The Netherlands has set an ambitious goal: full circularity by 2050 and halved resource consumption by 2030. Meeting this goal will require change spanning sectors—and the textile and clothing industry, which releases 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 each year—must be prioritised. This report dives into three scenarios for a circular clothing industry in the Netherlands, analysing the employment impact of each. It explores how different strategies—ranging from a shift in consumption patterns to a prioritisation of repair to an increased focus on textile cycling—will impact the job market, and dives into the skills that will be needed to support a circular clothing industry.
Can we apply the lessons learnt from this report to other consumer goods? This briefing deep dives into the employment potential and skills needs for circular furniture and electronics sectors into the Netherlands, comparing the findings to those of Putting circular textiles to work.
Circle Economy and HIVA kick-started this research with a snapshot report in March, which presented the initial findings of the Putting circular textiles to work report.
Interested in reading more about the potential for circular textiles to have a positive impact on work and workers?
What employment benefits can the Netherlands gain from pursuing more circular consumer goods? This briefing identifies the employment potential and skills needs for circular electronics and furniture industries in the Netherlands. It builds on insights from an analysis of the Dutch clothing value chain carried out by Circle Economy and HIVA (download here), exploring the common challenges consumer goods industries face in their adoption of circular strategies.
The first regional Circularity Gap Report published in partnership with RECYC-QUÉBEC presents six scenarios to narrow Quebec's Circularity Gap.
While the world’s circularity sits at 8.6%, the Canadian province of Quebec trails behind—cycling just 3.5% of the materials it consumes. This is according to our new Circularity Gap Report Quebec, which deep dives into the intricacies of the province’s economy—pinpointing opportunities to jump start its own circular journey. The report presents circular strategies across six key sectors, and highlights how Quebec's circularity can climb from 3.5% to 9.8%, further outlining the co-benefits this transformational shift could bring. This first regional Circularity Gap Report shines a light on the power of provinces, positioning Quebec as a key agent for change and promising incubator for circularity.
This white paper details the importance of measuring circular impact and using it to steer decision making in business. Using the case study of Meerlanden, the paper shows how data on circularity can bolster profitability in business while limiting negative environmental and social externalities through two avenues: integrated profit and loss and multiple balance sheets. Next steps and recommendations are provided for companies, financiers and accountants.
There is a gap between the skills workers have today and the ones they will need to participate in a circular economy fit for the future. Without proper up- and reskilling, we risk not only leaving workers behind but also limit our ability to achieve our environmental goals.
This report lays out why vocational and educational training (VET) is a key mechanism to secure a skilled workforce that can thrive in the circular economy. It provides recommendations for governments, educators, industry and civil society, illustrating how VET can help us build circular capacities, leverage existing skill sets and diversify.
People make the circular economy go round. That's why businesses must put people first as they design circular models and strategies. This briefing lays out six ways HR professionals can shape organisational culture and build human capital for a circular economy.
HRM practices that are well aligned with circular business models will be an important precondition for sustainable and competitive organisations. HR can play a key role in developing, reinforcing and shifting the culture of organisations towards more sustainable, circular principles. By linking workers, managers, and business departments, HR professionals can:
The briefing further identifies steps HR professionals need to take to move towards truly circular HRM, ranging from understanding skills needs to rethinking performance management.
Circle Economy is actively strengthening evidence on the shift in and demand for jobs and skills in a circular economy. Our Circular Jobs Initiative defines and identifies circular jobs, analyses the environment needed to create them and maximise their societal benefits, and examines how best technology can play a positive part. We work with employers, workers, governments, multilateral organisations, education institutions and research organisations.
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The circular economy changes industries and labour markets. This briefing lays out six ways social partners, such as trade and labour unions, can ensure a Just Transition to the circular economy.
Being in the centre of workers, businesses and governments, social partners are well positioned to:
In addition, the briefing provides an overview of key considerations social partners should take into account when designing interventions and steering social dialogue. These range from skills to legal barriers.
Circle Economy is actively strengthening evidence on the shift in and demand for jobs and skills in a circular economy. Our Circular Jobs Initiative defines and identifies circular jobs, analyses the environment needed to create them and maximise their societal benefits, and examines how best technology can play a positive part. We work with employers, workers, governments, multilateral organisations, education institutions and research organisations.
Commissioned by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), which advises the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Circle Economy and Shifting Paradigms have researched how the circular economy can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in low- and middle-income countries.
This report uncovers the range of socio-economic and environmental co-benefits that circular mitigation interventions can bring to GEF countries of operation. It supports strategic advice by the STAP to the GEF and its implementing partners and helps carve out a role for these bodies in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon circular economy. As our Circularity Gap Report 2021 reported, circular economy strategies have the potential to slash global greenhouse gas emissions by 39%, emphasising the urgency for a circular economy approach.
The findings of this report will be highly relevant to the development of future GEF projects and programmes across its different focal areas.
How circular is the Dutch textile sector and how can it—in line with national ambitions—transition to full circularity by 2050?
This snapshot report summarises the findings of an analysis conducted by Circle Economy and HIVA, in collaboration with various textile industry stakeholders, to assess the industry's state of play and co-design a scenario for a circular future. It includes a baseline assessment of consumption and employment in the Dutch textile sector as well as a scenario analysis for a circular textile sector in 2050. These findings will be part of a final report, launching in May 2021, which will include a skills analysis and policy recommendations.
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