The concept of the circular economy is now widely discussed in public and industrial debate, but it continues to be ambiguous and has limited practical application. The real challenge for organizations is to transform an often idealistic paradigm into concrete tools and actions that can impact production processes and business models.

This reflection is at the heart of the article “Beyond the circular economy: efficiency and productivity for the Circular Enterprise 4.0,” recently published in Ceramic World Review magazine. The article, edited by the REDiRECT project management committee, offers a critical reading of the circular economy, moving beyond an exclusively narrative vision to focus on criteria of effectiveness and efficiency applicable in the industrial sphere.

The article starts from the observation that the circular economy, while based on commendable principles, is often interpreted as a set of abstract objectives that are difficult to measure and implement in real production contexts. In this scenario, there is a risk that the concept will lose its operational meaning, becoming a slogan without concrete tools for evaluation and governance.

The vision proposed by the REDiRECT Management Committee is based on the integration of sustainability and industrial performance. In particular, the focus is on the role of efficiency, understood as the ability to maintain production levels while reducing the use of resources, and productivity, i.e., the ability to generate greater value with the same input. These two elements are identified as key levers for making circularity compatible with business competitiveness.

The article outlines the Circular Enterprise 4.0 model, developed as part of the REDiRECT project, which integrates sustainability practices with the digital transformation of production processes. The approach combines the principles of Life Cycle Thinking with Industry 4.0 technologies, laying the foundations for more conscious resource management throughout the entire supply chain.

The article also emphasizes the importance of having metrics and evaluation systems capable of measuring not only environmental impacts, but also economic, social, and technological ones. In this sense, the circular economy is brought back to a broader dimension of sustainability, in which strategic choices are supported by data, indicators, and decision-making tools consistent with industrial contexts.

The publication in Ceramic World Review represents a significant moment in the dissemination of the results and vision developed by the REDiRECT project, contributing to the debate on the future of manufacturing models in the ceramic sector. The article offers useful food for thought for companies, researchers, and decision-makers who are called upon to address the need to make sustainability a truly operational and measurable factor.

To read the full article, click on the link to the publication.