A book launch, shifting circular economy and one thing to change about the tech industry.

We caught up with Global Circular Tech, MD, Dennis Dahrendorff.

 

As a business owner based in Germany, how do you see the circular economy developing right now?

From my perspective, the circular economy is becoming more mature, but also more demanding.

For many years, circularity was often discussed mainly from a sustainability or communication perspective. Now, especially in Europe and Germany, the conversation is becoming much more practical. Companies need models that are not only good for the environment, but also economically viable, compliant and scalable.

Regulation, ESG expectations, consumer awareness and pressure on resources are all pushing the market forward. At the same time, many companies are realizing that circular models are complex. Buyback, Trade-In, refurbishment and resale only work if pricing, logistics, grading, data security, software, repair and market access are connected properly.

So I see a strong opportunity, but also a need for more realism. The next phase of circularity will not be won by slogans. It will be won by companies that build systems which work in daily operations.

Why do industry awards like the CTA matter?

Industry awards like the Circular Tech Awards matter because they create visibility for the companies, teams and solutions that are actually moving the circular economy forward.

In our industry, a lot of important work happens behind the scenes: trade-in programs, repair, refurbishment, diagnostics, logistics, compliance, resale, recycling and data security. These areas are often not as visible as new product launches, but they are essential if we want circularity to become more than a good intention.

Awards like the CTA help to highlight best practices, create benchmarks and give the industry a reason to look more closely at what is working in practice. They also bring people together who may otherwise operate in separate parts of the value chain. That is important, because circularity is not solved by one company alone. It requires collaboration, transparency and better systems.

What makes a good application?

For me, a good application is honest, specific and well supported.

I appreciate applications that do not simply copy and paste marketing language from a website, but explain clearly what problem the company is solving, how the solution works and what real impact it has created.

Good supporting material is also important. That can include data, case studies, operational examples, customer feedback, process documentation or measurable results. It does not always have to be perfect, but it should be credible.

The strongest applications usually show three things: a clear understanding of the problem, a practical solution that works in the real market and evidence that the company can execute. In circularity, intention is not enough. Execution matters.

You recently published a book about the circular economy. Tell us more about it and how has it been received?

The motivation behind the book was to bring together many of the lessons I have learned over the last 15 years in the consumer electronics industry.

I have worked across different parts of the value chain, including electronics insurance, buyback, Trade-In, refurbishment, resale and circular business models. Over time, I became more and more convinced that circularity is often misunderstood. It is not only about recycling, and it is not only about good intentions. It is about building systems that make economic, operational and environmental sense at the same time.

The book is for entrepreneurs, executives, operators, investors and anyone who wants to understand how circular models in consumer electronics really work. It looks at the gap between circular ambition and economic reality, and why good intentions alone are not enough.

The response so far has been very encouraging. What I value most is when people from the industry tell me that the book reflects practical reality rather than just theory. That was important to me. I wanted it to be useful, honest and grounded in real experience.

What one thing would you like to change about the tech industry?

I would like the industry to stop treating circularity as an add-on.

Too often, circular models are built after the main business model is already defined. Devices are designed, sold and distributed first, and only later do companies ask how they can take them back, repair them, reuse them or recycle them.

If I could change one thing, I would make circularity part of the business model from the beginning. That means thinking about repairability, residual value, data security, return channels, spare parts, resale markets and end-of-life options much earlier.

A stronger circular economy needs better design, better incentives and better cooperation across the value chain. We should not only ask how to sell more devices. We should also ask how to keep more value in circulation for longer.