Gordon Circular - a circular system for e-commerce deliveries in the public sector
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Gordon Services AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 664 665 |
| Project duration | November 2024 - April 2026 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Climate-neutral e-commerce |
| Call | Climate-neutral e-commerce - Conversion to a sustainable e-commerce with a focus on sustainable packaging systems, return handling and delivery locations |
Important results from the project
All milestones have been reached. The system has been tested in a real environment together with Jönköping municipality, Coop & Samhall and has shown that circular deliveries to elderly citizens and nursing homes are feasible on a large scale. The test bed is now transitioning to a commercial agreement between the parties. A key lesson is that ease of implementation and return is more crucial than the design of the packaging, an insight that directly affects how the system is further developed.
Expected long term effects
The project demonstrates a commercially viable circular model for the public sector. When total cost replaces transaction cost, the conditions for circular business models change, not only in food deliveries but in public procurement. With increased penetration and circular packaging requirements in procurement, the cumulative environmental benefit becomes significant. Gordon Circular constitutes a replicable model for how public and private sectors can jointly drive the transition.
Approach and implementation
The project was implemented according to plan and all milestones were reached on time. The working method combined weekly and monthly meetings with quarterly physical visits at each party, supplemented by ongoing communication via Slack. Physical visits for processtests and training at our partners were crucial for refining the system. The collaboration was characterized by transparency, curiosity and a shared will to succeed laying the foundation for a commercial agreement.