CIRQUEL

🎄 Happy Holidays from CIRQUEL! 🎄 ✨ Introducing CIRQUEL and Its Founders ✨ We’re delighted to finally introduce ourselves, co-founders of CIRQUEL - Anna Warchalowska and June Arrieta. Here we are at our Christmas reunion in the Berlin headquarters of Beam, the #venturestudio backed by BEUMER Group, where our journey first took off. 🌏 🚀 This incredible journey would not have been possible without the support and crucial people around us. A big thank you to all of you who believed in us, shared invaluable market insights, and to those working tirelessly behind the scenes. And of course, a shoutout to those still on the “to-do” lists—we look forward to connecting in 2025! 🌐 https://www.cirquel.io Jesper Bang-Olsen Codee Martinelli Marc Mühlenbach Robert Bach Frank "Otter" Sparrer Bobbi Steele Lin Lidija Rabrenovic Gökçe Angun Andrés Ruiz Phil Hamilton Ljupcho Vangelski Kareem Bayoun Romain Fayolle Bruno Pacheco Meir Veisberg Yavuz Karadag Lars Beier Madsen Santiago Rodriguez B. Iñaki Merino Ruiz Carlos Blanco José Galván Lucía Domínguez Santana Angel Gallardo Manu Santaolalla Iñaki Mendarozketa Jeroen Leenders Damian Kuczynski Lydia Brearley Gabriela Cobo Stephanie Haywood Andrea Esnal Raúl González Miguel 👖🌿 Rivas Guillaume Bayrakdar Bianco Nicolas Chavanes #CircularFashion #Innovation #FashionTech #ReverseLogistics

Once again, a big thank you to Naomi Little and the PLEB Magazine team for highlighting CIRQUEL's mission and our commitment to advancing #circularity and sustainability in the #fashionindustry. It was a pleasure for our co-founder, Anna Warchalowska, to share insights about how Cirquel is redefining reverse logistics and creating meaningful change. Together, let's continue pushing boundaries and shaping a more sustainable future! 🌍💡 June Arrieta Jesper Bang-Olsen Beam Carlos Blanco @#CircularEconomy #Sustainability #FashionTech #EcoFriendly #ReverseLogistics

🌟 🎉 🎅  Cirquel Featured in PLEB Magazine! 🌟 👚 🌏 We are thrilled to announce that CIRQUEL has been featured in PLEB Magazine, a curated lifestyle publication led by Naomi Little, Founder & Editor-in-Chief. PLEB champions sustainability, circularity, fashion, women-led businesses, art, creativity, and mindful consumption—values we at Cirquel deeply resonate with and strive to uphold. In a detailed interview with our co-founder, Anna Warchalowska, Naomi explored the inspiration behind Cirquel and our mission to redefine sustainability in fashion through innovative circular practices. Anna was describing the journey that led her to founding Cirquel together with June Arrieta (her co-founder). 🔑 What Cirquel Brings to the Table: - #End-to-End #CircularSolutions: We offer localized orchestration and AI-powered tools to streamline the processing of #returns, #deadstock, and #overstock, transforming these challenges into #newrevenue streams. - #Sustainability at Every Step: Our approach integrates #circularity into every stage of #reverselogistics, helping brands significantly #reducewaste and #carbonemissions. - Empowering Brands: From meeting rising consumer expectations for #sustainability to addressing new #regulatory demands like the EU’s #garmentdestructionban, #DPPs and #EPR, Cirquel enables brands to align profitability with responsibility. ✨ Our Partners in Impact ✨ This journey would not be possible without the incredible support of Beam—a Berlin-based venture studio—and BEUMER Group, whose expertise in #intralogistics has been instrumental in helping us shape Cirquel’s vision. We are also immensely grateful to the amazing individuals and partners who share our commitment to creating a more sustainable and circular fashion industry. 📖 Learn More: To dive deeper into our mission and the full feature in PLEB Magazine, check out the interview here: https://lnkd.in/dPwWTHqQ 👉 And to explore how Cirquel can help your brand transition to a circular model, visit our website: https://www.cirquel.io/ #SustainableFashion #CircularEconomy #ReverseLogistics #FashionReturns #ImpactDriven #CircularSolutions #PLEBMagazine #Beam #BeumerGroup #Cirquel Let’s shape a future where fashion works for people, the planet, and business!

🌍 Rethinking #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday: From #Overconsumption to #Circular Opportunities 🌍 Black Friday and Cyber Monday remain iconic retail moments, but their environmental costs are undeniable. According to Adobe Analytics, consumers spent $22 billion online during Black Friday weekend, with an additional $9 billion on Cyber Monday. However, the fashion industry, responsible for 2% to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consuming 215 trillion liters of water annually, continues to face mounting scrutiny for its environmental toll. In her The Business of Fashion article “Consumers Showed Up on Black Friday Ready to Shop”, Malique Morris revealed how brands navigated deep discounts to meet consumer demands, with online shopping increasing by 8% year-over-year. Efforts to combat overconsumption are gaining traction globally. As reported in UNEP-WCMC’s Textile Initiative, designers at #Eco Fashion Week Africa showcased upcycled fashion, turning tablecloths into trousers and curtains into jackets. Spanish brand ECOALF took a stand against Black Friday by releasing a #documentary on Chile’s Atacama Desert, a shocking reminder of the waste caused by fast fashion. As Ecoalf CMO Alvarez-Ossorio Carolina said: "What does a ‘good deal’ really mean when it comes at the expense of the planet and vulnerable communities?" In Vogue Business’ article by Bella Webb, initiatives like Vestiaire Collective’s collaboration with The Or Foundation were highlighted for promoting upcycling and resale. Elizabeth (Liz) Ricketts, co-founder of The Or Foundation, emphasized: "The overconsumption habits that drive Black Friday are pervasive year-round, fueled by brands." Meanwhile, VEJA’s Repair Friday, featured in Vogue Business, saw the French trainer brand offer free repairs across product categories, reinforcing circularity’s growing appeal. Veja co-founder SEBASTIEN KOPP shared: "Sometimes, just cleaning the shoes can make people fall in love again, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to achieve." As consumer preferences shift, CIRQUEL’s mission stands for: ✅ Localized Circularity ✅ Revenue from Returns ✅ Post-Holiday Solutions As Elisa Tonda, Chief of Resources and Markets Branch at UNEP, noted: "The fashion industry has huge power to encourage solutions for lower environmental impact, supporting reuse, upcycling, repairs, and rental." A big thank you to Beam and BEUMER Group for championing our journey toward circular solutions. 💡 Join the Circular Revolution Visit our website to read the full blog post and discover how CIRQUEL is redefining the lifecycle of fashion. https://lnkd.in/ddNUfpPa Anna Warchalowska June Arrieta Jesper Bang-Olsen #CircularEconomy #SustainableFashion #BlackFriday #Overconsumption #Ecoalf #VestiaireCollective #UNEP #VogueBusiness #ResaleRevolution #Beam #BeumerGroup #FashionCircularity

🌍 The Climate Crisis, Fashion Circularity, and CIRQUEL’s Vision 🌿 After a deep dive into the pressing discussions from the latest #COP29 in #Baku, Azerbaijan, recent insights from the Business of Fashion by Sarah Kent, and the EU’s Strategy for #Sustainable and #Circular Textiles, one thing is clear: the time for transformative action in fashion is now. #Fashion, as a global industry, stands at the intersection of an accelerating #climatecrisis and unsustainable practices. This year is already on track to become the hottest on record, with devastating climate extremes disrupting both fashion supply chains and consumer behaviours. Countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan, key production hubs, have faced deadly heatwaves and floods, crippling manufacturing and threatening cotton crops. At the same time, fashion’s #carbonfootprint is set to grow by over 40% by 2030, fuelled by fast fashion and #overproduction. Here’s a snapshot of the challenges we’re facing: - Environmental Crisis: The global temperature is projected to rise by nearly 3°C by the end of the century unless urgent action is taken. Fashion contributes heavily, being among the top five industries for #greenhousegasemissions. - Overproduction: Between 2.5 to 5 billion garments were overproduced in 2023 alone, valued at a staggering $70–140 billion. The #EU estimates that 30% of all garments never sell, ending up in #landfills or informal waste streams. - Changing Consumer Dynamics: A majority of #Gen-Z and #Millennials now demand #transparency and circularity. While 66% of Gen-Z prefer #secondhand and #preloved shopping, the rise of #ultrafast fashion undermines sustainable consumption patterns. The EU’s Circular Textiles Strategy provides a roadmap for change, focusing on designing durable, repairable, and recyclable products while reducing overproduction and discouraging unsustainable practices. Critical measures include: - Introducing Digital Product Passports by 2026 to ensure traceability and transparency. - Prohibiting the destruction of unsold or returned textiles. - Making brands accountable for their products’ entire lifecycle. These developments align closely with our mission at CIRQUEL. At CIRQUEL, we tackle the challenges of returns, overproduction, and fashion waste by providing an end-to-end #SaaS platform that empowers brands to repurpose unwanted items. Through localized services we help turn waste into opportunity, aligning business practices with circular principles and upcoming regulations. 🙏We are grateful to Beam and the BEUMER Group for their continued support in turning our vision for a circular fashion economy into reality. Visit our website or reach out to us to explore how CIRQUEL can help you align with these critical goals -> www.cirquel.io Anna Warchalowska June Arrieta Jesper Bang-Olsen #CircularEconomy #SustainableFashion #ClimateAction #ReverseLogistics

♻️ Circular solutions are needed now more than ever. Collaborations and partnerships are imperative for moving this industry forward - towards a circular model 💚 Anna Warchalowska and CIRQUEL are part of SUSTAIN20™ - our circular solutions directory for the fashion industry. If you run a circular solution or know a great circular solution pls tag them here or apply to be featured on SUSTAIN20™: https://www.sustain20.com/ #circularity #circularfashion #fashiondirectory #circularsolutions

🌿 The Future of Fashion: How Digital Product Passports (DPPs) Are Transforming the Industry 🌿 🌍 💚 🏷️ After a deep dive into the #DigitalProductPassport (DPP) revolution and a recent thought-provoking article from The Business of Fashion (https://lnkd.in/g-v87vjW), it’s clear that this emerging #technology is poised to reshape the fashion industry. With over 2.5 to 5 billion excess items produced annually, worth $70 to $140 billion, and an estimated €17.5 billion worth of #returns ending up in #landfills each year, the urgency for #circular solutions has never been greater. DPPs, mandated by the #EuropeanUnion for rollout by 2026, are digital records that accompany products throughout their #lifecycle. They provide crucial data on materials, #environmentalimpact, and end-of-use options like #repair, #resale, or #recycling. This transformative tool has the potential to address key challenges: 📌 Combat Counterfeits: The counterfeit goods market is valued at $3 trillion, and 50% of Gen-Z consumers admit to purchasing fakes. DPPs ensure authenticity and protect brand integrity. 📌 Achieve Sustainability Goals: With apparel consumption projected to rise 63% to 102 million tonnes by 2030, DPPs help track, measure, and optimize sustainability efforts, assisting brands in meeting their decarbonization targets. 📌 Engage Consumers: Imagine a jacket reminding you to repair it or a bag inviting you to participate in a resale program—all via a QR code. DPPs enhance consumer relationships while extending product lifecycles. At CIRQUEL, we’re not just observing this shift—we’re part of it. Our solutions in #reverselogistics, #resale, and #circularfashion are already driving meaningful change as we are running the #pilot in #Madrid. By considering innovations like DPPs, we aim to help brands transform waste into value, turning challenges like returns and #overproduction into #opportunities for #profit and #sustainability. 📢 Curious to learn more? Explore the potential of CIRQUEL and how we see DPPs, how they align with our mission by reading our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/dzA3mBbi Together, let’s build a future where fashion is not only stylish but sustainable. Are you ready to make an impact? Anna Warchalowska June Arrieta Beam #DigitalProductPassports #CircularFashion #Sustainability #Resale #Recycling #FashionInnovation #ReverseLogistics #FashionTech #GreenFashion #BusinessOfFashion #ImpactfulFashion #startuplife #venturestudio #barcelona #berlin #businessangel #cvc

🌍 Fashion’s "Green Premium" vs. "Brown Discount": Bridging the Gap with Circular Solutions 👗♻️ The latest article by Ken Pucker, former COO of Timberland and professor at The Fletcher School at Tufts University , sheds light on the critical challenges faced by #sustainable #fashion brands today. Two key factors—the "green premium" (the higher cost of sustainable materials and processes) and the "brown discount" (the cost advantage of unsustainable practices)—highlight the uphill battle for eco-conscious brands competing in a market dominated by low-cost fast fashio 🔍 Key Takeaways from Pucker’s Analysis: Green Premium: The cost of producing sustainable, lower-impact #textiles often far exceeds traditional alternatives, creating a financial barrier for responsible brands. Brown Discount: The rise of ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein underscores how unsustainable practices lead to lower costs and competitive pricing (e.g., Shein tops average $10.07, while H&M averages $22.55). Legislation Is Key: Pucker argues that voluntary action alone won’t solve these systemic issues. Mandatory rules and regulations are necessary to level the playing field for brands that prioritize sustainability. At CIRQUEL, we’re tackling these systemic challenges by reimagining reverse logistics to help brands thrive while staying sustainable. 💡 What We Do at CIRQUEL: - Localized Solutions: By building #regional #networks for #refurbishment, #resale, #rental, and #recycling, we minimize costs and #carbonfootprints, making sustainability more accessible for brands. - AI-Driven Insights: Our platform identifies the optimal route for returned and unsold items, turning #waste into #revenue opportunities — from reselling and renting to recycling. - #Circular Revenue Models: We transform returns and unsold inventory into a #profitable, sustainable revenue stream, aligning with new regulations like the EU’s #Ecodesign Regulation. We echo Pucker’s call for action: New rules, #innovation, and #accountability are crucial to closing the gap between sustainable and unsustainable fashion. At CIRQUEL, we’re not just talking about change — we’re driving it. ✨ Let’s work together to reshape the future of fashion returns and reverse logistics. If you’re a brand ready to embrace circularity and sustainability, reach out to us via our website. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities. 🌱 https://www.cirquel.io Source: https://lnkd.in/dd6hBV3g Anna Warchalowska June Arrieta Beam #SustainableFashion #CircularEconomy #ReverseLogistics #GreenPremium #BrownDiscount #FashionReturns #CircularFashion #FashionTech #Sustainability #ImpactInnovation

💻 🚀 💡 🛍️ 🌏 After reading the latest The Business of Fashion article, “Fashion’s Big Opportunity in Reselling the Unsellable.” I couldn’t agree more with the pressing issues highlighted by them. The #fashionindustry faces an undeniable reality: #returns are skyrocketing, and the environmental and financial costs are mounting. At CIRQUEL, we don’t just share the vision of transforming returns into revenue; we are building a platform and eco-system that goes even further—localizing services, integrating advanced technologies, and driving sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of today’s fashion ecosystem. With 26% of apparel, footwear, and accessories returned (the highest rate among retail categories), this problem costs brands billions annually while also contributing to the growing environmental crisis. According to the National Retail Federation, 18% of all online orders in the US were returned in 2023, up from 17% the previous year. These returned items often come back damaged, stained, or unfit for restocking, creating a logistical and financial burden. (Globally we can talk about 40% of return rates when it comes to apparel*) 🗺️ 📦 💡 While many in the industry are grappling with how to handle this influx of returns, at CIRQUEL, we see it as an opportunity to innovate and drive impact. We have developed a localized and sustainable solution for the unwanted garment problem. We go beyond merely refurbishing items—we aim to create value across the entire lifecycle of returned and unsellable products, supporting brands in turning waste into opportunity. 🌳 🎉 🌍 Why This Matters? The #environmentalstakes are higher than ever. The BoF article highlights that landfilling or incinerating returned goods is no longer viable—ethically, financially, or legislatively. Consumers, particularly #GenZ and #Millennials, are actively seeking #sustainable #solutions, with the resale economy projected to grow 21% annually over the next five years (GlobalData Retail, McKinsey & Company). Brands that fail to adapt to this new reality risk losing relevance in an increasingly #circular fashion economy. 🛍️ 👏 💶 The article raises a critical point: “Reselling returned apparel is a major opportunity to turn a loss-maker into a money-maker.” At CIRQUEL, we couldn’t agree more. However, we believe this opportunity must be rooted in sustainable practices and localized networks that reduce waste while creating tangible value for brands, consumers, and the planet. 💫 🤝 🌍 💻 🚀 Join Us in Redefining Returns! If your brand is ready to transform returns into a growth engine while championing sustainability, let’s connect. https://www.cirquel.io #sustainability #startuplife #impactdriven #circularityinfashion #resale #rental #recycling #EUregulations #DPP #ecodesign #fasionindustry #reverselogistics #returnsintorevenue Beam

🌍 The Rising Tide of Fashion #Sustainability: A Closer Look at Industry Progress 👕♻️ The #fashionindustry is increasingly addressing its waste crisis with groundbreaking initiatives aimed at making sustainability a core practice. Recently, Fashion for Good, with the support of partners like Laudes Foundation, IDH, Reverse Resources, GlobalFashionAgenda, Circle Economy, and Accelerating Circularity, launched a powerful tool—the World of Waste platform. This platform spotlights global textile waste “hotspots” and provides valuable insights into #waste composition and quantities across different regions, including Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam. With features like the Recycler Feedstock Dashboard, the platform offers visibility into textile waste management, enabling recyclers, policymakers, and innovators to make informed decisions that promote #circularity, reduce waste, and leverage the untapped #potential of #discardedtextiles. This multi-stakeholder effort marks a huge leap toward transforming how the industry tracks, understands, and utilizes textile waste, helping facilitate circular textile-to-textile #recycling practices that reduce reliance on virgin resources. At CIRQUEL, we're excited to be part of this shift toward circularity in the fashion industry. Our mission is to tackle the pressing issues of fashion returns and overstock through an end-to-end #SaaS solution for #reverselogistics and our localized orchestration. By integrating our innovative #technology, we help #brands #repurpose, reroute, and #monetize their returned and unsold items, paving the way for a more sustainable, resource-efficient industry. 📣 We’d love to connect with stakeholders—whether brands, warehouses, or recyclers, resale or rental platforms—to explore #synergies in redefining the #lifecycle of fashion returns. Reach out to us via our website or schedule a call to join us in driving sustainable impact together. https://www.cirquel.io Anna Warchalowska June Arrieta Iñaki Merino Ruiz Beam #SustainableFashion #CircularEconomy #ReverseLogistics #TextileRecycling #WorldOfWaste #GreenFashion #FashionForGood #CircularSolutions #CIRQUEL #FashionRevolution