Carbmee: Pushing Supply Chains Toward Circular Economy
Carbmee places supply chains at the centre of its push for a circular economy, arguing that most emissions link back to sourcing, production and distribution.
Professor Christian Heinrich, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Carbmee, leads a workshop at Sustainability LIVE London to show how data and artificial intelligence (AI) can transform carbon reduction strategies.
The session, titled “Carbon Intelligence and Circular Strategy: Reaching KPIs using AI Power”, explores how companies can translate circulatory data into actionable CO2 insights.
The European Union (EU) reports that more than 2.1 billion tonnes of waste is produced annually in Europe. In response, it aims to update legislation to shift away from the prevailing take-make-consume-throw away model and towards practices that retain resources in the economy.
This approach seeks to extend product life, conserve materials and reduce embedded emissions across supply chains.
What circular economy means for supply chains
Circular economy refers to a production and consumption model built on sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling materials.
For supply chains, this means longer product cycles, lower demand for raw resources and reduced waste. The EU says that the system aims to keep materials circulating in the economy, generating additional value each time they are reused.
The European Parliament also calls for measures against planned obsolescence, where goods are deliberately designed to have a short lifespan to encourage repeated purchasing.
A regulatory framework set to shape this shift is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The ESPR requires manufacturers to adopt design principles that extend product lifecycles and cut carbon intensity from the outset, forcing supply chains to integrate sustainability into design, sourcing and after-sales services.
Christian positions this transformation squarely within supply chains. He explains: "With over 80% of emissions being rooted in the supply chain, we have built a platform that not only meets the evolving needs of complex industry enterprises but also plays a critical role in the global shift toward sustainability."
By reframing supply chains as the main arena for carbon reduction, Carbmee stresses that the adoption of circular practices is not optional but fundamental to achieving climate goals.
Circular practices that cut emissions
Carbmee argues that circular practices directly reduce emissions because they lower material demand and reduce the carbon intensity of production.
For example, the company highlights that recycled aluminium requires only 5% of the energy used to produce aluminium from raw bauxite ore. For supply chains reliant on metals, plastics and other high-emission inputs, this energy saving translates into measurable carbon reductions.
Extending product lifecycles also offers Scope 3 emissions savings. Scope 3 emissions refer to indirect emissions within a company’s value chain, covering suppliers, logistics and product use. Carbmee notes that sectors such as electronics, automotive and industrial manufacturing hold the most potential.
By refurbishing components, recycling materials and repairing products, companies can cut resource extraction and reduce the emissions that occur throughout global supply networks.
Carbmee states that AI-driven carbon intelligence enables companies to make smarter, data-based decisions across procurement, production and logistics.
By modelling the carbon impact of different sourcing and design choices, companies can align with circular economy principles while tracking progress against key performance indicators (KPIs).
Linking regulation, technology and supply chain action
At Sustainability LIVE London, Carbmee’s workshop connects regulation, technology and operational practice. The company positions AI as a tool for turning circulatory data into insights, enabling decision-makers to anticipate regulatory requirements such as the ESPR while finding efficiencies in supply networks.
For executives tasked with emissions targets, this means that supply chain visibility and circular economy adoption go hand in hand.
The EU’s legislative push adds urgency. By embedding requirements for product design, repairability and recyclability, regulation forces supply chains to adapt quickly.
For companies attending Sustainability LIVE London, this creates a space to learn how circular approaches can become integrated into supplier management, product strategy and logistics systems.
By combining AI-enabled carbon intelligence with circular principles, Carbmee frames supply chain reform as essential to both compliance and competitiveness.
About Sustainability LIVE London 2025
Sustainability LIVE London is returning to the Business Design Centre on 9 and 10 September 2025.
Alongside several learning opportunities, the event will bring two days of thought-provoking debate, networking and innovation.
An exciting line-up of new and familiar names will be welcomed to the stage, bringing new insights, strategies and innovations, as well as the opportunity to revisit evolving perspectives for its attendees.
Leaders will also have the chance to get involved in high-level workshops like Carbmee's “Carbon Intelligence and Circular Strategy: Reaching KPIs using AI Power.”
Get your tickets for the Carbmee workshop here.
Please note: these tickets are for C/V/D level executives and a business email address is needed to register. If you do not meet this criteria, your ticket may be cancelled.
