Skills Assessment Tool Glossary

Skill description

Understanding the circular economy model, which aims to eliminate waste by reusing materials and products. This includes skills to apply circular principles that maximise product lifespans through repair, reuse, and recycling

Example

A business trains staff on circular practices like take-back programs that recover used products for recycling

Skill description

Strategic planning skills that consider external factors like policy and consumer demand, and internal factors like innovation capacity. This enables businesses to capture circular opportunities

Example

A company analyses market trends and regulatory shifts to inform R&D investments in recyclable packaging

Skill description

Skills to rethink traditional business models to be more circular. This could involve shifting from selling products to providing services, or offering incentives for product returns

Example

A retailer introduces a subscription model for clothing to encourage reuse and repair

Skill description

Applying circular design thinking to products and services by:

• Maximising durability and reuse potential 
• Enabling effective recovery of materials at end-of-life 
• Reducing environmental impact across the lifecycle 
• Innovating through new technologies and ideas 
• Tailoring to user needs

Example

An electronics brand designs modular smartphones with removable, upgradeable parts for easier repair and customisation

Skill description

Skills to measure and understand sustainability impacts like carbon emissions, resource use, and waste generation across product and service lifecycles

Example

A manufacturer conducts lifecycle assessments to identify opportunities to reduce carbon footprint

Skill description

Technical skills to execute circular design goals through material selection, manufacturing processes, manufacturing for repair, multiple lifecycles and end of life resource recovery

Example

An automaker uses recycled plastics and optimises production methods to enable vehicle remanufacturing

Skill description

Skills to collaborate across the supply chain, ensuring circularity through closed-loop systems for reuse and recycling

Example

A retailer works closely with suppliers to increase use of reusable and recyclable packaging

Skill description

Skills to manage the flow of goods to consumers and the reverse flow of materials back for reuse, repair or remanufacturing

Example

A consumer electronics company provides a system for customers to return used smartphones and other devices to collection points for disassembly and reuse of components

Skill description

Technical skills to provide repair, refurbishment or remanufacturing services to extend product lifecycles

Example

A whitegoods company offers appliance repair, upgrades and remanufacturing

Skill description

Skills to track assets across supply chains and product lifecycles to enable circular flows

Example

A fashion brand implements RFID tags to monitor clothing usage and take-back for recycling

Circular Design is a design philosophy rooted in the principles of the circular economy, which aims to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. Unlike traditional linear design (make → use → dispose), circular design focuses on creating systems where resources are continuously cycled through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling.

Resource Recovery is the process of extracting useful materials or energy from waste streams, rather than sending them to landfill or incineration. It’s a cornerstone of the circular economy, helping to close the loop by turning waste into valuable inputs for new products or services.

Enabling Technologies refer to the digital, physical, and biological tools that make circular practices—like reuse, remanufacturing, recycling, and resource recovery—more efficient, scalable, and traceable. These technologies help organisations transition from linear to circular models by improving transparency, automation, and decision-making.

Product as a Service (PaaS) is a business model where instead of selling a product outright, a company offers it as a service. This approach shifts the focus from ownership to access and outcomes. Instead of a one-time sale, the product is provided through a subscription, leasing, or pay-per-use model. The customer pays for the value or utility the product delivers, not the product itself.

Leasing is a business model where a product is rented to a customer for a specified period, rather than being sold outright. It’s a key enabler of circular economy strategies because it allows companies to retain ownership of products, ensuring better control over their lifecycle, maintenance, and end-of-life recovery.

Remanufacturing is the process of restoring used products or components to like-new condition, often with upgraded features or performance. It goes beyond simple repair or refurbishment by meeting original specifications and quality standards. In the context of the circular economy, remanufacturing helps extend product lifecycles, reduce resource consumption, and minimise waste.

Reuse is the practice of using products, components, or materials again for the same or a different purpose, without significant processing. It’s one of the most direct and impactful strategies in the circular economy, helping to extend the life of resources, reduce waste, and lower environmental impact.

Repair is the process of fixing or restoring a product to working condition after it has been damaged or worn out. In the circular economy, repair plays a vital role by extending the life of products, reducing the need for new materials, and preventing waste. It empowers users and businesses to maintain value and functionality without discarding items prematurely.

Sharing Economy refers to an economic model where individuals or organisations share access to goods, services, or resources, often facilitated by digital platforms. Instead of owning assets outright, users can borrow, rent, or co-use them—maximising utilisation and reducing waste. It’s a key enabler of the circular economy, promoting access over ownership.