Circular economy

Circular economy is not new. It reflects the most natural system to use or design each resource in such a way that eternal use is inherently incorporated. The modern economic system has degenerated from these basic principles, whereby even at the highest level this malfunction is recognized and counteracted with numerous measures. First and foremost, all the efforts in the field of circular economy, driven by the European Commission, should be mentioned here. Strategies for sustainable development and the sustainable use of resources also play an important role. As of late 2019, the European Green Deal has included many other measures, all of which aim to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050.
Since alchemia-nova has been carrying out exclusively circular economy projects since 2006 and most of them at European level, they have not only become pioneers in Austria but also in Europe and are lately more active at international level in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.


Four basic principles form the basis of a circular economy:

  • Waste = food
  • Apply diversity to build resilience
  • Use renewable sources
  • Systems thinking

For this basis, following strategies play an important role:

Cradle to Cradle

THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION The revolutionary Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) concept was originally instituted by the chemist and process engineer Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart and architect William McDonough. In Europe this visionary application started with EPEA Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency GmbH in Hamburg. alchemia-nova is an official partner institute from EPEA. Products that... Read more

Resource recovery

Resource recovery is defined by the extraction of elements from discarded materials for a particular next use. Known applications include composting, recycling or energy generation. This way the maximum benefits may be extracted from products and the amount of generated waste reduced (less landfill disposal) or even impeded. One possible methodology to explore a products improvement opportunities... Read more

Systems Thinking

GET THE FULL PICTURE The Circular Economy concept is largely based on a systemic or holistic thinking approach. Processes that are inherent in and across systems as well as their relation are understood as a whole. This holistic approach demands for a certain methodological transdisciplinarity in research practice. Transdisciplinarity in this sense is more than a simple exchange between research... Read more

Industrial symbiosis

RESIDUAL STREAMS OF ONE INDUSTRY ARE NUTRIENTS FOR THE OTHER „Industry and industrial processes act as converter of natural resources into products and services. Industry has an impact on environmental pollution throughout the whole life cycle of a product”. In order to ensure industrial sustainability one concept of industrial ecology is industrial symbiosis . Industrial symbiosis shall... Read more

Regenerative Agriculture
alcn cherry blossom

FARMING PRACTICES THAT CREATE ECOSYSTEMS Using agricultural methods to get carbon dioxide from the atmosphere back to the soil is known under the term regenerative agriculture . Restorative agriculture is used to build up organic material and revive biodiversity in the soil. In order to achieve this, methods, that support the soil microbiome, reduce input and output of nutrients and enhance... Read more

Sustainable Building

The term Sustainable or Green Building primarily describes a high resource efficiency of buildings in regard of energy, water and materials throughout a building’s life-cycle (planning, construction/renovation, operation, maintenance, demolition). Sustainable Building is mostly associated with utilization of corresponding construction materials. These may consider aspects of gases liberation... Read more

Economy for the common good

BETTER THAN MORE Economy for the common good is an alternative economic system built on common good-enhancing values. This economy is a tool for economic, political and social level – a bridge to a better future. In economic terms, it is a livable, workable concrete option for companies of different sizes and legal forms. The purpose of economic activity and the assessment of the... Read more