Sustainable Legislative Framework
There is worldwide demand for more efficient and sustainable products to reduce energy and resource consumption.
The EU’s sustainable product policy, ecodesign legislation and energy labelling are effective tools for improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of products. They help eliminate the least performing products from the market and support industrial competitiveness and innovation by promoting the better environmental performance of products throughout the internal market.‘Ecodesign’ means the integration of environmental aspects into product design with the aim of improving the environmental performance of the product throughout its whole life cycle.
Source: CIRCOTRONIC (Interreg Central Europe Programme).
SiGREEN
SiGREEN by Siemens AG is a digital solution for the trusted exchange and management of product carbon footprint data along complex supply chains.
Using decentralized data acquisition and secure data transfer technologies, SiGREEN enables companies to access, share, and utilize actual emissions data from their suppliers in real time. This tool empowers organizations, including those in the machinery manufacturing sector, to make data-driven decisions to reduce their carbon footprint, ensure regulatory compliance, and accelerate their transition toward a circular economy. SiGREEN goes beyond traditional estimates by focusing on primary data, ensuring that sustainability actions are based on real environmental impacts. It supports companies in creating transparency, driving decarbonization strategies, and fostering collaboration across value chains, thereby contributing to more sustainable industrial ecosystems.
Source: https://xcelerator.siemens.com/global/en/all-offerings/products/s/sigreen.html
Green Transformation Cards
The Green Transformation Cards are a practical toolkit developed by the Green Tech Valley Cluster to help companies integrate sustainability and circular economy principles into their operations.
The set includes around 100 actionable measures structured across ten key business areas such as strategy, ecodesign, supply chains, production, and business models.
Designed for use in collaborative workshops, the cards are supported by the Green Transformation Canvas, enabling companies to assess their climate impact, define goals, and plan effective decarbonization actions. They encourage the use of actual emissions data as a foundation for strategic decisions.
The tool promotes the structured integration of circular practices—like sustainable sourcing, lifecycle thinking, and regenerative strategies—across diverse industries. It supports businesses in driving measurable environmental improvements and fostering innovation.
Available as a printed set or interactive online tool, the Green Transformation Cards help organizations navigate their sustainability transition within their operational context and contribute to building resilient, low-carbon, and circular value chains.
Source: https://www.greentech.at/en/
The Toolbox
The Toolbox is a practical 8-step sustainability platform designed to help manufacturing companies integrate sustainable practices into their operations.
It guides organizations through the entire journey—from assessing their current impact and setting measurable targets to engaging stakeholders, implementing solutions and reporting progress. Equipped with customizable templates, case studies, tutorials and expert support, The Toolbox empowers businesses to adopt circular economy principles and create meaningful, measurable change toward a more sustainable future. It was originally developed by the 11th Hour Racing Team and further enhanced and tailored by the Greene 4.0 project to meet the specific needs of manufacturing companies, offering sector-relevant templates, regional case studies, and expert support. This adaptation ensures that businesses can effectively implement the tools within their operational realities and advance their circular economy goals.
Source: 11th Hour Racing Team and Greene 4.0
(Interreg Central Europe Programme).
Resourcify
Resourcify is a leading European digital platform for waste management and circular economy, designed to help companies optimize processes, reduce costs, and increase recycling rates.
Founded in 2015, it supports businesses of all sizes – from manufacturers to retailers and healthcare institutions – in digitalizing and automating the entire waste management chain. Key features include centralized waste management, enabling companies to track and analyse over 200 types of waste with detailed reports on volumes, flows, and costs. The platform integrates with a network of over 130 recyclers in 6 European countries, facilitating the sale of secondary materials and efficient waste pickup coordination. At the same time its digital workflow automates processes such as pickup scheduling, container sizing, invoicing, and reporting. Moreover, advanced analytics and reporting tools help identify opportunities for waste reduction and monitor key sustainability performance indicators. Additionally, Resourcify supports take-back programs for sectors with significant packaging or medical waste and ensures full compliance with local regulations, providing transparency throughout the entire waste management chain. Companies using Resourcify, such as McDonald’s, Johnson & Johnson, and REWE, report up to 50% higher recycling rates and reduced administrative costs, with real-time tracking of waste volumes, CO2 emissions, and cost savings.
Source: The Resourcify Solution
The Circularity Calculator
An online tool called the Circularity Calculator helps with the early phases of designing circular products.
As part of a design methodology for goods with multiple lifecycles, the Circularity Calculator was created and evaluated as part of the European ResCoM project. The tool development was started because one of the company's design teams needed help with circular design, and it was especially made to meet the needs of designers. The product lifespan and resource flow in the system are schematically represented by the Circularity Calculator. To investigate and contrast design options and observe the effect on performance metrics, the user can create various cyclic scenarios and creative design solutions. The creators established four important performance measures to show the "circularity" and "circular potential" of items. Every KPI is updated in real time, giving instant feedback to evaluate the effects of shifting collection rates or the possible profits when altering a particular component's material, for example. The design team is responsible for making reasonable assumptions about the necessary design modifications while utilising the tool. Its basic features, such as modelling circular designs and scenarios, visualising material and value flows, and measuring circularity and value capture, are all available under a free license.
Source: IDEAL&CO Explore
