EARTH Centred Business Design

Edinburgh Innovations is part of CloudEARTHi, a consortium of six European partners who have developed the EARTH Centred Business Design Tool (ECBD Tool) to enable the development of low-carbon, circular startups essential for a just transition to net zero.

The ECBD Tool comprises unique exercises and tools to help those considering forming a company in any sector to think differently about how they operate to build a more sustainable future. 

 

With our framework, we no longer want founders to do business as usual, we want to help them build a business that operates within planetary boundaries, that is sustainable and resilient, as well as profitable.

Sophie Rippinger
Circular Economy and Innovations Manager, Edinburgh Innovations

 

In March 2023 the ECBD tool was awarded the ‘Making an Environmental Difference’ award at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.  

 

You can access the full Earth Centre Business Design Tool on LEARN Ultra. The training comprises a short introduction to the circular economy and net-zero concept, followed by five sections: 

 

  • Identify your USP: identify the customers’ problem and why they should care about your solution to start to formulate your business idea. 
  • Your vision for the future: Create your vision that is sustainable, responsible, fair, and transparent. 
  • Brainstorming your business strategy: Consider product and service innovations, and sustainable and inclusive opportunities. 
  • Strategic pathways: Create your circular business canvas to give you a roadmap of actions, the means to measure your success and the capabilities to become circular and net zero. 
  • Advancing your business: Increase your appeal, remain innovative and focused.  

 

If you would prefer not to complete the full training course, but would like to use the ECBD tools, visit our toolkit

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