Venture Forward Strategies (VFS), as a part of the Circular Cleveland initiative, is engaging Small and Medium-sized manufacturing businesses in Cleveland in the Circular Manufacturing Program. 

The cohort will engage in 5 facilitated sessions (3 in-person and 2 virtual) to learn about circularity and discover connections and opportunities for reusing and recycling waste and byproducts through a material marketplace and other exchanges. VFS will guide the companies in identifying the first, next, and bold steps toward adopting sustainable and circular practices.

Through the Circular Manufacturing Program, participants gain:

• Ways to reduce cost by diverting materials from landfill
• An understanding of sustainability
• Best practices in sustainable and circular manufacturing
• New connections with peer companies and knowledgeable practitioners on topics such as design for circularity, energy efficiency, waste, and sustainable resource productivity 
• Actionable steps to performing a waste and byproduct assessment
• Connections to material marketplaces

Target Audience:

• Small or Medium Manufacturing company located in the City of Cleveland

Cost and Engagement:

• The program is free for small and medium manufacturing company located in the City of Cleveland
• We encourage participating companies to send 1-3 people to each session 
  • Each company must have one point person who attends all sessions
  • Others can rotate and attend the most relevant sessions

Program Schedule:

The exact dates will be determined once the companies sign up for the program. In-person sessions will take
place at the locations of the participating companies, which will be determined. In-person meetings will
start at 7:00 am and end at 9:30 am. Phoenix coffee and breakfast pastries will be served.

Module 1 – (In-person meeting 7:00 am – 9:30 am) (See module details below)

• Basics of Sustainability
• Byproduct and Waste Inventory, Byproduct & Waste Assessment

Module 2 – Virtual

• Ohio Material Marketplace

Module 3 – In Person

• Designing for Circularity and Byproduct Synergy

Module 4 – Virtual

• Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Module 5 – In Person

• Sustainability Strategy and Employee Engagement
• Byproduct & Waste Assessment Report Out, Review Data, Next Steps

REGISTER

Email Victoria@ventureforwardcle.com to learn more

FAQ

What is a Circular Economy?
In our current economy, we take materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste – the process is linear. In a circular economy, by contrast, we stop waste from being produced in the first place. The circular economy is based on three principles, driven by design: Eliminate waste and pollution, Circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and Regenerate nature. It is underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and materials. A circular economy decouples economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. It is a resilient system that is good for business, people and the environment.
Source: What is a circular economy? – Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Who is Venture Forward Strategies?
Venture Forward Strategies (“VFS”), led by partners Victoria Avi and Danielle Doza, provides sustainability consulting for business. VFS supports clients by building their capacity to advance sustainability strategy, reporting, employee engagement, waste reduction, and providing solutions to unique sustainability challenges. We help companies create more value for all stakeholders by integrating social responsibility and environmental sustainability into strategy and operations.
Learn more at www.VentureForwardStrategies.com

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Module 1 (In-person meeting 7:00 am – 9:30 am)
Basics of Sustainability; Byproduct and Waste Synergy and Assessment

• Introductions
  • Circular Cleveland
  • Objectives of the Program and module 1.
  • Set intentions
• Reframing of climate and waste as symptoms of an unsustainable system. 
• Concepts of linear vs. circular process
  • Waste as a resource
• Circularity as a framework for sustainable practices
  • Basics of a circular economy – video from Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• The business case for sustainability (examples of how companies respond to pressures)
• Introduce Byproduct / Waste Assessment process
  • How-to Conduct a Facility Walk-Through worksheet (Source: epa.gov/smm)
  • How to Conduct a Records Examination worksheet (Source: epa.gov/smm)

Activity: Define and frame sustainability for your company

Homework: Review worksheets and designate team members to perform the facility walkthrough and waste assessment.

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Module 2 (Virtual meeting 8:00 am – 9:30 am)

Ohio Material Marketplace

• Report outs, reflections, and challenges
• Introduction to Ohio Material Marketplace (OMM)
  Guest Speaker – Ohio Material Marketplace team member
  • Register for OMM

Homework: Identify 1-3 materials or products that are ready to be posted on OMM.

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Module 3 (In-person meeting 7:00 am – 9:30 am)

Designing for Circularity and Byproduct Synergy 

• Report outs, reflections, and challenges
  • What did you identify? What thoughts or ideas came up? 
• How to shift your process and procurement practices to reduce waste
• Examples of circularity in practice (Interface, Talan, Cascade Engineering, and others)
• Introduction to industrial symbiosis and byproduct synergy concepts

Activity: Sign up for a one-on-one session with VFS to explore outlets for byproducts/waste 

Homework: Compile facility energy and natural gas data.

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Module 4 (Virtual meeting 8:00 am – 9:30 am)

Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Report outs, reflections, and challenges
• What is Carbon Footprint and how to measure it
• Energy Efficiency projects (possible rebates)
• Guest Speaker: an energy expert sharing resources and presenting a business case for energy efficiency and renewable energy

Homework: Complete the waste assessment

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Module 5 (In-person meeting 7:00 am – 9:30 am)

Sustainability Strategy and Employee Engagement
Byproduct & Waste Assessment Report Out, Review Data, Next Steps

• Report outs, reflections, and challenges
  • What did each company find in their assessment – did anything surprise them? What ideas/solutions came up?
• Employee engagement strategies
  • The people who do the work likely have the best insights into how waste/byproduct is produced and thoughts about reducing waste
  • Engage those who are directly involved
• How do you tie it all together? 
• Actionable next steps

Activity: Sign up for a one-on-one session with VFS to explore outlets for byproducts/waste