Circular economy

• The remanufacturing sector is likely to create more labour-intensive employment and high-skilled job opportunities; it is estimated that the circular economy has the potential to create about 14 million jobs in India over the next decade.
• Unified G20 stances on climate change coupled with the EU's staunch support for green and sustainable recovery, and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals will likely boost the growth of a carbon circular economy and ensure the future of global trade.
• A truly circular economy could add £10 billion a year to UK manufacturing profits - not only sparing precious resources, but creating a wave of much-needed new jobs.
• If the UK did not adopt Circular Economy policies, then the economy will still grow and create around 200,000 new jobs, reducing unemployment by 54,000 by 2030.
• The EU plans to introduce a new law within the next 12 months which will require manufacturers to ensure their products last longer, are easier to repair and able to be reused as we move towards a circular economy.
• The EU Green Deal includes the adoption of several strategies relevant to the preservation of freshwater including the Circular Economy Action Plan, the 'Farm to Fork' strategy, the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
• The roadmap, supported by UK Plastics Pact members, aims to help the Pact meet its targets by 2025 and ensure that more than the current 4% of flexible plastic, which accounts for a quarter of all UK consumer plastic by weight, is recycled.
• By means of circular economy, the aim of the EU is to reduce carbon emissions to a specific level by 2030 and cut expenditure by at least 60,000 billion euros, as well as to ensure a minimum 80,000 jobs.
• Applying ambitious circular economy measures in Europe can increase EU's GDP by an additional 0.5% by 2030 and create around 700,000 new jobs.
• The Irish government's Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy plans to introduce a levy on disposable cups, introduce a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and cans, and halve food waste by 2030.
• The European Commission suggests the development of circular economy to reduce pressure on natural resources, stop the biodiversity loss, and reach the climate-neutrality targeted by 2050.
• As highlighted in the European social partners work programme 2019-2021, moving towards a circular economy is a key requirement for decarbonising the European economy as well as to ensure the EU's prosperity in a world where the competition to access natural resources will become more challenging.
• More businesses will adopt principles of the circular economy, such as leasing, refurbishing, reusing or recycling their products, to reduce their material costs and improve their bottom lines.
• Ultra Capital is currently reviewing a pipeline of USD 3.3 billion in sustainable infrastructure opportunities, which includes projects that will help realize the vision of a circular economy for plastics.
• The Dutch government specified its national goal to develop a circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050 and to realize an objective of a 50% reduction in the use of primary raw materials by 2030.
• Compared with business-as-usual, the circular economy has the potential to generate savings of USD 200 billion per year, reduce greenhouse gases by 25%, and create 700,000 net additional jobs by 2040, making it a clear opportunity to build back better.
• Amsterdam have set a target to be a 'circular city' by 2050, with circular economy practices applied to waste and materials.
• The EU economic recovery proposal says that achieving emissions reduction and energy targets could add 1% to the EU's GDP and create almost 1 million new green jobs over the next decade, while investing in a circular economy could add another 700,000 jobs.
• The transition to a circular economy would create new markets, jobs, products and services, boost EU's GDP by 7% and generate a net economic benefit of €1.8 trillion by 2030.
• A recent study estimates that applying circular economy principles across the EU economy has the potential to increase EU GDP by an additional 0.5% by 2030 creating around 700000 new jobs.
• Amsterdam will launch the fourth stage of its circular economy initiative next week, with 200 new projects planned for the coming year.
• As a long-term goal, Costa Brazil has a sustainability plan with the objective of achieving a circular economy with 100% traceability and sustainability by 2025.
• The latest estimates for the potential from circular economy opportunities in the built environment could add GBP3 - 5bn annually to GDP by 2036.

Last updated: 10 January 2021