TOWARD A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The research resulting from the collaboration between Iris Ceramica Group and the SOS School of Sustainability – based on a great sensitivity for ecological issues, which is something that both project partners have in common – aims to provide answers to modern day challenges that could prompt the ceramics production industry to rethink its current business model.

These challenges stem from environmental criticalities, the availability of resources and the resulting (or independent) evolution of demand from potential customers.

Therefore, the innovation of processes, products and services that we hope to achieve embraces circular economy principles, which reflect the ongoing commitment to building a sustainable future. Starting with an analysis of the product’s life cycle, and by studying the best practices and identifying stakeholders, the research we conducted has allowed us to determine the key factors for change in the ecosystem in which ceramic products have thrived until now, defining the necessary measures to be taken to be able to work in an ever-evolving context.

The ultimate goal is to generate financial and social value, and this can only be achieved by going beyond the traditional Business As Usual approach, envisioning a systematic, integrated change. In other words, a new way of doing business that sees ceramic products as part of a complex, dynamic system: Building As a Service, an innovative concept linked to buildings, where technology, the physical environment and management are constantly interacting with each other.

New methods of use and new alliances take shape: spatial flexibility, technology integration, the transition to digital technology and process servitization give new meaning to ceramic products as we know them, increasing possibilities and broadening horizons.

This approach lays the foundations for further research, with medium to long term consequences in terms of application that will allow us take into consideration the new possibilities and fields of application of ceramic materials, always bearing in mind their feasibility when configuring a new active component that will be integrated into future buildings and cities.