medium-sized companies in mind, all other interested parties are warmly invited to take a closer look – as an individual, in an advisory capacity or as an institution.
Questions and answers about the strategy game
What is the strategy game about? The strategy game offers an impactful approach to introduce participants to the implementation of a circular economy within their company. With the appealingly designed card deck and the accompanying workshop moderation guide, medium-sized companies are enabled to develop and implement business model drafts for their own use that are aligned with a comprehensive circular economy.
The card deck is based on a typology of 22 patterns of circular business models, that were devised by the working group “Circular Business Models” of the Circular Economy Initiative Germany (CEID) and presented in the publication “Circular Business Models: Overcoming barriers, releasing potentials”.
The strategy game is intended to enable companies to:
- autonomously learn about circular business models
- examine their present business model based on the newly acquired expertise
- identify the most circular solution possible for their company.
The content of the stagey game in detail - Workshop facilitation guide: The facilitation guide provides conceptual background information regarding the strategy game workshop, explains goals and prerequisites and is intended to enable the moderator(s) to conduct the workshop and guide participants through the game.
- Presentation “Introduction to the Circular Economy”: The presentation enables joint knowledge acquisition about and establishes a shared understanding among the participants of the circular economy in general and circular business models in particular.
- Game board: The Game board (DIN A1) including the paper pattern is designed for self print-out. Board pattern: The game board can be printed out on four DIN A3 sized sheets of paper and assembled thereafter.
- Card deck
- Additionally required supplies:
- Sticky notes (yellow, green, pink)
- Marker or pen with high line thickness
- DIN A4 envelope for additional supplies
- Writing pad for notes
- Timer
- Flipchart
- Projector and screen
How do you play the strategy game? Duration:
The workshop consists of five modules that can be flexibly combined depending on the company´s knowledge level and the time available.
- Total duration: approx. 7 hours, thereof active playing time:
- Just under 2 hours for a quick run-through (module 2)
- Approx. 3 hours for the completion of the strategy game (module 3+4)
Participants:
- Max. 5-8 participant
- No previous circular economy expertise necessary
- Team compositions: participants from as many different company divisions and levels as possible; important supply chain partners as participants are beneficial as well.
Moderation:
Requirement:
- Experience in presenting and/or conducting workshops
Preparation:
- The written facilitation guides through the workshop
If the moderator and participants do not have prior knowledge about the circular economy, approx. 0,5-1 day preparation time is needed (familiarization with the topic and working through the presentation “Introduction to the circular economy”).
Preparation and printing instructions:
- Printing and cutting out the print files (approx. 3 hours)
- Prepare all game components as explained in the instruction
- Print out instruction and facilitation guide as needed.
Game preparation and printing instructions - Print out and cut out the print files (takes approx. 3 hours).
- Prepare all components for playing according to the game instructions in the facilitation guide.
- Print instructions of download packages:
- 1_PDF (content: facilitation guide): Print on normal paper, DIN A4, single-sided, black/white or coloured.
- 2_PPT (content: presentation "Introduction to the Circular Economy"): no printing necessary, online presentation
- 3_Package 1 (content: game instructions and documents): Print on normal paper, DIN A4, single-sided, black/white or coloured
- 4_Package 2 (content: game board and canvas): Print on normal paper, DIN A3, single-sided, black/white
- 5_Package 3 (content: playing cards): Print on cardboard paper, DIN A4 (e.g. 200g), double-sided, coloured
Partner
acatech is a national academy funded by the German federal and state governments and the voice of the technical sciences in Germany and abroad. It advises policymakers and society on issues relating to the future of technology science and policy. The Circular Economy topic area aims to create sustainable and resilient value creation cycles and addresses important issues for the implementation of a circular economy.
In the CE CA WO project, acatech is responsible for the project coordination, the conception and development of the card deck as well as the joint implementation of the piloting and supports the development of the workshop formats and the facilitation guide.
Project Funding
The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) was established by the Federal Government in 1990 as a foundation under civil law. The foundation's task is to promote projects for the protection of the environment with special consideration for small and medium-sized enterprises. Funded projects should achieve sustainable effects in practice, provide impetus and have a multiplier effect.
Please contact us if you are interested in our work and would like us to advise you on Circular Economy issues.
Rebecca Tauer for content-related enquiries
Dominik Patzelt for workshop moderation enquiries
