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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

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Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains

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Business case

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Reduced use of virgin materials and/or an increase of the use of secondary and bio-based materials

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Producing and providing leisure and personal products and services for consumers, such as cleaning products, sports equipment and toys, personal and beauty care products, as well as domestic and personal services such as caretaking, cleaning, hairdressing and other beauty treatment, funeral and related activities

Personal Products and Services

Producing basic and specialty chemicals, inks, agricultural chemical such as fertilisers and pesticides, plastics including packaging, and rubber

Chemical and Plastic

Enacting measures that optimise material use such as 3D printing, etc.

Material efficiency

Using materials that can be easily reused or recycled after use

Reusable, recyclable materials and inputs

Selling parts of modular products that can be refilled

Sale of refillable parts

Designing products so they use as little materials, water, energy, etc. as possible during use

Design for resource efficiency

Designing products of multiple parts that can be easily disassembled

Design for disassembly

Designing products to remove any barriers to recycling and enable easy recyclability

Design for recycling

Impacts

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Industries

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The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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Apr 21, 2022
How Henkel is rethinking packaging 







           



 



   
 

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Henkel holds leading positions in both industrial and consumer businesses: Our portfolio includes well-known hair care products, soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners as well as adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings. 

Henkel 

By&nbsp;2025, 100&nbsp;percent&nbsp;of&nbsp;Henkel's&nbsp;packaging&nbsp;is to&nbsp;be&nbsp;recyclable&nbsp;or&nbsp;reusable. At the same time the company aims to reduce the amount of virgin plastics from fossil sources in consumer goods packaging by 50 percent by 2025. These steps will help Henkel in achieving a functioning circular economy. Henkel experts are working together with external partners on tomorrow’s packaging solutions, considering the entire value chain: from raw materials and production to use and disposal.

Henkel recycle, refill, rethink – 7 solutions for more sustainable packaging

Germany

Lidl and Kaufland: All non-refillable PET deposit bottles manufactured by Schwarz Produktion are made of 100 percent recycled PET

Schwarz Group - Closed loop PET recycling in Germany

France

On June 24th, 2021, L'Oréal announced the realization of the first cosmetic bottle&nbsp;made from plastic entirely recycled&nbsp;using Carbios’ enzymatic technology and aims to put into production the bottles based on this disruptive innovation in 2025.&nbsp;Biotherm&nbsp;would be the first of the Group’s brands to launch a product in this bottle of the future.

L'Oreal develops the first cosmetic bottle made entirely with PET recycled through enzymatic process in partnerhip with Carbios

SC Johnson has introduced its first concentrated refill in the U.K. for its Mr Muscle® line of cleaning products in 2019. The Mr Muscle® concentrated refills are available on Amazon.

Sc Johnson - concentrated refills

The Digital Watermarks Initiative HolyGrail 2.0 – driven by&nbsp;AIM - European Brands Association&nbsp;and powered by the&nbsp;Alliance to End Plastic Waste&nbsp;– is a pilot project with the objective to prove the&nbsp;technical viability&nbsp;of digital watermarks for accurate sorting of packaging waste as well as the&nbsp;economic viability&nbsp;of the business case at large scale. HolyGrail 2.0 emerged from the pioneering HolyGrail project, which was funded by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation from 2016 to 2019 and examined a number of approaches to improve recycling along the packaging value chain.&nbsp;Digital watermarks; hidden in the colour print on packaging, are invisible to the human eye and work in the same way as a barcode to facilitate waste sorting and maximize recycling rates.

HolyGrail 2.0 - Invisible Barcodes to support waste sorting 

Policy case

Launched in October 2018 by the&nbsp;Ellen MacArthur Foundation&nbsp;and the&nbsp;UN Environment Programme, the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment&nbsp;unites businesses, governments, and other organizations from around the world behind a&nbsp;common vision&nbsp;of a circular economy for plastic, in which it never becomes waste or pollution.

UN & Ellen MacArthur Foundation - New Plastic Economy Global Commitment 

Mumbai

As the bridge between waste and recycling industries, waste pickers are indispensable in the journey toward a circular economy in developing countries. Gemini Corporation (Gemcorp) recognised the importance of waste pickers and started a project in India to support their holistic wellbeing. Called Gemcorp Recycling, the initiative aims to shift the stigma and celebrate this vital profession by providing resources, healthcare, and legitimacy to these workers.

GemCorp recycling - formalizing waste pickers in India 

Indonesia

Philippines

Brazil

SC Johnson is creating a closed-loop supply chain by reintroducing ocean bound plastic into its packaging.&nbsp;SC Johnson is supporting the collection ot this plastic by building recycling infrastructure to stop plastic before it reaches the ocean&nbsp;in the Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil in partnerhsip with the Plastic Bank.

SC Johnson & Plastic Bank - expanding recycling ecosystems around the world 



Bangladesh

Urmi set up a waste management system as a step towards its journey towards zero waste to landfill.

Urmi Group - reusing and selling post industrial waste 

Simco Spinning &amp; Textile, exclusive manufacturers of Cyclo&nbsp;recycled fibers in Bangladesh, has entered into a strategic partnership with The Movement (parent company of Aware) to become nominated spinners of the Aware Integrity Solution in&nbsp;Bangladesh.