Training for a circular economy in the workplace

byGiulia/06/08/2024 08:30

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The transition to a circular economy model, aimed at maximizing resources and reducing waste, represents a major challenge for businesses. Over and above the operational and organizational changes that need to be implemented, a genuine cultural transformation is needed to anchor these new virtuous practices at the heart of organizations.

In this context, training and awareness-raising for teams at all levels of the hierarchy is an essential prerequisite. From production operators to managers, sales and marketing teams, everyone needs to take ownership of the challenges and benefits of the circular economy if they are to contribute fully to this transformation.

Training employees to reuse and recycle

At the heart of our workshops and offices, it’s our employees who will be on the front line, implementing new circular economy practices on a daily basis. Whether we’re talking about sorting and recycling production waste, reusing rather than buying new, or eco-designing products from the outset, these virtuous actions need to become ingrained reflexes.

This is why it is essential to train all operational teams in the best practices of reuse, recycling and circular resource management. In-class awareness-raising sessions, but also and above all practical training in the field, will enable us to pass on the right gestures and remove any behavioral obstacles.

Over and above the purely technical aspects, these training courses should also emphasize the economic, social and environmental benefits of the circular economy. By understanding the global stakes, employees will be more inclined to get involved in the approach and become ambassadors on a daily basis.

Raising awareness among managers to get their teams on board

But for these changes in practice to be fully adopted and sustained, it is essential to get managers and team leaders on board. As operational relays, they will play a key role in supporting and motivating their employees through this transition.

Dedicated training programs, combining theory and real-life situations, will enable them not only to grasp the challenges of the circular economy, but also to acquire the managerial skills needed to steer these transformations within their teams.

Over and above the technical aspects, these training courses will emphasize the levers of change management, positive communication and recognition of efforts made. The aim is to give managers the keys to creating a dynamic of support and continuous progress around the circular economy.

Involve support functions for a cross-functional approach

But the circular economy doesn’t just concern production or logistics teams. To be fully effective and create value, it must be deployed across the company, involving all support functions.

Purchasing and procurement teams will need to be trained in new supplier evaluation criteria, incorporating requirements for eco-design, repairability and product re-use. This is an essential prerequisite for building a sustainable circular supply chain.

In terms of human resources, we need to support the emergence of new professions linked to the circular economy, such as resource managers or reuse experts. But also to integrate these new skills into training programs and career development paths.

Finance and accounting teams will not be left out, with the need for training in new circular economic models (functionality economy, sale of use, etc.) and their specific features in terms of valuation and taxation.

Last but not least, it will be essential to involve marketing, communications and sales teams in this transformation. Working closely with R&D, they will promote and enhance these new circular economy offerings to customers and consumers.

Raising managers’ awareness of the need for strategic support

While the training of operational and functional teams is crucial, the successful deployment of the circular economy in companies also requires strategic support at the highest level. That’s why it’s vital to raise awareness and train management committees in the challenges and opportunities of this new economy.

The program for these dedicated training sessions includes: understanding the concepts and benefits of the circular economy, analyzing the risks and opportunities for their sector of activity, as well as the operational and financial levers for initiating this transition.

The aim is to give managers the keys to fully integrating the circular economy into their corporate strategy, by setting ambitious targets and allocating the necessary resources (budgets, human resources, investments, etc.).

But beyond these strategic aspects, these training courses will also emphasize the ambassadorial role that managers must play. By embodying this transformation at the highest level and promoting it to their teams, they will provide the impetus needed to get all employees on board this new, virtuous dynamic.

Developing a circular corporate culture

But training and raising team awareness is not enough. To anchor the circular economy at the heart of the company over the long term, we need to go further and develop a genuine circular corporate culture, shared by all.

This means integrating these new challenges into HR processes, by incorporating them into job descriptions and employee appraisal and incentive criteria. A way of sending out a strong signal and recognizing the efforts made in this area.

Workspaces will also have to be rethought to make them more circular, by encouraging the reuse of furniture, setting up waste sorting and recovery systems, and offering equipment repair and maintenance services.

Lastly, the company will need to step up its awareness-raising initiatives on a day-to-day basis, through internal communication campaigns, the organization of circular economy challenges, or the creation of spaces for co-construction with employees.

The key role of training organizations

Faced with the scale of these training and awareness needs, companies will not be able to do everything in-house. They will need to rely on specialized training organizations capable of offering comprehensive, tailor-made programs adapted to their specific sectoral challenges.

Alongside traditional classroom-based training, these organizations will also have to offer innovative, immersive formats, such as serious games, visits to exemplary sites or life-size simulations. Playful, participative approaches are essential for capturing learners’ attention and anchoring new reflexes for the long term.

They will also have a key role to play in upgrading the skills of in-house trainers, passing on cutting-edge expertise on circular economy issues and practices. This is essential if the company is then to roll out these training courses on an ongoing, large-scale basis.

Finally, these specialized organizations will need to work hand in hand with schools, universities and initial training centers, to integrate these new challenges into academic curricula. This is an essential prerequisite if future employees are to arrive at the company already aware of the circular economy.

To discover other inspiring circular initiatives, visit CircularPlace, the platform dedicated to reuse.

Tags :circulareconomy, ecologicaltransition, environment, training

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