REALCAR project circular economy case study: Collaboration for a closed-loop value chain | Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Under increasing pressure to optimise the use of man-made materials, Jaguar Land Rover started using aluminium in its vehicles' bodies to reduce weight and tailpipe emissions and improve fuel consumption. However, with aluminium more energy-intensive to produce, the manufacturer needed a new method to reduce costs and environmental impact during production. Its material supplier Novelis also had a long-standing commitment to increasing its use of recycled materials year-on-year and required a like-minded customer with a similar appetite for improving sustainability performance. 

Whilst the case study focuses on the REALCAR project, its findings are applicable to the creation and transformation of all value chains and other collaborative circular economy projects. Companies in other sectors that embrace ‘circular’ supply chains/value chains can benefit from the understanding and application of the insights presented here.

The study was undertaken and authored by a group of employees from Jaguar Land Rover and Novelis whilst attending the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Value Chains (PCSVC).