Earth Overshoot Day is the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. In the UK this day will fall on the 20th May this year much earlier than the global average showing that we use a much larger amount of the earths resources than the average. It might shock people to see that we are almost on a par with China.
How is Earth Overshoot Day calculated?
• The Global Footprint Network calculates Earth Overshoot Day by dividing the Earth's biocapacity by humanity's Ecological Footprint, and then multiplying by 365.
• The biocapacity is the amount of ecological resources the Earth can generate in a year.
• The Ecological Footprint is humanity's demand for those resources in a year.
What can we do to move the Earth Overshoot Day? And importantly what role can business play balancing People, Planet and Profit.
By embracing circular economy principles individuals and communities can contribute to shifting Earth Overshoot Day to a later date, promoting a more sustainable balance between consumption and the planet’s capacity to regenerate. For business this also opens up opportunities for new business models and new product and service opportunities.
A very useful framework is something creatively called the the 11R model, an expansion of the well known phrase: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Businesses can leverage this 11R model; Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, Recover to drive growth of existing products, create new product and service opportunities, cut costs, and improve sustainability.
Here’s how each principle contributes to business success:
1. Refuse: Eliminating Waste at the Source
How it Helps Growth:
• Cost Savings: Reducing unnecessary materials lowers production costs.
• Stronger Brand Image: Eco-conscious consumers prefer businesses that avoid wasteful practices.
Made in Britain member Ideal Manufacturing have partnered with a start-up sustainable business, Planet Minimal to build a working circular solution that moves their business towards zero waste and gets their product into home kitchens, without adding a single use plastic bottle into the waste system.
2. Rethink: Innovating for Sustainability
How it Helps Growth:
• New Business Models: Encourages companies to design products and services that prioritise sustainability from the start.
• Competitive Advantage: Businesses that rethink their processes can differentiate themselves in the market.
Made in Britain member Honest, a new ethical brand, launched a reusable drinking bottle that is manufactured in the UK from locally sourced recycled single-use bottles. Honest will also dedicate time and resource to install publicly available water refill points, using proceeds from the Honest Bottle sales.
3. Reduce: Minimising Resource Use
How it Helps Growth:
• Lower Operational Costs: Using fewer raw materials reduces expenses.
• Regulatory Compliance: Businesses benefit from government incentives for reducing waste.
4. Reuse: Extending Product Lifespan
How it Helps Growth:
• New Business Models: Offering refillable, returnable, or reusable products encourages repeat purchases.
• Loyalty & Retention: Customers value durable, reusable products, increasing brand loyalty.
Resource recovery expert and Made in Britain member Axion has joined forces with two other partners in a major initiative aimed at reusing and recycling the growing volume of batteries used in electric vehicles.
5. Repair: Keeping Products in Use Longer
How it Helps Growth:
• After-Sales Revenue: Businesses can offer repair services, generating additional income.
• Customer Trust: A repair-friendly policy builds long-term customer relationships.
Made in Britain member Esprit Windscreen Repair Equipment Ltd not only manufacture product to the top repairers in the UK they also provide online and in person training.
6. Refurbish: Restoring Used Products for Resale
How it Helps Growth:
• Increased Revenue: Selling refurbished products attracts budget-conscious and eco-conscious customers.
• Waste Reduction: Businesses can refurbish returns or slightly damaged items instead of discarding them.
Made in Britain member Race Furniture actively promote their refurbishment services alongside their manufacturing operations.
7. Remanufacture: Rebuilding Products to Like-New Condition
How it Helps Growth:
• Higher Profit Margins: Remanufacturing costs less than producing new items while maintaining high quality.
• Sustainability Leadership: Businesses can position themselves as leaders in circular economy solutions.
Made in Britain members Blake and Bull offer re-enameling of a range of products most notably Aga range cookers.
8. Repurpose: Finding New Uses for Waste Materials or Products
How it Helps Growth:
• New Revenue Streams: Businesses can sell by-products or waste materials for alternative uses.
• Cost Reduction: Repurposing waste reduces disposal costs.
Made in Britain member Spill Defence Manufacturing have a process in which a product is repeatedly recycled and repurposed into a new items, such as absorbents.
9. Restoration: Preserving and Repairing Vintage and Old Items
How it Helps Growth:
• Cultural & Heritage Value: Businesses specialising in restoration help maintain historical artefacts, buildings, and antiques, preserving heritage.
• High-Value Market: Restored items can be resold at a premium, creating a profitable business model.
Many Made in Britain members offer restoration services alongside the sale of newly manufactured products. For example Instinct Hardware who restored historic Southwark Cathedral handles and Fracino, The UK's multi award-winning manufacturer of commercial espresso coffee machines who can restore vintage machines.
10. Recycle: Turning Waste into Value
How it Helps Growth:
• Cost Reduction: Recycling lowers disposal costs and reclaims valuable materials.
• Circular Supply Chains: Businesses can turn old products into raw materials for new ones.
Made in Britain member NBB Recycled Furniture has achieved a monumental milestone: Over 150million plastic bottles diverted from landfills and oceans.
11. Recover: Extracting Value from Waste
How it Helps Growth:
• Energy Generation: Businesses can convert waste into energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Resource Efficiency: Recovering raw materials from waste streams lowers production costs.
Made in Britain member DCO Systems Limited offer a range of energy harvesting technologies and monitoring systems.
By adopting the principles of the 11R model, businesses can reduce costs, increase revenue, improve brand reputation, and build customer loyalty.
However phrases like circular economy and closed loop can be confusing and it is essential that all customer and consumer communications are clear, simple and accurate, and avoiding Greenwash all all costs. A great example the packaging information from multi-award-winning Made in Britain member Delphis Eco.
A circular economy approach creates long-term sustainability and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market, and help address global challenges such as Earth Overshoot Day. By embracing the opportunities that the 11R’s can offer, we can collectively work towards pushing this date further back, moving closer to a sustainable balance between consumption and the planet’s capacity to regenerate.
By Made in Britain 2 months ago | By Made in Britain