Circle Economy has been initiated by Robert-Jan van Ogtrop, former CEO Bols Royal Distilleries and Remy Cointreau, in 2009. As his experience in the business world grew, so did Robert-Jan’s belief that our current system is malfunctioning; a finite system of take-make-waste that has led us to live in, not only an economical crisis, but an ecological and cultural crisis as well. Therefore, we need a fundamental shift of our entire system. The only way to get this done is by collaboration in a non-threatening environment.
A platform characterized by an inclusive model where companies, organizations, and changemakers from different worlds can join and find each other to accelerate this transition together. We do not really have any choice. We cannot continue to go ahead, exploiting the natural resources of our planet as if they were infinite nor using a linear growth model that produces enormous amounts of waste that inevitably will destroy our quality of life. It is time to use our collective intelligence to redesign our way of working with nature as inspiration since it is, in itself, a perfect circle economy. – Robert-Jan van Ogtrop
Circle of Consciousness
Circle Economy strongly believes that new forms of leadership are needed for a new economy to succeed. Diversity is key, meaning that people from different backgrounds and generations should be involved in the process. The structure of the foundation reflects this idea with our Conscious Circle. These people foster the mission Circle Economy has set out to achieve, guiding the network from their own viewpoint and experience as a conscience does.
Circle of Action
What is a strong philosophy without meaningful action? A good story. But no transformation. The Action Circle, the energetic project team of Circle Economy, makes it happen every day by accelerating innovative and restorative projects of Circle Economy and its members.
Robert-Jan van Ogtrop
Company: Investor Renewable Energy
Expert on: Energy saving, Entrepreneurship
Robert-Jan van Ogtrop, former CEO of Bols Royal Distilleries and subsequently CEO of Remy Cointreau was also an industrial partner at CVC Capital Partners. He is now an active investor in a number of renewable energy/clean tech companies (E2, Ledzworld, Cautha). Furthermore he is trying to combine his experience in the business world with his activities regarding nature conservation and business development in Africa and Europe. As a Board member of the Wilderness Leadership School, Wilderness Foundation, BiD Network, the chairman of TBL Mirror Fund, African Parks, and as a founder of Foundation for Natural Leadership and Circle Economy he practices what he has been preaching.
„We do not really have any choice. We cannot continue to go ahead, exploiting the natural resources of our planet as if they were infinite nor using a linear growth model that produces enormous amounts of waste which inevitably will destroy our quality of life. It is time to use our collective intelligence to redesign our way of working with nature as inspiration since it is, in itself, a perfect ‚circle economy‘.“
