The Circular Economy Institute launches official ‘Business Excellence Partner’ programme to verify organisational circular progress
The Circular Economy Institute (CEI) has announced the launch of the CEI Business Excellence Partner programme – a structured, independently verified recognition framework designed to assess and validate how effectively circular principles are embedded across an organisation’s operations.
The programme marks a significant step forward in the CEI’s mission to drive systemic change across industries and economies. It provides organisations of all sizes and sectors with a credible, evidence-based pathway to benchmark their progress on circularity and become independently recognised for their commitment to the circular economy.
As the pressure to move beyond linear models intensifies, driven by global policy and regulation, supply chains, and shifting market demand, the need for organisations to demonstrate authentic circular commitment is continuously growing. The ‘CEI Business Excellence Partner’ programme responds directly to that need, offering a rigorous assessment process backed by the global standing of the Circular Economy Institute.
How the programme works
The programme evaluates participating organisations across seven core functional areas; each independently scored from 0 to 3:
- Commitment to circular economy principles – embedding circularity into organisational mission, vision, and measurable targets
- Circular practices in operations – integrating circular design or product-service models into core business activity
- Supply chain and procurement – aligning supplier standards and purchasing decisions with circular principles
- Measurement and transparency – tracking and publicly reporting on material use, waste reduction, and carbon footprint
- Innovation and continuous improvement – investing in research, development, and emerging circular technologies
- Stakeholder engagement – actively involving employees, customers, and communities in circular practice
- Ethical and responsible conduct – upholding fair labour standards, ethical business practice, and environmental compliance
Following assessment, organisations are designated to one of three progressive tiers, starting with Bronze for organisations establishing the foundations of circular practice, through to Silver for those with more advanced application of circular principles across multiple business functions. The most advanced is Gold, reserved for organisations showing exemplary sector leadership and systemic circular integration.
Successful partners are authorised to use their designation across corporate communications, client proposals, sustainability reporting, and public-facing materials, providing independently validated market positioning in an increasingly circular-conscious economy.
Katie Cockburn, Senior Director for Policy, Media and Education, Circular Economy Institute, said: “The CEI Business Excellence Partner programme represents a critical next step in how we support organisations on the circular journey. We know that genuine circular transition requires more than policy or aspiration. It demands structural change, measured against clear and transparent criteria. This programme gives organisations the tools to transparently assess where they are, a clear pathway to improvement, and the independent recognition their progress deserves. It is designed to be both rigorous and practical, because real progress requires both.”
Each CEI Business Excellence Partner will receive a suite of benefits designed to support continued learning, team development, and professional visibility, including use of the partner logo credentials, access to the global CEI community and local clubs, discounts on training and events, and amplification across CEI channels.
Application and annual membership fees are structured in proportion to organisation type and size, ensuring accessibility across sectors and scales.
CIWM Affiliated Organisations and CIWM Commercial Partners receive a 50 per cent discount on membership fees, and founding members of the programme receive a 30 per cent discount.