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CEO Interview “IT’S NOT ABOUT DOING WITHOUT. IT’S ABOUT SOLUTIONS WITH ADDED VALUE.” The circular economy is paving the way for manufacturers to tap into new markets and target groups using fewer resources. Jan Patrick Schulz, CEO of Landbell Group, talks about global take-back concepts, intelligent product use and a new generation of start-ups. Mr Schulz, Landbell Group has developed over the past few years from a classic recycling service provider to a circular economy pioneer. Why? Jan Patrick Schulz: It was the logical consequence of our business strategy. With Landbell AG, we succeeded in breaking a monopoly. We entered the German market as the second provider of takeback logistics for packaging, and with this activity we gradually entered new markets and countries. Today, under the umbrella of Landbell Group, we manage global waste flows and offer recycling services on every continent. At heart, we are still a recycling service provider, but with our comprehensive technical and regulatory knowledge we are able to offer much more. So recycling is a global market now? Schulz: Definitely. There are fewer and fewer companies that only produce locally. The case of batteries is possibly the most obvious example. The battery market has been global for a long time. But there is a trend towards globalisation in packaging as well. Online trade is booming, which means locally produced packaging is being sent all over the world. Most manufacturers now need take-back concepts with a global reach. There are some differences when it comes to electrical appliances, but here too we have ultimately seen an increase in cross-border solutions. In other words, small and medium-sized businesses in particular are facing the challenge of complying with a wide range of legal provisions in their markets. For example? Schulz: Our aim is to work with governments and industries to drive a radical change in the way we produce and consume – so that, in the future, our prosperity will no longer be based on wasting primary energy and raw materials. Efficient recycling technologies will be just as important in achieving this transformation as digital solutions and new business models. We have laid the foundations with our global presence. We know the regulations in the relevant markets and use this knowledge to develop appropriate processes and IT solutions for our customers. What do the solutions look like? Schulz: Nearly ten years ago, we were the first recycling service provider to offer retailers and manufacturers web-based applications. One of them is Landbell EASy, a piece of software that our German and Austrian customers can use to fulfil their entire packaging compliance obligations online. We have gradually refined this software and other applications over time. Our latest product is called Click & Comply. It’s an online tool that helps companies meet their obligations for packaging, batteries and electrical waste across Europe in an easy and quick manner.
7 Landbell Group helps manufacturers comply with their legal obligations regarding producer responsibility. Why should businesses also take an interest in the circular economy? Schulz: One big advantage is taking back control of the entire product life cycle. In this area, we provide advice to our customers and work with them to develop individual solutions. Companies that successfully take back and reuse materials are less dependent on price fluctuations on the commodity markets. At the same time, a closed-loop production cycle offers the opportunity to provide high-quality products at marketable prices. More and more business models are benefiting from the basic ideas of the circular economy (see infographics on pg. 8). A good example is the sharing concept. Car sharing can increase usage by up to 40 per cent per car, instead of it spending 90 per cent of the time in the garage. And because the vehicle is no longer sold, but rented, the manufacturer will be much more interested in ensuring a long service life. It’s similar to a printer manufacturer charging by the number of printed pages instead of per toner cartridge. Business models like these change production. The incentive becomes how to design durable, repairable products and keep spare parts available. emerged because, for instance, certain groups couldn’t afford or didn’t want to have their own car or pay for expensive hotel rooms. The economy reacted by developing concepts that just happened to use fewer resources. And that is of course the ideal combination: when the circular economy is not about doing without, but about solutions that offer customers added value instead. You yourself promote the development of solutions like these through Green Alley, the first start-up award for green businesses. Where is this heading? Schulz: Green Alley brings us into direct contact with a new generation of start-up entrepreneurs – incredibly well-educated people who want to do more with their careers than earn lots of money. This desire to create something useful is combined with a growing professionalism. Whereas the first start-ups were based largely on the idea of doing something for the environment at the local level, many of today’s start-up entrepreneurs are thinking bigger. They are linking the environmental benefit with business, developing approaches that will ideally pay for themselves. How willing is our society to rethink consumption habits? Schulz: There are now some very successful sharing models around. However, they haven’t necessarily required a rethink, but have For example? Schulz: One of our award winners produces dry lining boards from cereal waste. Not only do they use less energy and fewer raw
Page 1 and 2: DISCOVER THE POWER OF RESOURCES
Page 3 and 4: 3 Our strong international brands:
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Page 9 and 10: 9 WHY CHOOSE LANDBELL GROUP? The co
Page 11 and 12: 11 On average, consumers keep their
Page 13 and 14: 13 Additionally, our IT tools simpl
Page 15 and 16: 15 As raw materials become scarcer,
Page 17 and 18: 17 new chemical substance on the Eu
Page 19 and 20: 19 Upcycling, recycling, sharing -
Page 21 and 22: 21 Take-back 2.0 One of our most su
Page 23 and 24: 23 * * * * Landbell Group owns a 30
Page 25 and 26: 25 Sulapac®: Replacing plastic wit
Page 27 and 28: 27 1995-2007: First steps and succe

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