Circular Supply Chains Create Significant Value

While supply chain circularity is an important growth strategy, manufacturers find that supply chain capabilities are preventing them from reaping the expected benefits. This is according to a new report recently released by Bain & Company, the World Economic Forum and the University of Cambridge.

In a global survey of 491 executives across 10 manufacturing-centric industries, 79% of respondents say circularity is crucial for their business today, yet only 20% consider their circular supply chain capabilities fit for purpose. 

Additionally, 95% of executives said circularity will be important to their organizations within three years, while over two-thirds rate it as “very important”. Eighty percent of respondents expect circular-revenue growth to exceed company averages, while 70% anticipate higher margin growth from circular activities than from linear ones.

“The question is no longer whether circularity matters but how it can be implemented at scale,” said Xavier Houot, partner in the sustainability & responsibility practice at Bain & Company. “For business leaders, that means moving beyond incremental initiatives to embed circularity at the heart of strategy, operations and customer engagement.”

According to the report, barriers to scaling circular supply chains fall into five main categories:

• Operations and logistics: Companies struggle with low availability of secondary materials or used products, varying return quality, costly reverse logistics and processing complexity.
• Business opportunity and profitability: High upfront operating costs, uncertain demand and insufficient revenues can make profitability feel elusive.
• Technology, data and infrastructure: Weak reverse-logistics networks, poor data systems and limited digital tracking hinder transparency and efficiency.
• Organization: Skill gaps, partner incentivization challenges and internal resistance that hinder progress.
• Regulation: Cross-border restrictions, conflicting product and waste standards and inconsistent rules on refurbished or remanufactured goods create costly bottlenecks.

To overcome these challenges, the report outlines three strategic steps leading companies can adopt for scaling circular supply chains:

• Setting clear priorities: Focus on products with higher residual value and more predictable return flows, and target customer segments open to circular offers.
• Design hybrid supply chains: Combine linear and circular flows in hybrid models. Findings from the survey showed that 56% of companies reported mostly integrated supply chains, while only 5% run fully independent ones.
• Activate key enablers: The report highlights four catalysts for scaling: 1) Technology and data including digital tracking, IoT and AI to connect installed base and manage unpredictable flows 2) People and culture, by building circularity into governance, skills and rewards 3) Finance and investments covering start-up costs and supporting medium-term returns 4) Policy and regulation including creating consistent frameworks and market incentives.

“Businesses increasingly see the economic potential of circularity, but scaling their supply chains remains complex," concluded Hernán Sáenz, senior partner and chairman of Bain’s performance improvement practice. "Those that set clear priorities and build the right design can turn circularity into a source of growth and resilience.”