How a circular business can become socially responsible? | Ep. #53

<p>In today's episode we discuss, a Brazilian organization by the name of <a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/case-studies/waste-recovery-network-turning-corporate-waste-into-handmade-goods">Rede Asta</a> which is an online platform that support a network of artisans, to recover materials from corporate and urban waste. The artisans transform this material into elegant gift products that are then sold back to corporates and other customers. Rede Asta’s platform helps to increase income but also to improve connectivity and resource sharing within the artisan network.</p> <p>It essentially plays a broker type role, matching demand from corporates with supply from economically disadvantaged collectives. However I think they are much more than brokers in that they must speak the language of corporates and work with them in a multidisciplinary way.</p> <p>For example, the budget may come from the Marketing department while the business waste comes from Operations, all coordinated by the Sustainability Officer. They also need to professionalise the collectives supporting on design, quality assurance, on-time delivery and cost management. So it is not as easy as it sounds!</p> <p>Rede Asta’s business model operates at three levels - partnership building, connecting and skill sharing.</p> <p>Rede Asta establishes partnerships with hundreds of companies throughout Brazil to collect their waste materials or unused equipment. The company then offers them bespoke designs using these discarded materials to suit specific marketing purposes, such as the promotion of a current internal initiative. This scalable approach is made possible through a nationwide network of artisans, with Rede Asta acting a matchmaker to facilitate new sales opportunities.</p> <p>Rede Asta has realised that while these contracts are satisfying to deliver, the ability to scale their impact is limited. Thus it has developed an online platform to connect collectives directly with corporates looking for their business waste to be repurposed.