Circular business models cover a wide range of sectors focusing on retaining the value of resources by maximising their utility and lifespan. They can source products and materials from the existing economy, create value for customers by adding value to existing products and materials or create valuable inputs for businesses beyond the customer. Some different types of models are the following:

• Product as a Service (PaaS)
  • The lease or rent of products, maintaining ownership and responsibility for maintenance, repair, and eventual recycling. This ensures products are used efficiently and can be returned to the company for refurbishment or recycling.
    Example: Clothing rental services where customers rent garments for special occasions or everyday use instead of purchasing new clothing.
• Resource Recovery
  • Reclaiming valuable materials from waste or by-products. Enterprises collect, process, and repurpose waste materials to extract useful components that can be reintegrated into the production cycle, minimising waste and reducing the need for virgin resources.
    Example: Electronic waste recycling startups that extract precious metals from discarded electronics and reintegrate these materials into new products.
• Product Life Extension
  • Extending the lifecycle of products through design for durability, repairability, and upgradability by offering services such as repair, refurbishment, and upgrades. This ensures that products remain in use for longer periods, thereby reducing the demand for new products and minimising waste.
    Example: Technology companies that refurbish and resell used electronics, providing consumers with affordable, like-new products while reducing electronic waste.
• Sharing Platforms
  • Facilitate the sharing of underutilised assets among users, optimising the use of existing products and reducing the need for new ones. By connecting individuals who can share resources, these platforms help to maximise resource efficiency and reduce overall consumption.
    Example: Peer-to-peer rental services for tools and equipment, allowing individuals to rent items they need for short periods instead of purchasing them, thus promoting efficient use of resources.
• Circular Supply Chain
  • The utilisation of renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials to create products to minimise environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. This model emphasises sustainable sourcing, production, and end-of-life management to ensure that materials are continuously cycled back into the economy
    Example: Fashion brands that produce clothing from recycled materials, ensuring that garments can be easily disassembled and recycled at the end of their useful life.
• Circular Design
  • Creating products with their entire lifecycle in mind, ensuring they can be easily disassembled, reused, or recycled. This approach focuses on designing for longevity, modularity, and resource efficiency to minimise waste and maximise the value of materials.
    Example: Furniture startups that design modular pieces, allowing customers to replace or upgrade individual components rather than discarding the entire product.
• Circular Input Models
  • Focus on using renewable, bio-based, or fully recyclable inputs in production processes by relying on sustainable materials and energy sources. This reduces dependence on finite resources and minimises waste throughout the production lifecycle.
    Example: Manufacturing startups that produce biodegradable packaging from plant-based materials, ensuring that packaging can be composted or biodegraded naturally at the end of its life.

Climate Impact Hypothesis and Forecasting is a series of webinars delivered by Impact Forecast. Climate Impact Hypothesis is a tool that enables preliminary evaluation of the potential climate impact of a company’s innovative solutions. Based on the Impact Hypothesis, the Climate Impact Forecast workshop will help the startups to understand and calculate the impact potential of their business case.

This aims at a general knowledge transfer on the topic of climate impact and a connected understanding of the impact potential of an individual business case. Therefore, the participating startups should not only calculate the data for their own business model, but also gain a general insight into the background, international trends and parameters. The output of the workshop can be used by the enterprises in creating a storyline for an impact presentation to investors and other stakeholders in the innovation process.

All information submitted may be seen by Villgro Philippines, EIT Climate-KIC, and collaboration partners, which includes judges and assessors. All members of the program team are bound by confidentiality agreements.

Information submitted in your application will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy of Villgro Philippines.

Yes, you can submit more than one application provided they are for separate businesses/startups or research if you are involved in both.

Once companies have been selected and admitted into the program, Villgro Philippines and EIT Climate-KIC may publicise your involvement through communications channels including but not limited to websites and social media platforms of Villgro Philippines and collaboration partners, as well as other public communications channels. Once companies have been selected and admitted into the program, Villgro Philippines and EIT Climate-KIC may publicise your involvement through communications channels including but not limited to websites and social media platforms of Villgro Philippines and collaboration partners, as well as other public communications channels.

Applications will be evaluated by a selection panel composed of representatives from Villgro Philippines, EIT Climate-KIC, and other partners.

Only applications with a strong focus on climate solutions will be further assessed through the following criteria:

Following initial screening and selection, the program team will conduct virtual due diligence interviews on each selected enterprise to validate the eligibility and program fit. Following due diligence, the cohort will proceed to a meeting with a selection panel. Upon finalization of the cohort by the selection panel, selected startups will be informed.

No, there is no application fee or any fees associated with the program. The program is free for all selected participants.

The program will run for 6 months from February 2025 to August 2025.

Circular ClimAccelerator Philippines is a fully virtual program to support startups based or operating in the Philippines. The sessions will be scheduled to accommodate the Philippines timezone.