Becoming more sustainable as a smaller or medium-sized enterprise involves finding other companies that can use your waste. By seeking out these opportunities and entering the circular economy, you can take steps towards sustainability. The process includes assessing your materials flow, collaborating with other companies, utilizing digital marketplaces, and treating the shift to a circular economy as a significant change program.
In 19th century London, the River Thames was heavily polluted, containing untreated sewage and coal tar. This pollution caused outbreaks of cholera and typhoid, leading to numerous deaths. The unbearable stench during the “Great Stink of 1858” prompted the construction of a sewer system that still remains in use today. Additionally, the discovery that coal tar could be distilled into synthetic dyes prompted businesses to stop dumping it into the river. Instead, they found ways to repurpose it into valuable dye compounds, demonstrating the shift towards more sustainable practices.