XLabs
LIVE

This is a training program like no other — join us to reimagine and accelerate your future to be circular.
Circular economy training for forward thinking businesses.

The full XLabs program creates space for you to design, advance and collaborate on circular economy solutions — right at the intersection of sustainability, science and technology.

Register Your Interest

Limited availability. Conditions apply.

Make the shift from linear — to circular at XLabs

Three-part training program for businesses 

XLabs is a proven capability-building program — here to accelerate the design, validation and progress of your circular solutions and innovations.

Register a team from your business, industry or region in Aotearoa to tackle the complex challenges of an extractive linear economy with circular design problem-solving.

Your shift towards a more regenerative, resilient, and circular future starts here.

Register for XLabs
XLabs
The XLabs experience –
LEARN

Part 1: LEARN
Discover. Learn. Concept.

XLabs LEARN is a self-guided online course designed to be completed before the LIVE in-person sprint.

From the moment your place has been accepted at XLabs, you and your team will have access to the LEARN resources to work through at your own pace.

  • Learn how the circular economy can create new value for your business
  • Understand the circular opportunity and context in Aotearoa NZ
  • Identify environmental challenges within your business
  • Explore how circular design methods can be practically applied to your business to solve these challenges
  • Design a solution using our circular idea canvas and implementation roadmap
  • Access real-world learnings and methods by Circularity practitioners
Get started with learn

Part 2: LIVE

Innovate. Develop. Connect.

XLabs LIVE is an in-person design sprint where your team will work alongside like-minded businesses from a range of industries to develop your ideas from LEARN. You'll work closely with Circularity and a diverse range of experts to prototype and validate your circular solution.

Register for full details —

Join us at LIVE

Register your business for the XLabs LIVE circular design sprint to collaborate with these speakers, experience an innovation showcase and panel discussions on the urban environment, the role of creativity, and the future of the circular economy in Aotearoa.

Announcing the experts joining us at XLabs LIVE to co-create the future to be circular.
Kylie HoromiaAlec TangFlorian GraichenMicahel BurgessToby SkiltonAndrew FisherAndrea StoccheroRobyn HaughMatthew JacksonMichal GarveyDonald ShepherdScion

Part 2: LIVE
Innovate. Develop. Connect.

XLabs LIVE is a one week design sprint where your team will work alongside like-minded businesses from a range of industries to develop your ideas from LEARN. You'll work closely with Circularity and a diverse range of experts to prototype and validate your circular solution.

This in-person design sprint is currently planned for 23RD – 27TH MAY 2022 and will be held in Tāmaki Makaurau — with 'rain dates' in place should Aotearoa NZ be under the Red Alert Level at that time. Register for full details.

Join us at LIVE 2022

Sample Program — XLabs LIVE2020 included:

Day 1:

Love the Problem, close the loop

– Exploring closed loop systems
Day 2:

Grow our World

– Exploring smart materials...
Day 3:

New Business Models

– Exploring circular business models
Day 4:

The Digital Frontier

– Exploring networked participation...
XLabs crew pitching via zoomEX maritime presentation of circular solution as shown on ipadAuckland Transport prototype and pitch for their circular solution for the transport industry
Day 5-7:

Prototype & Pitch

– Validating, prototyping and developing impactful solutions...

COACH

Part 3: COACH
Implement. Integrate. Impact.

You've designed, developed and validated your circular design solution at XLabs LIVE — and now you're ready to make it a reality in your business or industry.

XLabs is here to help make that happen. COACH brings you six months of ongoing support from Circularity practitioners, expert collaborators and the XLabs community. You will have access to a range of meet-ups, webinars, and possibly even appearances on Circularity's podcast: "The Redesign of Everything".

Find out more
XLABS:
FUTURE OF FOOD
Your circular business opportunity for the future of food starts here.
Registrations now open.
REGISTER INTEREST
XLABS:
FUTURE OF CITIES
Cities as we know them are rapidly growing and evolving. This is the year to redefine the possibilities for how we build and shape them.
COMING SOON
XLABS:
FUTURE OF TOURISM
Is your business ready to transform the future of tourism? Lead the way for Aotearoa
New Zealand.
COMING SOON
XLABS IN PARTNERSHIP:
YOUR INDUSTRY AT XLABS
Don't see your industry? We have a 1-2 spaces available to partner with specific industry challenges, regions or organisations to run bespoke programs.
REGISTER INTEREST

XLabs 2022 — The Full Program

01

LEARN

Open now. Start today.

Explore how to practically apply the circular economy to your business or industry.

LEARN is completed independently by participants and teams prior to attending the in-person sprint. Available immediately on registration.

LEARN includes:

  • 3-month enrolment to the self-directed XLabs LEARN program and community.
  • Access to 'Circular by Design' methodologies, toolkits and workbooks used by Circularity practitioners
  • Exclusive Ministry for the Environment guide to policies and the state of our environment
  • Certification for Designing for the Circular Economy upon course completion
  • Ongoing connection to the XLabs community and coalition of the willing
Start your journey

02

LIVE

23rd – 27th May 2022

Advance your circular ideas and concepts into validated solutions at the XLabs LIVE in-person design sprint.

XLabs LIVE is for business teams of up to six participants who have completed the LEARN module. Planned for w/c 4th April with backup dates in place.

LIVE includes:

  • A five-day, in-person circular design sprint held in Tāmaki Makaurau with expert speakers, advisors and facilitators.
  • Connect and collaborate with a range of businesses and industry leaders — working together to advance and develop circular solutions.
  • Support in taking your ideas from design to validation, and into pitch presentations for your stakeholders/funders.
Secure your place

03

COACH

On completion of LIVE.

Successfully implement your circular solutions with ongoing support and mentorship.

XLabs COACH is a follow-up service to XLabs LEARN and LIVE — with wrap-around coaching to help you leverage the momentum and make valuable progress.

COACH includes:

  • Six-month coaching support with Circularity and expert partners to help you turn your concept into reality.
  • A series of focused webinars alongside other XLabs participants
  • Ongoing community meet-ups to connect and share progress.
  • Potential to share your circular solution and XLabs experience as part of Circularity's podcast, 'The Redesign of Everything'
Secure your place
“It has been brilliant to be part of XLabs and to see the passion and drive that exists for changing how we work and how we think about our impact on the planet. We have been inspired”
– The Warehouse Group
XLabs team
“I am LOVING the course. You guys have done such an amazing job of inspiring me and reframing a topic in a new way. I’ve read so many books about circular economy but the way you have told the story is so much more powerful. I’m also really impressed with how well you’ve embedded Te Ao Māori.”
– XLabs 2022 participant
“We saw XLabs as a place to create solutions to our questions and problems using the circular economy — and to understand what might be possible outside of our business 'bubble'”
– XLabs 2022 participant
“XLabs really helped connect the dots, not just with the amazing speakers who were truly inspiring, but there was so much bouncing off each other's ideas with the other teams. It gave us all encouragement that yes we can do this, and together the challenge is less daunting.'”
– XLabs 2022 participant
“We've got an amazing opportunity to consider circular principles in all of our ideas moving forward... For any other business looking at doing XLabs — I just say do it!”
– XLabs 2022 participant
“We won’t be talking about circular economy in 2030, because it is just the way we will trade.”
– Leanne Kemp
Everledger

XLabs alumni 2020

Logos of companies who have participated in XLabs programs
XLabs participants standing outside in Central Auckland
team of 3 people sitting at a table discussing their Circular by Design solution at the XLabs sprint
Crowd of people standing and smiling during XLabs 2020
Louise Nash, founder of XLabs and Circularity, and participant in XLabs tshirt
Two women wearing white sitting at a table working through their regenerative future workbook at XLabs
Man standing in front of crowd presenting about Auckland Integrated Capitals Operating Model
Crowd of people clapping after presentation of a successful circular by design solution
XLabs presenter standing in front of a projector talking over regenerative outcomes
Crowd of people standing around an industrial community garden
Over the shoulder shot of middle aged man working through his solution to create a regenerative future at XLabs 2020
Closed up of the resources given to participants of XLabs Circular Economy lab
Women picking a range of sustainably sourced salads from the XLabs buffet
Two mean wearing backpacks walking down Central Auckland street pushing a bike

XLabs is made possible in partnership

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Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the XLabs program for?

Individuals and business teams who are looking to build their capability and take full advantage of the circular economy opportunity. It doesn’t really matter what discipline or department you work in, we cater for all levels of expertise. You might be a Sustainability Director, a Designer, an Engineer, an Entrepreneur, or work in Marketing. Making the shift from linear to circular can benefit all areas of your business from procurement, supply chains, innovation, meeting new customer needs and designing closed-loop systems for waste streams. You are welcome to join as an individual but as previous XLabs participants have discovered - your impact will be exponential if you bring a team! Join us and start your journey today.

Q. What are the dates for XLabs and when do I need to sign up by?

LEARN: OPEN October 2021 and will be on-going LIVE: 9-5pm, 23rd – 27th May 2022 in Tāmaki Makarau. COACH: June 2022 (6x 90min engagements over the following six months).To join LIVE and COACH requires ideally a team of between 3-6 people from within your business to have completed the LEARN program. All dates are subject to change.

Q. How long will the LEARN course take?

This depends on you and your team. Modules 1-2 consist of reading materials and short exercises. These can be completed in a few hours and will provide you with a grounding in the theory and to start thinking about what shifts you can make. Module three is where it all comes together. If you are working as a team or individual we suggest you set aside a between 2-4 90min power sessions to complete each exercise or even 1-2 days. Planning ahead of these sessions is key, making sure everyone has done the pre-reading etc. You will then need a bit more time to research and validate your insights with your wider business. The more engagement with these exercises from your stakeholders, the better you can understand what the key focus areas and shifts you can make to become circular.

Q. Can I do XLabs as an individual?

Yes, you are able to complete our online programme XLabs LEARN as an individual – however it has been designed to work best for teams and businesses to collaborate, share and receive feedback, ideate solutions to the challenges they face. You can continue on to do the FULL PROGRAM by registering a team of between 3-6 people from within your business – this includes joining us, other businesses and experts at an in-person design sprint and receiving ongoing coaching support for your circular solution. If you are attending the full program, your team will all need to have completed the LEARN online course prior to the design sprint.

Q. Who should I have in my team?

We recommend that you bring a range of people from across your business who are motivated to make a change. Where possible, it would help to have the key decision makers and those with valuable knowledge of your wider system. If you attend LIVE you will get 4x guest passes to bring key stakeholders, external partners and funders into the sessions as well. Your team will be supported by a range of experts, bringing diversity of thinking to your problem-solving.

Q. Does my whole team need to complete LEARN to apply for LIVE?

Yes, each member of your core team – between 3-6 people need to complete the LEARN program in order to attend the XLabs LIVE design sprint and receive ongoing circular economy coaching support.

Q. What outcomes can I expect on this program?

The circular economy is the new narrative for innovation and progress that has been identified to be worth up to $4.5 trillion dollars globally and up to $8.8 billion in Tāmaki Makaurau alone.

Our XLabs program will enable you to -

  • Level up your knowledge of the circular economy with real-world practitioners, building your capability as individuals and teams to solve the challenges facing businesses right now.
  • Address the extractive practices of the linear economy, designing out waste and ideating new solutions for your business that unlock new value for people and the planet.
  • Connect with like-minded people who are on the same journey through our dedicated community platform.
  • Develop your action plan to accelerate your progress towards a circular economy.
  • Apply to be part of XLabs LIVE - our in-person circular design sprint*

*Course completion of the LEARN program is required to progress into the LIVE design sprint in Tāmaki Makaurau. A select number of places are available in LIVE and requires approval by Circularity and Partners.

Q. Can I purchase XLabs on behalf of someone else or my entire team?

If you are purchasing just LEARN at this stage, you can choose the number of participants at checkout.  If you’re taking up our offer of the “Full Package” of LEARN+LIVE you are securing a place for a team of up to 6 people across the entire XLabs Programme. Once registered we will email you with confirmation and a request to reply with the names and contact details for each of your team members. After that we will grant access to LEARN for each team member and they will receive their own confirmation as well.

Q. When do I have to complete LEARN by?

Our LEARN course is self-paced and is available to access for three months from the date of purchase. If you’re participating in XLabs LIVE, you’ll need to complete LEARN before then. We recommend you set aside with your team to collaborate with each other to get the most out of it, and this can be done however you wish - small bites each week, or larger working sessions.

Q. My business is keen to sign up - how do we get started?

Before 31st October- We are releasing 12x early-bird packages of LEARN+LIVE+COACH for teams of up to 6 people. When purchasing the full Package you are securing spots for a team, of up to 6 people, in all three XLabs programme streams. You don’t have to have everyone in the team “ready to roll” at the time of purchase, and can add members during the LEARN phase. We recommend completing LEARN as a group to get the most from the experience, but understand this can be tricky. Each team member must have completed LEARN by 31 Dec, however, to qualify for LIVE. All three programs are included and specifically designed to help make your ambition to become a reality.

After 31st October - The remaining eight places will be selected from teams who complete the LEARN program before the 31st October. Please let us know in your final Module (5) that your businesses would like to apply for LIVE and we will review your course workbook + roadmap.

Q. Can you invoice us?

Yes. We will invoice you upon approval of your registration. Email us at xlabs@circularity.co.nz to get this process underway.

Q. I have the ambition but not the cash, can I still join the program? Do you have a 'Pay what you can' policy?

We have the opportunity to offer a few places at a discounted rate to achieve the outcomes we seek. Email us at xlabs@circularity.co.nz with the subject line REQUEST A SPOT, letting us know what audacious challenge you would like to tackle.

Q. What is the XLabs refund policy?

This program is non-refundable. If you are not satisfied with the program while completing it we encourage you to connect with us directly - there are lots of ways we can ensure your experience is positive and the outcomes you seek are delivered.

Q. What happens if we change alert levels during LIVE?

If we are unable to meet in person due to COVID-19 we will either move the date to another week when we can gather or alternatively we will go ahead using online digital tools. Please see our terms and conditions for what XLabs LIVE will look like under each COVID-19 traffic light level.

Q. How do we qualify for LIVE?

Three steps -

  1. Purchase the Package of LEARN + LIVE for up to six people by registering your interest or emailing us directly at xlabs@circularity.co.nz
  2. All team members complete the LEARN PROGRAM
  3. Circularity and Partners review the LEARN Assessment and provide approval for a place in LIVE or suggest further consideration for challenges and solutions to explore to qualify for LIVE.