Waste to Wealth

The Circular Economy Advantage
By Peter Lacy & Jakob Rutqvist
25 September 2015
£21.99 | $35 | Hardback | 9781137530684

What if someone told you we can get richer, be more comfortable, have better stuff, and still have a planet worth living on?

The ‘circular economy’ may be about to drive one of the biggest transformations in business since the Industrial Revolution 250 years ago. Through a radical departure from the traditional 'take, make, waste' production and consumption models, the circular economy could provide a potential $4.5 trillion in additional economic output by 2030.

In Waste to Wealth, Peter Lacy and Jakob Rutqvist present disruptive strategies that help both planet and profit through the circular economy. This revolutionary concept involves keeping resources in productive use within the economy for as long as possible, while decoupling economic growth from the unsustainable consumption of natural resources. The authors assert that what has previously been seen as ‘waste’ is actually the biggest economic opportunity of our time.

Waste to Wealth is the first book to tackle head-on the issue of exactly how companies, governments, and economies can address current global issues and turn waste into wealth at all levels of society. Lacy and Rutqvist draw on their exhaustive research across 120 companies and 50 executives and thought leaders to identify and practically outline the five main circular business models. Through their extensive professional experience and a wide range of case studies, they argue that the circular economy is the only viable large-scale solution for prosperous, green and thriving economic growth and human development.

Ultimately, the driver for adopting the circular economy isn't scarcity – it's opportunity. The opportunity to derive more from resources and assets and create products and services that are much more innovative and responsive to the most important point in the circle – the customer – is one we cannot afford to miss.

“The circular economy is an extremely powerful model for facing many of today’s challenges in terms of jobs, growth, resource efficiency and the fight against climate change. We now need all businesses to embark in this transformation. This is where this book can make a difference.”
– Jean-Louis Chaussade, CEO, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT

“Waste to Wealth makes a compelling case for why ‘business as usual’ is no longer a viable option in a time of scarce natural resources and constrained economic growth. A worthwhile read by any standard.”
– Peder Holk Nielsen, President & CEO, Novozymes

“Waste to Wealth captures the spirit of one of today’s most significant business trends: the circular economy. Lacy and Rutqvist approach the topic in a straightforward and practical manner, underlining that the linear take-make-waste model is (or should be) on its way towards extinction. I believe that any company pursuing sustainable growth can find valuable inspiration in this book.”
– Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, President & CEO, Carlsberg

-ENDS-

About the Authors

Peter Lacy is Global Managing Director of Sustainability Services at Accenture and a member of the Accenture Strategy leadership team. He is an adviser to the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and governments, CEOs and boards around the world. He is a business fellow at Oxford University, a WEF Young Global Leader and co-founder of 'The Circulars', the first worldwide circular economy award for business innovation. He is a regular contributor to publications such as the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian and China Daily.

Jakob Rutqvist is a manager in Accenture's Strategy and Sustainability practice and is part of its Nordic sustainability leadership team. Before Accenture he worked as a lobbyist on innovation, climate and energy and has engaged big multinationals as well as governments and institutions such as the UN, World Bank, World Economic Forum and EU Parliament. He is an alumnus of Clinton Global Initiative, One Young World and Harvard University. Jakob has written for Fast Company and Fortune.

Notes to editors:
For more information or to get in touch with the author please contact:
Rebecca Krahenbuhl, rebecca.krahenbuhl@palgrave.com, +44 0207 014 6634