Would you like to reorientate yourself professionally and create value in a sustainably focused position in the future? Or do you want to position yourself as an expert for the circular economy in your company? Our CAS Managing Circular Economy is an ideal launching pad for this.

Designed for middle managers in the secondary or public sector, we teach you the benefits and limitations of the circular economy and its principles so that you can apply them in your organisation.

After completion of the CAS in Managing Circular Economy the participants:

• will have a solid knowledge of circular economy principles
• be acquainted with international best practices from various industries
• will be able to identify risks and opportunities for the implementation of circularity in their company
• will have a basic knowledge of technologies enabling the circular economy, such as 3D-printing, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), bio-fermentation
• adept at developing business models and designing supply chains for the implementation of circularity in their company
• best equipped to discuss the opportunities and constraints of the circular economy with their Senior Management Team

The program provides fundamental knowledge of circular economy as well as the management tools and success stories of companies from different focus industries. Basic knowledge of enabling technologies such as 3D printing, IIoT (the Industrial Internet of Things), and bio-fermentation is also taught. Participants learn to develop business models and design supply chains for their companies. They will be well-equipped to discuss the opportunities and limitations of a circular economy with their senior management teams.

Module 1: Circular Economy Fundamentals for Managers
Module 2: Applied Industrial Circular Economy

The first module provides relevant business knowledge and tools to manage circular economy; basic understanding of its enabling technologies is also taught. Critical and complex system thinking is trained.

The second module deepens the applied knowledge in three selected business activities that are required for the implementation of the circular economy. With the lecturers’ support, a roadmap (new business model, technology, supply chain) for the implementation of circularity is created.

This CAS can be taken individually or as part of the MAS:

MAS Supply Chain & Operations Management

The CAS is characterized by methodological diversity. In addition to teaching conversations, presentations, exercises, case studies, work on practical case studies and e-learning, great importance is given to the questions from the companies for which participants work.

Lectures / Presence lessons on Fridays and Saturdays 08:45 - 17:00 h (exceptions possible).
The two field visits will take place on Fridays 08:00 – 17:00.

Start of next implementation: Spring 2026

Jörg Agarico, Professor, Centre for Product and Process Development, ZHAW School of Engineering

Albena Björck, Senior Lecturer, ZHAW School of Management and Law

Raimund Erdmann, CEO Erdmann Design AG

Pia Furchheim, Senior Lecturer, Behavioral Marketing, Institute of Marketing Management, ZHAW School of Management and Law

Melanie Haupt, Senior Research and Lecturer, ETH Zurich and Project Leader, REDILO GmbH

Josef Känzig, Head, Consumption and Products Section, Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

Nadja Lavanga, Senior Consultant Intep – Integrale Planung GmbH

Irene Martinetti, Manager, Circular Economy, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Jürg Meierhofer, Senior Lecturer, Smart Service Engineering, ZHAW School of Engineering

Frédéric Meylan, Project manager, International Affairs, EPFL Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne

Dr. Grégoire Meylan, Lecturer for resource efficiency and circular economy, Institute for Biomass and Resource Efficiency, FHNW

Sabine Oberhuber-Rau, Senior Consultant, Co-Founder, Turntoo B.V., and co-author of “Material Matters”

Maike Scherrer, Professor, Institute of Sustainable Development, ZHAW School of Engineering

Marc Schmid, Senior Lecturer, Center for International Industrial Solutions, ZHAW School of Management and Law

Andreas Schönborn, Head, Ecological Engineering Group, ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management

Nicolas Schmidt, Research Associate, Federal Office for the Environment

Applicants need to be graduates of universities or universities of applied sciences and have at least five years of professional experience.

Persons who do not have any of the above qualifications, but who have sufficient professional experience and additional qualifications, can be admitted "sur dossier".

Registrations receive consideration in the order they were received.

In addition to your electronic registration, please send the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Copies of work certificates
• Copies of training and continuing education certificates
• Letter of motivation (either per separate e-mail or as a comment in the form itself)