In the coming years, the way businesses operate will be judged not just on price, product, or speed—but increasingly on how intelligently and sustainably they conduct themselves. According to the World Economic Forum, two trends are becoming indispensable: embracing circular economy business models and integrating artificial intelligence (AI). 

Key Trends Reshaping Business

Circular Economy as a Requirement

  • The traditional linear model of “take–make–waste” is no longer sufficient. Stakeholders—customers, regulators, investors—expect companies to design products that minimize waste, use resources efficiently, and retain value throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Benefits include reduced exposure to volatile raw material prices, extended product lifespan, recurring income via repair/refurbish services, and better alignment with ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards.

AI as the Driving Force

  • AI is not just useful for optimizing existing operations—it will become central to decision-making: understanding when to repair, reuse, remanufacture; managing reverse logistics; predicting failures; and adjusting operations in real time.
  • As business models become more circular, complexity (e.g. product lifecycle management, multiple partners for repair, reuse, recycling) increases; AI offers the speed, scale, and insight required to manage that complexity.

What Businesses Should Do Now

  • Begin redesigning products with circularity in mind: durability, repairability, reuse, and recycling.
  • Build or strengthen internal AI/data infrastructure to enable lifecycle tracking, predictive analytics, and smarter operations.
  • Shift performance metrics (KPIs) away from one-off sales toward metrics like product longevity, resource recovery, reuse rates, and customer lifetime value.
  • Foster collaboration across the entire supply chain—suppliers, repair and recycling services, customers—so circular systems can function end to end.

Bottom Line

By 2030, businesses that have not embraced both circular economy principles and AI will likely find themselves facing higher costs, weaker margins, eroded trust, and shrinking market relevance. Those who act early, integrate intelligent, sustainable practices, and think holistically about the full lifecycle of their products will be best positioned to thrive.

Source: Based on “Why you must master the circular economy and AI by 2030 to stay competitive” by Henrik Hvid Jensen, World Economic Forum.