Saving Resources – Circular Economy

Circular Economy – Saving Resources – “6 Min. to Understand” with Pierre Léonard. Midoricast: Podcast #226

With this first of three episodes of our exclusive series on the circular economy, discover why saving resources is much more than a simple ecological gesture: 

• a powerful strategic lever to reduce your costs, 
• boost your image and innovate sustainably. 

With Pierre Léonard, sustainable development facilitator, explore concrete examples and simple tips to transform your daily practices.

This podcast invites you to reshape your relationship with resources and to align economic performance with environmental responsibility.

Are you ready to take the first step toward a more resilient and engaged company?

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For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or experiencing hearing difficulties, we provide a full transcript at the end of the article.
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Useful links for this episode:

• Pierre Léonard’s Linktree
• The Circular Economy Fresco
• Website of The Podcast Factory Org ASBL-VZW
• Join the Kaya coalition

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Our podcasts are accessible to everyone!

In addition to voicemail, each episode is segmented and accompanied by a complete transcript, enabling deaf and hard-of-hearing persons to access them. And with a Google Translate plugin under Chrome, the episode becomes available in all languages! We also offer a video format and transcripts in subtitles.

Why this section?

We support companies applying real and measurable ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) approaches. Pierre, himself, trains and supports them towards this transition. Our approaches are different but complementary: we encourage, he accompanies.

This choice also poses a real challenge: where to draw the line?

Some companies cited in this section do not align with our current criteria, and we would refuse any collaboration with them as long as they do not initiate concrete change. But this is precisely where Pierre steps in: his role is to initiate this transformation.

This podcast does not seek to judge, but to inspire. The goal? To encourage rather than discourage, accompany rather than exclude.

Let’s commit together to a circular, sustainable, and inclusive economy. Listening, reflection, action… in 6 minutes.

Listen to this podcast via our YouTube channel (subscribe: thank you!):

French: The full transcript of this podcast is provided as subtitles in five languages: French, Dutch, German, English, and Spanish.
Dutch: De volledige transcriptie van deze podcast is beschikbaar als ondertiteling van de video in vijf talen: Frans, Nederlands, Duits, Engels en Spaans.
German: Die vollständige Transkription dieses Podcasts ist als Untertitel des Videos in fünf Sprachen verfügbar: Französisch, Niederländisch, Deutsch, Englisch und Spanisch.
English: The full transcript of this podcast is available as video subtitles in five languages: French, Dutch, German, English, and Spanish.
Spanish: La transcripción completa de este pódcast está disponible como subtítulos del vídeo en cinco idiomas: français, neerlandais, allemand, anglais y español

Podcast Chaptering Saving Resources:

• [00:00:00] Introduction and context of the Midoricast podcast
• [00:00:15] Presentation of the first lever of the circular economy
• [00:00:41] The art of doing more with less: saving resources
• [00:01:07] Concrete examples in industry and services
• [00:01:49] Strategic importance of resource economy
• [00:02:40] Increased sensitivity of stakeholders to environmental impact
• [00:03:09] Concrete advantages for organizations to save
• [00:03:42] A demonstration of corporate creativity
• [00:04:19] Low cost of savings actions and return on investment (ROI)
• [00:05:26] Steps to effectively implement this approach
• [00:06:11] Set clear goals and communicate progress
• [00:06:31] The triple benefit of resource economy
• [00:06:50] Conclusion and teaser for the next episode
• [00:07:02] Invitation to interact with the listener
• [00:07:18] Thanks, sponsors and additional information

Podcast transcription Saving Resources:

Jingle Intro: [00:00:00] You’re listening to the Podcast Factory Org.

Michel: [00:00:02] Welcome to a new episode of Midoricast, your podcast about positive initiatives for the environment and transition. And today, we are precisely in the section “6 minutes to understand” with Pierre Léonard, listeners, I leave the floor to him.

Pierre Léonard: [00:00:15] Well hello everyone. So yes, indeed, Pierre Léonard here, your sustainable development facilitator. And today, I propose to explore the first episode of a series of three which will be dedicated to the circular economy and its levers. Today, we will look at what is the first fundamental lever of the circular economy. And what is this first lever? It’s saving your resources.

Pierre Léonard: [00:00:41] What does it consist of? Simply saving your resources is the art of doing more with less. Concretely, it consists in reducing your consumption of raw materials, energy, water, and even time and space, while maintaining or improving your performance. It’s a bit like optimizing your car engine so that it consumes less fuel while keeping the same power.

Pierre Léonard: [00:01:07] In the manufacturing sector, for example, this may mean using but also designing lighter or more durable materials. In services, think of dematerialization, energy optimization in your offices, or even reducing your travel thanks to telework and video conferences. A law firm, traditionally a big paper consumer, and some lawyers I know who listen to us may plead guilty, that digitizes its processes will save paper. A consulting company favoring virtual meetings saves fuel, but also travel time. And many other examples like this can be cited.

Michel: [00:01:48] And less stress.

Pierre Léonard: [00:01:49] And less stress. But why is it important? Resource economy is no longer a luxury; it is a strategic necessity. Why? First, because the prices of raw materials and energy are increasingly volatile, and some are rising rapidly. In 2024, +72% for coffee, +34% for rubber, and for gold, which, in addition to being a safe haven, is also an essential component in electronics. Add to that the OECD forecasts that global demand for natural resources could double by 2060, and you understand why saving our resources is essential. Especially since these resources are not all renewable and for some, scarcity looms in a more or less near horizon — even for a resource as abundant as copper, demand could gradually exceed supply by 2035.

Pierre Léonard: [00:02:40] Second, your clients, investors, but also your employees are increasingly sensitive to environmental impact. A company that controls its resource consumption and demonstrates it positions itself as responsible and visionary. It is also a matter of supply chain resilience because the less you depend on external resources, the less vulnerable you are to market fluctuations, which again gives you a competitive advantage.

Pierre Léonard: [00:03:09] Which brings me to talk about concrete benefits for your organization. These benefits are multiple and measurable. First, the direct reduction of your costs: less raw materials, less energy, that means immediately more margin. Second, improvement of your brand image and attractiveness. Third, innovation goes hand in hand. Finding ways to save often leads to rethinking processes and finding creative solutions, which can generate new financial flows notably through patents or partnerships.

Michel: [00:03:42] And we can count on companies’ creativity. I take proof from an example that appeared on LinkedIn, showing on one hand the intelligence companies can show to boost profits. It was about a well-known toothpaste brand whose trick was to enlarge the hole a few millimeters because their sales weren’t picking up, and that made their turnover grow, as people consumed more, given the hole was wider to dispense the toothpaste. So, if companies can do that kind of initiatives in that direction, I have full confidence in companies and their creatives to take the approach in the other direction.

Pierre Léonard: [00:04:13] Excellent example, it’s a very good example, on the contrary, but it’s indeed a very good example.

Michel: [00:04:18] Well, it’s an example by absurdity.

Pierre Léonard: [00:04:19] Yes, that’s it. Now, the good news is that many of the actions aiming to save resources are low cost or even free. It can be as simple as turning off standby devices, optimizing your logistics or storage spaces, raising awareness among your teams about eco-actions. There’s no need to invest millions in designing new products or processes. The return on investment can be immediate. Even for bigger investments like changing equipment or supplier, studies show payback times are generally under three years. A company that reduces its energy consumption by 20% can save up to 15% on its total bill. Even in the tertiary sector, service-related energy optimization often generates 10 to 30% savings. The trick is to start small and reinvest the first savings into more ambitious actions. Identifying actions that bring the fastest ROI is the first step of a virtuous circle.

Pierre Léonard: [00:05:26] So, how to put this approach into practice in your organization? First, conduct a diagnosis of your current consumption. Where does your energy go? What are your main raw materials? How much paper do you really use? This picture will allow you to identify your saving potentials. Then, and this is crucial, involve your teams. Organize creativity and awareness workshops, launch resource saving challenges, create a Green team. Compared to an external consultant, your collaborators have the merit to know your company’s workings, and often have many practical ideas you hadn’t thought of because the environment didn’t allow it.

Michel: [00:06:07] Go back and listen to episode fourteen. Pierre already gives us many tips and tricks on this.

Pierre Léonard: [00:06:11] Indeed. And finally, the third step is to set simple and measurable goals. Reduce our paper consumption by 30% this year, or reduce our energy bill by 15%. And above all, communicate regularly about your progress; nothing like concrete results to maintain motivation.

Pierre Léonard: [00:06:31] Saving resources is the ultimate triple win: it is good for your finances, good for the planet, and good for your image. It is the first step towards a circular economy that will make you more competitive and more resilient. Are you ready to turn your resource consumption into competitive advantages?

Pierre Léonard: [00:06:50] Thank you for listening to 6 minutes to understand. In the next episode, we will explore the second lever of the circular economy and see how, and also why, to optimize your assets. See you soon!

Michel: [00:07:02] In the podcast description, there is a link where you can leave a voice message for Pierre Léonard to share your gratitude, a question, a comment, or even suggest a theme you would like to see discussed in a future “6 minutes to understand” episode. What do you think Pierre?

Pierre Léonard: [00:07:16] Excellent.

Michel: [00:07:16] Perfect. See you all soon.

Jingle Outro: [00:07:18] This podcast project is an initiative created and proposed by the non-profit association “The Podcast Factory Org”, with the sponsor “transforma bxl – Innovation Playground”, a coworking space in Evere. Since January 2025 and for five years, we are also sponsored by “Plugin Company”, our preferred operator of charging stations and cards. “The Podcast Factory Org” is very proud to be a member of the “KAYA” – Coalition of Ecopreneurs and collaborates with the “Love Health Center”. You will find all episodes of all our podcasts on the website “What’s Your Story point be”. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @thepodcastfactoryorg, where we offer the podcast in video format with subtitles transcription in multiple languages.

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