ASSA ABLOY, KONE and Swegon took part in Combient Pure’s Circularity Development Program to create processes and concepts that improve the circularity of their products. Technical building products present one of the largest emission sources in buildings, and circular economy tactics are a key tool for reducing these product-related emissions.
During the program, ASSA ABLOY, KONE, Swegon and Vasakronan worked together for 12 months to develop the circularity of technical building products, such as ventilation products, elevators, and automatic doors. The participants went through development sprints in six main themes: understanding the customer, impact measurement, dismantling and reverse logistics, product life extension, circular procurement and aligning internal processes, utilizing peer-to-peer learning and frameworks provided by Combient Pure.
New circular concepts and ways of working
The program accelerated the internal developments of the participating companies and resulted in interesting circular concepts and ways of working, challenging the linear business models in the building industry.
ASSA ABLOY highlights their gained insights about how to overcome challenges when upscaling circular products to larger volumes, while KONE points out that the project has helped them move from conceptual thinking to more specific actions. The deeper understanding of the various challenges suppliers are facing is what Vasakronan brings back home, and they are expecting to make changes in their tenant request in regards to circularity requirements.
The Circularity Development Program was led by a team from Combient Pure, which supports the decarbonization and circularity development of Combient network companies and companies in their value chains. When the project is now coming to an end, they are excited about the impact the project group collectively has catalysed in shaping a more circular future.
For Swegon, one of the outcomes of the program was to launch its RE:3 concept – RE:duce, RE:use and RE:vitalise - for systemising its circularity efforts and providing guidance to customers and employees.
“The program´s structure and the collaborative mindset of the involved people supported us in kicking off impactful internal changes for widening our circular market offer. Seeing a high interest and demand of our recently launched refurb kit for our GOLD air handling units in multiple European and Nordic countries as one example of RE:3, confirms that we are on the right track”, says Mirko Sauvan, Sustainability Manager at Swegon.
