Technology isn’t magic. And neither is circularity.

In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O’Kane speaks with Lieke van Kerkhoven, co-founder of Green Pulse.

Lieke explains how Green Pulse is helping hospitals extend the life of medical equipment by connecting them with a global network of buyers. The platform combines logistics, marketplace dynamics, and technology to make reuse viable in a complex and highly regulated environment, an example of what we mean by Exploring circular tech: technology isn’t magic, where technology plays a role, but only as part of a much bigger operational and human system.

They discuss the practical realities of building a circular business, from managing operations and growth to creating trust between buyers and sellers. The conversation also explores a broader idea: how businesses can move beyond treating sustainability as an add-on and instead integrate it into their core commercial model.

The episode highlights Lieke’s concept of “integrative business”, the role of AI in reshaping work, and the importance of aligning incentives across the value chain.

✨ In this episode:

• Lieke explains how Green Pulse started and how it works
• We explore the challenges of running a circular marketplace
• Lieke shares insights into the global demand for reused medical equipment
• We discuss why donation is not always the best solution
• Barry and Lieke explore the realities of scaling a startup
• Lieke explains how AI supports operational efficiency
• We discuss aligning commercial and circular incentives
• We explore the gap between personal and professional values
• Lieke shares her vision for the future of Green Pulse

👤 About our guest:

Lieke van Kerkhoven is the co-founder of Green Pulse, a platform focused on the reuse of medical equipment.

She has a background in medicine and has spent years working at the intersection of healthcare, sustainability, and the circular economy. Through Green Pulse, she is helping hospitals recover value from unused equipment while making it accessible to buyers around the world.

Lieke is particularly interested in what she calls “integrative business”, bringing together commercial and sustainability thinking into a single, aligned model. Her work focuses on reducing friction, building trust, and creating systems where circularity becomes a natural outcome of doing business.

🌍 About HappyPorch

HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy.

Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com

💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News

HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology.

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https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/

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