Circle Economy - Nations Offering

We help countries and regions implement a circular economy that is environmentally sustainable and socially just.

Circle Economy’s mission is to double global circularity by 2032: empower national- and supranational decision-makers with the evidence base and on-the-ground support they need to drive circular transition agendas.

When designed with just principles in mind, a circular economy can help countries and regions to:

Advance progress towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, through enabling sustainable and consumption patterns (SDG12), combatting climate change (SDG13) and promoting decent work and economic growth (SDG8) among others.
Tackle key environmental pressures such as resource scarcity and biodiversity loss.
Enhance economic resilience and address deepening social inequalities.

10 years making countries more circular

To date we have empowered decision makers from over 20 countries to drive circular transition agendas in their country or region. Using an impartial, data-driven approach, we work with local partners to identify key levers for the transition from a linear to circular economy, evaluate their socio-economic and environmental impacts, while building local capacity for implementation.

Our offerings

Circularity Gap Reports (CGR) for Countries and Regions

We benchmark countries’ circularity using our Circularity Gap methodology—a scientifically robust and highly replicable methodology that provides governments insight into the most effective interventions to boost circularity on a national level and the tools to monitor progress.

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Employment Effects and Labour Market: Just Transition

We evaluate the impact of circular economy interventions on skills requirements and jobs within national and regional labour markets, and value chains. We do this with the help of local partners, internationally applicable frameworks and digital tools such as our Circular Jobs Monitor.

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Sectoral Roadmapping: Textiles, Built Environment, Food and Agriculture

We develop evidence-based sectoral roadmaps that highlight main leverage points to accelerate the transition through key industrial value chains.

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Translating Theory to Practice; Capacity Building for a Circular Economy.

We build decision-makers’ capacity to adopt and implement circular strategies. We do this through interactive learning programmes that combine theory and practice, from workshops and training packages to online courses and communities of practice.

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Global Value Chains as a Driving Force

We collaborate with actors across global value chains to address the complex challenges faced in adopting circularity in low- and middle- income countries from the enabling environment, most notably policy and access to finance, to directly supporting suppliers in adopting circular economy practices.

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Interested in exploring which offerings will help you best address your local challenges?

Our projects

SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains

SWITCH to circular CE VCs EU funded initiative, led by UNIDO and in partnership with Circle Economy, European Investment Bank and Chatham House works with Multinational Corporations and their suppliers in low and middle-income countries to pilot circular projects in three value chains: Textiles and Garments, Plastic Packaging, Electronics and ICT.

Sorting for Circularity

Fashion for Good and Circle Economy are collaborating to help drive textile recycling through technological innovation. Sorting for Circularity is an 18 month-long project utilizes Near Infrared (NIR) technology to conduct an accurate, comprehensive textile waste analysis across Europe and maps the capabilities of textile recyclers.

THE ROLE OF CHARITY SHOPS

The charity shop, thrift store, kilo market; call them what you will, second-hand retailers in all shapes and sizes have been a permanent fixture on our local high streets for decades.

Reports and publications

June, 2021

CGR Quebec

Quebec’s economy consumes 32 tonnes per capita per year—exceeding the Canadian and European average.

December, 2020

RE.ACT

This report, launched by UNIDO Egypt in partnership with Circle Economy, highlights the results of a denim-recycling pilot named "RE.ACT".

April, 2020

Putting circular textiles to work

The Netherlands has set an ambitious goal: full circularity by 2050 and halved resource consumption by 2030.

Looking for inspiration on Circular economy interventions for your country or region?

Explore relevant case studies on the Knowledge Hub

Go to Knowledge Hub

Are you a city representative?

Learn about how we work with local and regional governments.

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Why do countries need to adopt circular economy interventions?

The circular economy aims to grow prosperity and social value while operating within the boundaries of the planet by making efficient use of the resources that we already have. The circular economy has already cemented its position in global sustainability dialogues. With this, a growing number of national governments are looking at ways to adopt circular strategies to tackle environmental pressures, enhance economic resilience and address deepening social inequalities.

IT’S TIME TO RETHINK EVERYTHING AND REDESIGN THE SYSTEM

Thanks to our recent work with Circle Economy, Quebec now has a reference base to increase its circularity. The approach is concrete and will certainly help us to mobilise ministries, organisations, businesses and citizens to adopt circularity strategies. We are already working to integrate measures into our action plans to assess our progress over the next few years.

– Sonia Gagné, CEO Recyc Quebec

Collaboration with Circle Economy has helped us better to understand the drivers and barriers for a circular economy. We are now equipped with the roadmap of actions and know-how to measure that progress.

– Christoph Scharff, Board Member ARA

Measuring the state of the circular economy is difficult, but it has been crucial for understanding the progress Scotland is making towards the circular economy. The Circular Jobs methodology has helped us get a sense of where Scotland’s labour market is now and how we can measure progress in the future. The Circular Jobs Monitor makes our results accessible to an international audience and enables us to see regional variations that can support policy development.

– Leonore te Bokkel, Assistant Economist, Zero Waste Scotland

Over the past decade, sustained investment in technological and material innovation has accelerated the transition to a circular economy. But to further scale its positive impact, we now need to embrace social innovations that make the circular economy relevant to our daily lives, jobs and education. Only if technological and social innovations go hand in hand, can we drive real change.

– Birgitta Kramer, Programme Manager Circular Economy at Goldschmeding Foundation