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We're thrilled to have started working with Harald Friedl, to reimagine a circular economy for theme parks, visitor attractions, water parks and museums.
Together, we're passionate about creating visitor attractions that benefit the planet and people starting with us launching together, The Circular Compass. This is a methodology to create an eco theme park - whether this is a new build, or retrofitting an existing park.
But first, let us explain who we are.
Katapult
We are a UK-based design company, specialising in creating themed attractions, experiences, and destinations. Over 95 million guests around the world enjoy our work every single year. We are also the world's first themed attraction design company to be awarded B-Corp Certification.
B-Corp is a community of businesses that are a force for good, helping drive forward greater positive impact for society and the environment. Not only do we hold these values close to our heart, we understand that visitor attraction guests are expecting both brands and businesses to make a positive impact in the world.
Harald Friedl
Harald Friedl is a circular economist, influencer, and owner of the Circular Economy Innovation Agency, that aims to accelerate transition to a circular economy by combining cutting-edge technological innovation with nature-inspired design principles.
He provides consulting services based on developing a circular strategy and roadmap development, change activation and circular innovation and storytelling.
Eco theme park design
This is the circular compass and its goal is to empower theme parks and visitor attractions to create sustainable, engaging experiences while minimising environmental impact.
Guiding The Circular Compass are 10-steps that should be followed:
Refuse - Say no to use of specific materials deemed harmful to the planet
Rethink - Make products and experiences more use-intensive
Reduce - Lessen the consumption of natural resources in all operations
Reuse - Secondary and tertiary use of products created for guests
Repair - Focus on maintenance rather than reject and replacing
Refurbish - Restore older experiences and products with minor upgrades
Remanufacture - Integrate products components that still work well
Repurpose - Foster innovation by reusing existing products and experiences
Recycle - Consider upcycling and downcycling products to reduce waste
Recovery - Turning organic waste into electricity and heat
What does success look like?
There are limited examples of eco theme parks, although some have implemented great ways to generate and store energy. If The Circular Compass is fully adopted, we should be aiming to achieve four avenues for change.
1 - Zero waste parks
Implementing zero waste initatives can enhance a park's reputation as an eco friendly destination, attracting environmentally-conscious guests and reducing waste management costs.
2 - Circular design
Sustainable design and efficient operations can lead to long-term cost savings through reduced energy consumption and maintenance needs, while appealing to eco-conscious consumers and potentially increasing visitor numbers.
3 - Net positive energy
Becoming a net-positive energy producer can significantly reduce operational costs and create a unique selling point for the park, potentially attracting partnerships and positive media attention.
4 - Incentivise guests
Educational initiatives can enhance visitor engagement and satisfaction, potentially leading to increased repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth. It also positions the park as a leader in environmental education, potentially opening the door up to new revenue streams through programs and partnerships.
Becoming the industry leader
For theme parks, themed resorts, water parks and other visitor attractions that want to embrace the circular economy as part of their design and guest experience, our teams are ready to discuss your project to make you the industry leader.
Speak with us to discuss how you can embed the 10 steps into your theme park operations, as well as the designs of your next ride, zone and experience upgrades.
