Austria’s circular economy journey powered by CGR®
Our Circularity Gap Report (CGR®) Austria provided a data-driven foundation that helped the country move from a broad idea to a concrete, national circular economy strategy.
Real-world results: What changed at a national level
Our report was one of the first cases to measure a nation's circularity, providing the essential data needed for a national strategy.
We identified priority sectors and strategies to guide the country's transition.
The report fueled a nationwide discussion that contributed to the launch of the Austrian Circular Economy Strategy.
The government introduced a nationwide Repair Bonus that offers vouchers to cover half the cost of electronic repairs.
A new deposit-return scheme for single-use bottles and cans was launched in 2025.
€41 million has been made available to fund circular design, production, and reuse initiatives.
The government is funding 48 new projects to improve technologies and processes across the entire value chain.
The gap: A novel concept with no clear application
Back in 2018, while the circular economy was a hot topic, there was a significant gap between the concept and a practical, government-level approach. National policymakers lacked the data and concrete guidance to translate the idea into a national strategy. Without a clear picture of its resource flows, Austria struggled to identify where to focus its efforts and how to track progress.
What we delivered: A novel concept with no clear application
In collaboration with Altstoff Recycling Austria, we developed the CGR Austria. This comprehensive report, one of the first of its kind, provided a baseline for the country's circularity and a clear set of recommendations. By presenting the findings directly to the Austrian Ministry of Environment, we sparked a wider discussion among policymakers and key stakeholders. The report became a foundational document that contributed to the country's first Circular Economy Strategy, proving how a single piece of research can drive powerful, lasting transformation.
The success of Austria’s Circular Economy Strategy proves the power of evidence-based policy. Want to learn more about how our reports can help your country get started?
