The Circular Value Ecosystem
One mindset.
Five Purpose Units.
One system.
The challenge
Sustainability is a must. Delivering it is hard.
- Solutions remain isolated projects: innovation, strategy and implementation are not connected.
- Industries work side by side instead of together.
- Regulatory pressure is rising: circular economy, digital product passport, extended producer responsibility.
Our answer
An ecosystem where everything comes together.
- Creation, projects, innovation, strategy, production and implementation in one place.
- Partners from water sports, the maritime economy, technology and fashion develop together.
- Our own products as proof that it works.
The structure of the ecosystem
Three segments. One loop.
Starting point: five Purpose Units
At the centre are five Purpose Units. Each one brings together a key area of the Blue Economy: RE:MATERIAL for innovative materials, RE:BOAT for boatbuilding and recycling, RE:MARINA for marinas, infrastructure and coastal regions, RE:FLOW for AI and data expertise, and RE:ACTIVE for innovative textiles and footwear. In every unit, partners develop solutions together, from the first prototype to market.
Enabler: Blue Loop Advisory
The units benefit from Blue Loop Advisory, the consulting expertise within the ecosystem: six services that help companies deliver. Engineering & Prototyping supports development. Business Development, Innovative Procurement and Public Funding Strategy support the growth phase. Leadership & Transformation and Ecosystem Strategy provide key input for change. The first touchpoint with the ecosystem is usually a workshop.
Focus: the industries of the Blue Economy
Our activities are aligned with the industries of the Blue Economy, from boatbuilding, marinas, energy and technology to tourism, research, finance and the public sector. They bring the challenges and markets for sustainability and the circular economy, and our units develop the solutions. Our ecosystem approach turns this into shared impact.
Co-creation
Building markets together.
In KHULULA’s Circular Value Ecosystem, manufacturers, shipyards, material producers, marinas and operators, regions, service providers and users develop products and services together. Whoever co-develops is channel and customer at the same time. At the centre is not a company but a purpose. This creates shared products and a shared market. Knowledge, skills and markets are shared, investment is spread across all partners, opportunities multiply and risk is reduced. This resilience and impact are, for us, the biggest difference from the linear economy.
Until now: linear
One company at the centre.
- One company develops alone and then looks for buyers.
- Every stage works on its own and costs margin.
- Market feedback comes late or not at all.
- Knowledge gets lost along the way.
- High investment, high risk, carried by one company.
In future: ecosystem
The purpose is at the centre.
shared products or services, shared marketShipyardMarinaUser
All partners focus on a shared goal and develop a shared mindset. Each partner brings in their strengths. Innovations are tested early in a real environment, and knowledge and risk are shared. Circularity is built into every material and product from the start.
How a co-creation project works
Purpose and challenge
A real problem from the market, defined by those who have it, and a goal that unites all partners.
Team and funding
The ecosystem provides partners for every topic needed. Funding is developed together: own contributions, grants, investors.
Prototype and pilot
Once a prototype or MVP has been developed, it is tested in the relevant market environment: at a regatta, in the shipyard, the marina or the coastal region.
Market access
Partners are part of the sales channel or even the first customers. The market grows with the product.
Our role model
The Eco_Optimist
- Challenge
- An entry into sailing for children without fibreglass, made from natural fibres and recycled materials.
- Team
- KHULULA (concept, material, marketing), Jade Yachting (R&D, production), Büfa (sustainable resins / R&D), Elvström (sails from recycled PET), Robline (rPET rope).
- Pilot
- The first boats were raced at the ECO_TEAM RACE GERMANY, sailed by children from different clubs.
- Market
- Building Eco_Optimist fleets for an accessible entry into sailing. Winner of the first German Sustainability Award Sport 2024 (DNP).
You have a challenge, a material or a market and are looking for partners to make more of it?
The Purpose Units
RE:MARINA
Marinas, coastal regions, architecture, infrastructure
Our ambition is the Net Positive Marina: a marina that gives more back to its surroundings than it takes. Together with operators or regions, we develop the marina of the future. We offer a current white paper and the workshop format “Net Positive Check”.
RE:FLOW
Digital product passports
Life-cycle and material data for boats, materials, textiles and infrastructure is already partly required by law. For a circular economy and key issues such as boat recycling, it is an essential foundation. We are currently developing Bluepass, the DPP (digital product passport) for leisure boats.
RE:MATERIAL
Natural and circular materials and products
Our research radar is always looking for natural fibres, recycled composites, bio-based resins and innovative materials for water sports and the maritime economy. Partners for our R&D projects are always welcome too.
RE:BOAT
Circular boatbuilding, refitting, electrification or recycling
From circular boatbuilding and electrification to refits that keep materials in the loop or come from it. We want to transform boatbuilding and develop our own projects or provide valuable development input.
RE:ACTIVE
Fibre-to-fibre: textiles and footwear
Apparel and footwear for water sports and leisure are a highly critical area for our environment. We bring together partners who turn fibres back into fibres, and use our ecosystem to develop circular product concepts or create market access.
How the ecosystem works
Four things we bring together.
Innovation and prototyping
Market entry and growth
Projects, events, communities, trade fairs, brand strategy, funding opportunities.
Collaboration
Workshops and training
Industries of the Blue Economy
Find your way into the ecosystem.
Choose your industry and describe your project in one sentence. We will show you which Purpose Unit, which workshop and which partners fit. If you can’t find the right entry point for your idea or company here, just send us an email.
Go straight to your industry:
Partnership and benefits
What you get as a partner.
- 01Access to a curated network of innovators, experts and organisations.
- 02A 90-day onboarding with kick-off, WHY-HOW-WHAT workshop and Quick Impact Scan.
- 03An annual programme with sessions, roundtables and a yearly meet-up.
- 04Visibility in the ecosystem, on the website and in the Circular Voices podcast.
- 05Tools for transformation and 10% off all advisory services.
Membership with three options
Every partnership starts with the 90-day onboarding.
Explorer Partner
€5,000 / year
Early bird €4,000 until 29 Jan 2027
Active ecosystem partnership, 90-day onboarding, an episode of the Circular Voices podcast, visibility on the website and socials, 10% off advisory.
Core Partner
€9,500 / year
Founding partner status
Everything in Explorer, plus a tailored workshop, co-creation projects, storytelling and first impact input.
Strategic Partner
from €35,000 / year
Investor or technology partner
Everything in Core, plus joint product development, a leadership workshop, access to the innovation pipeline and funded projects.