Circle Economy

This collection was curated by the Circle Economy team from Knowledge Hub case studies for businesses, local and national governments around the world to find inspiration in practical examples of the circular economy. Visit the Circle Economy website for more information and for more publications on the circular economy.

58 case studies

Québec Circulaire

This collection features a selection of the initiatives listed on the Québec Circulaire platform. Québec Circulaire is one of the flagship measures of the Pôle québécois de concertation sur l’économie circulaire (Quebec centre for consultation on the circular economy), a voluntary grouping of leaders from various backgrounds to accelerate the transition to the circular economy in Quebec. The information that emerges about circular economy is often fragmented by types of strategies, regions, people involved and sectors of activity. For a real change in the economic model to take place, it seemed essential to create a convergence forum for the exchange of information. Therefore, Québec Circulaire's mission is to bring together the variety of initiatives, tools, and expertise related to circular economy in Québec that are currently dispersed and will be multiplying in the coming years. Having begun its transition to circular economy in 2014, Québec serves as a pioneer in North America. By shining a light on the collective impact of individual and targeted initiatives, the circular economy can constitute a powerful lever for change. This collection of case studies aims to bring together Quebec people involved in this transition, alongside facilitating access to initiatives and knowledge developed elsewhere in the world, and disseminating Quebec best practices internationally. To learn more about Québec's initiatives to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, visit www.quebeccirculaire.org.

17 case studies

Circular Food

Circular food systems entail that the food is produced regeneratively and, where appropriate, locally. Food and packaging waste are designed out entirely, while healthy, low-impact diets are promoted and easy to access. [Circle Economy](https://www.circle-economy.com/) is a not-for-profit organisation working to accelerate the circular transition. Through the *Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. With nature as our guide, we work alongside cross-sector stakeholders from academia, businesses, NGOs and governments to provide a powerful combination of practical and scalable interventions that transform circular opportunities into realities.

45 case studies

Built environment

The built environment sector largely exists to serve our universal need for shelter, and as such is one of the most important consumers of raw materials in the world. We believe the built environment should be a ‘living’ system in which building materials and products are optimally used and reused— a system that operates within the boundaries of our planet, preserves the (business) value of its resources, and ensures the well-being of its inhabitants. Tremendous opportunities to reverse the tide and prevent a state of lock-in from happening exist for regions where the built environment sector has yet to mature. There is also still hope for those regions where the fate of the construction sector may seem set in stone. This is why two key strategies stand out: - Preventing lock-in through thoughtful design - Optimising (material value) through transformative re-design

26 case studies

Footprints Africa

This collection is part of Footprints Africa's work to build a comprehensive database of circular economy initiatives in Africa. This is a result of the collaboration with the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), as part of the programme to support the circular economy transition in Africa. Footprints Africa's vision is that businesses can be a force for good at scale. Their mission is to advance sustainable, scalable and inclusive approaches to development of local African economies. Footprints Africa supports SMEs to adopt future-friendly practices, such as those inspired by the circular economy, to address the challenges of growth and create jobs. This open-source dataset features well over 500 cases and 200 examples of policies and laws and intent to collect inspiring examples of initiatives from across Africa, in order to inform the global dialogue, which is largely focused on the European and American context.  To learn more about Africa's initiatives and content to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, visit https://www.footprintsafrica.co/

664 case studies

Circular Taiwan Network

This collection features a selection of inspiring examples of the circular economy, to encourage the transformation of Taiwanese industries and society. Circular Taiwan Network is a nonprofit organisation that promotes the development of a circular economy in Taiwan. It was founded in 2015 by Charles Huang, a businessman and environment advocate. Circular Taiwan communicates, advocates, and facilitates coordination between all facets of society to make the circular economy a part of daily life in Taiwan and to make Taiwan a leader in the global circular economy movement As Taiwan faces numerous threats, including climate change, dependence on imports for resources, and pressures from increasing pollution and waste, many Taiwanese enterprises view the circular economy as a significant opportunity to open new businesses or process improvement. Circular Taiwan aims to systematically showcase trends and cases of circular economy transition across six industries: textiles, the built environment, furniture/appliances/lighting, electronics, mobility, and agriculture/food. To learn more about Circular Taiwan Network visit [https://circular-taiwan.org/en/](https://circular-taiwan.org/en/)

1 case studies

WCTD

This collection has been built by a community of passionate researchers, students and industry professionals, as part of World Circular Textiles Day (WCTD). World Circular Textiles Day takes place every year on 8th October. Our vision is to galvanise the collective ambitions and goals of people, organisations and businesses to reach a fully circular textiles world by 2050. Our mission is to provide a framework for circularity stakeholders to develop and deliver a collaborative, evolving roadmap and to chart circularity’s momentum annually on the 8th October, until 2050. What does fully circular by 2050 mean? - Shared textile resources, in the form of products and raw materials, are kept in **continual circulation**. - Virgin resources are **replaced with circular materials**. - Dignity, equity and equality, for the **people** involved in all parts of the circular value chain. In order to chart how to get to 100% Circularity by 2050, we need to know where we stand today. What circular activity is currently happening in the textiles and apparel industry and where in the world it is happening? The WCTD Collection aims to answer this question, by building the world’s largest digital library of circular textiles cases studies. World Circular Textiles Day is proud to be supported by our 2022-23 Circular Hero Partners: [Lenzing](https://www.lenzing.com/), [Texaid](https://retailsolutions.texaid.com/), [Bank & Vogue](https://www.bankvogue.com/), [Usha yarns limited](https://ushayarns.com/), [The Conduit](https://www.theconduit.com/), and [Asia Pacific Rayon](https://www.aprayon.com/en/)

423 case studies

Circular Norway

This collection features a selection of inspiring examples of the circular economy in Norway! Circular Norway is a driving force for the conversion of Norwegian companies and municipalities to a circular economy through practical tools, innovation, and business development. They collaborate with the leading environments on the circular economy in Europe, and together they contribute to Norway delivering on the sustainability goals and climate goals in the Paris Agreement. At 2.4%, Norway's circularity rate is below the global average (8.6%). Norway consumes 235 million tonnes of materials—metals, fossil fuels, biomass, and minerals—to fuel its societal needs each year. 97.6% of these materials are never cycled back into the economy. But Norway has enormous potential: the country could see a 20-fold increase in its circularity by restructuring Norwegian business and industry. To learn more about Norway's initiatives to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, visit www.circularnorway.no/ (content in Norwegian)

63 case studies

Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains

This collection features a selection of inspiring examples of the circular economy, compiled in the context of the Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains programme (SWITCH). Launched in 2020, SWITCH is a five-year initiative that assists EU multinational companies and their suppliers from developing countries to switch to more circular economy approaches and practices in three selected value chains: [Plastic Packaging](https://knowledge-hub.circle-lab.com/switchtocircular/search?collections=832%3D0&framework_elements__5=111), [Textile & Garments](https://knowledge-hub.circle-lab.com/switchtocircular/search?collections=832%3D0&framework_elements__5=99), and ICT and Electronics. The overall objective of SWITCH is to support the “transformation towards a circular economy”, and to contribute to sustainable growth, low carbon and climate resilient development, decent jobs creation, and a safer, healthier and pollution-free environment. SWITCH is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Finland, and implemented by UNIDO, in collaboration with Chatham House, Circle Economy, and the European Investment Bank. Learn more at www.switchtocircular.eu 

176 case studies

Global Circularity Gap Report 2023

This collection features a selection of case studies, based on the global *Circularity Gap Reports*, that can mitigate climate breakdown by reducing virgin material consumption, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The latest **[Circularity Gap Report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023#download)** reveals that the global economy is now only 7.2% circular and outlines how circular solutions across four sectors can bring global planetary boundaries back within safe limits. In the six years of the *Circularity Gap Report*, the global economy has extracted and used unprecedented amounts of materials. The first edition of the *Report *in 2018 found that global circularity was 9.1% and it has decreased every year since—leaving a Circularity Gap of over 90%. If this trend continues, we will have to find more and better solutions to combat the negative effects of climate change. This is why we have identified case studies from across the globe—based on the needs of society and planetary health—that serve as real-world examples of the circular economy in action. Circle Economy is a not-for-profit organisation working to accelerate the circular transition. Through the *Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. With nature as our guide, we work alongside cross-sector stakeholders from academia, businesses, NGOs and governments to provide a powerful combination of practical and scalable interventions that transform circular opportunities into realities. To learn more about these interventions to accelerate the circular transition, read the latest [Circularity Gap Report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023#download), as well as previous editions of the global [Circularity Gap Reports](https://www.circularity-gap.world/global).

58 case studies

Circular Jobs Initiative

This collection comes from the Circular Jobs Initiative, an initiative of Circle Economy. The workforce is an essential lever for transforming our economy from linear to circular. The Circular Jobs Initiative aims to maximise the employment opportunities offered by the circular economy. It provides practical support and insights to businesses and governments that want to adopt circular strategies that have a positive social impact.The Circular Jobs Initiative works through three focus areas: - Upskilling the workforce - Quality of work - Inclusive job opportunities CJI has defined circular jobs as any occupation that directly involves or indirectly supports one of the strategies of the circular economy. It distinguishes between three types of circular jobs: core, enabling and indirectly circular jobs. **Core circular jobs** are all jobs that ensure the closure of raw material cycles, including jobs in repair, renewable energy, waste and resource management. **‍Enabling circular jobs** are jobs that remove barriers for and enable the acceleration and upscaling of core circular activities, including jobs that arise in leasing, education, design and digital technology. **Indirectly circular jobs** are jobs that occur in other sectors that do not play a direct role in furthering the transition to the circular economy but can still adopt circular strategies. They include jobs that provide services to core circular strategies, including jobs in information services, logistics and the public sector. The Knowledge Hub Collection includes examples of circular jobs, publications, reports, case studies and policies different organisations, governments and businesses are already using to advocate for a person-centred circular economy. Visit the Circular Jobs Initiative Visit the Circular Jobs Monitor

124 case studies

Water in Circular Economy and Resilience

This collection features a selection of inspiring examples of the circular economy in the water sector, compiled in the context of the World Bank's Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) Initiative, presenting the WICER framework together with global case studies that show the benefits of becoming circular and resilient. WICER is an initiative by the World Bank's [Water Global Practice](https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water) to establish a common understanding of the definitions and applications of circular economy and resilience principles in the urban water sector, and to promote the implementation of those principles in our projects and when working with governments and partners around the world As part of the initiative, the Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) Framework has been developed which describes the key actions needed to achieve three main outcomes: 1) deliver resilient and inclusive services, 2) design out waste and pollution, and 3) preserve and regenerate natural systems. As part of the initiative, case studies have also been developed, showcasing best practices around the world, and guidelines and other relevant material have been compiled to help cities accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The initiative sets out to demystify the circular economy in water by showing that both high-income and low-income countries can benefit from it. Circular and resilient cities are crucial to achieve the SDGs. This initiative is supported by the [Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP)](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/global-water-security-sanitation-partnership). To learn more about Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) Initiative visit [https://www.worldbank.org/wicer ](https://www.worldbank.org/wicer)

7 case studies

Circular Economy Hub Japan

This collection features a selection of inspiring examples of the circular economy, from innovative business models to local community practices in Japan. Circular Economy Hub Japan is an online platform operated by Harch Inc., a Japanese digital media company focusing on sustainability and the circular economy. Circular Economy Hub Japan provides the latest circular economy news, case studies, and insights in Japan and overseas. The platform also hosts monthly events, circular design workshops, study tours, and community gatherings for circular economy professionals across the county. The initiative aims to accelerate the circular economy transition in Japan by sharing knowledge and experiences, facilitating collaborations, and boosting innovations together. Our diverse audience and community members include local governments, multinational companies, startups, SMEs, research institutions, consultancies, universities, nonprofits, and citizens. To learn more about Circular Economy Hub Japan visit [https://harch.jp/en/media/cehub](https://harch.jp/en/media/cehub)

3 case studies

Global Circularity Gap Report 2024

This collection features a selection of case studies, mainly based on the [2024 Circularity Gap Report](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2024). In this year’s Report, we shift from exploring the what to the how: exploring the different ways that we need to ‘change the rules of the game’ and create a set of conditions that discourage the overshoot of planetary boundaries and ‘undershoot’ of human development. This process has resulted in us spotlighting 12 of the original 16 solutions, highlighting the country profile that they are most relevant to, as well as placing people at the centre of this story for the first time. Based on extensive interviews and desk research, this Report aims to show governments and industry leaders that if they want to turn theory into action and scale an economy that delivers on needs within the safe limits of the planet, they need to dismantle harmful entrenched processes and align enabling elements. [Circle Economy](https://www.circle-economy.com/) is a global impact organisation with an international team of passionate experts based in Amsterdam. We empower industries, cities, and nations with practical and scalable solutions to put the circular economy into action. Our vision is an economic system that ensures the planet and all people can thrive. To avoid climate breakdown, our goal is to double global circularity by 2032. Through the *Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. To learn more about these interventions to accelerate the circular transition, read the [latest Circularity Gap Report 2024](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2024), as well as previous editions of the global [Circularity Gap Reports](https://www.circularity-gap.world/global).

34 case studies