Circulus
Circulus: A circular net zero project
While Bystronic has rolled out its sustainability strategy and clearly defined its targets, it is evident that true sustainability requires going fully circular. Project Circulus aims exactly to do that, helping legacy manufacturers make a circular turnaround.
Swiss companies face mounting pressure to ensure their value chains are both sustainable and circular. In response, the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons, the ZHAW School of Engineering, and Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne have joined forces with industry as part of the Circulus flagship initiative, funded by Innosuisse, to address these critical challenges.
The research project Circulus seeks to pinpoint tangible actions to convert Switzerlandʼs mechanical, electrical, and metal (MEM) industries into a circular economy, striving for peak sustainability. The proposed alterations to business models, products, partner networks, and value chain processes will be directly tested and executed by the participating implementation partners.
Current efforts to encourage circularity are evident, but are mostly confined to specific companies, products, or processes. A comprehensive strategy is still missing, according to deputy project manager Prof. Dr. Patricia Deflorin. She highlights that the Circulus project adopts an innovative viewpoint by examining circularity throughout the entire value chain, rather than just within isolated companies.
In this initiative, a collaboration between four research institutes and five implementation partners (namely Almer, Bystronic, Planzer Synergistics, Thermoplan, and V-Zug) is underway to forge a path towards a sustainable circular MEM industry.
“There are numerous actionable opportunities to enhance the value derived from repair and refurbishment activities. Certain processes require modification, and it is essential to establish new local repair operations closer to customers.”
Vianney Courbon
Sustainability Project Manager (Bystronic)
Bystronic has actively engaged in three distinct workshops to date. The inaugural session was held at Switzerland Innovation Park in Biel/Bienne, where the primary objectives of the Circulus project were established. Subsequent workshops discussed the theoretical framework of the circular economy model by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, alongside an examination of contemporary scientific perspectives. Additionally, a thorough analysis of Bystronicʼs existing value chain was conducted.
Several members of the Bystronic sustainability council are involved in this comprehensive research project, as well as our ESG Officer, Michael Präger.
Vianney Courbon from Bystronic highlights several intriguing learnings from the workshops that may be up for discussion to be implemented at Bystronic itself:
- Optimizing the refurbishment process for Bystronic machinery.
- Developing localized repair services for our equipment and solutions.
- Exploring the possibility of remanufacturing products in regional facilities.
- Rethinking the business strategy to emphasize not just the machinery, but also their individual parts.
The research project will continue until 2027. This flagship project is supported by Innosuisse as part of the Swiss Confederation. Find more information on the following link:
