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This collection was curated by the Circle Economy team from Knowledge Hub case studies for businesses, local and national governments around the world to find inspiration in practical examples of the circular economy. 

Visit the <a href="https://circle-economy.com" target="_blank">Circle Economy website</a> for more information and for more publications on the circular economy.

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Circle Economy

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Circular food systems entail that the food is produced regeneratively and, where appropriate, locally. Food and packaging waste are designed out entirely, while healthy, low-impact diets are promoted and easy to access. 

[Circle Economy](https://www.circle-economy.com/) is a not-for-profit organisation working to accelerate the circular transition. Through the *Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. With nature as our guide, we work alongside cross-sector stakeholders from academia, businesses, NGOs and governments to provide a powerful combination of practical and scalable interventions that transform circular opportunities into realities. 

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Circular Food

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Limes and lemons - Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Policy case

Producing agricultural products and processing them into food and beverageproducts for consumption

Agri/Food

Providing electricity and gas services, including traditional and renewable energy generation, natural and manufactured gas and operating gas networks

Energy Utilities and Independent Power Producers

Utilise waste streams as a source of secondary resources and recover waste for reuse and recycling

Use waste as a resource

Public-private partnerships

Food losses and waste

Circular agriculture

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

Industries

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A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policies

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

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

In a circular economy:

* Food is produced regeneratively and, where possible, locally; 
* Biomass is optimally used—from agricultural by-products to manure, rainwater or used water; 
* Food losses and waste and packaging waste are designed out entirely; 
* Healthy, planetary diets are promoted and easier to access; and 
* Environmental and economic benefits are balanced with benefits to people and animals.

This definition builds on those of the [Ellen MacArthur Foundation](https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/cities-and-circular-economy-for-food), [Wageningen University](https://www.wur.nl/en/Dossiers/file/Circular-agrofood-system.htm), the [Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy](https://pacecircular.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/circular-economy-action-agenda-food_0.pdf ) (PACE), as well as Circle Economy’s own work in analysing the climate mitigation potential of [circular food interventions](http://circularity-gap.world/2021).

Explore the different themes under this definition below.

Circular food themes

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Explore different themes under the concept of 'circular food'

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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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          Have you ever thought of how significant your urine can be? Loads! Amsterdam water authorities have reportedly planned to collect urine and utilizing it for phosphate fertilizer. An age-old tradition! The campaign has been called 'Green Urine Campaign'. The campaign also aims to raise awareness of the benefits of recycling urine i.e., Peecycling.
Here is all you should know about the Green Urine campaign and peecycling:As collection site, the campaign uses outdoor urinals in Amsterdam's La Place de la BourseThe tagline on the outdoor urinals reads: "Is our wastewater actually a goldmine?"Urine is being collected by the city's water company, WaternetThe campaign aims to raise awareness about water issues and explore solutions, such as industrial and municipal water reuse. Also, the technology for optimizing the water cycleThe campaign also aims at raising awareness about waste reduction and the prospect of using urine for agricultural use since it contains mineral phosphorusFarmers generally use mined phosphate to fertilize crops and to provide this vital nutrientSince scientists believe that phosphate resources will run out in 50-100 years, converting urine into fertilizer rich in phosphate might produce a new revenue stream for Amsterdam and beyondUrine can be used directly on plants when diluted with water, providing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassiumHowever, using human waste as fertilizer is considered a taboo in many parts of the world.Interested in General Knowledge and Current Affairs? Click here to stay informed and know what is happening around the world with our G.K. and Current Affairs section.To get more updates on Current Affairs, send in your query by mail to education.intoday@gmail.com Click here for IndiaToday.in’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.         

 
Creating a price incentive for developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was one of the leading principles behind the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Initially, the CDM reached only low-cost mitigation projects in large industrial facilities. With the development of the Programme of Activities (PoA) the CDM also granted projects at household level access to carbon markets. KfW was one of the institutions which pioneered this concept.
 KfW commissioned Climate Focus to test the Programme of Activities (PoA) concept in its biogas programme in Nepal. Programmes of Activities are about bundling large numbers of emission reducing activities to a scale that they can generate and sell carbon credits.
Programmes of Activities facilitate large scale emission reduction by bundling hundreds, thousands, millions of individual, similar activities that by themselves are too small to apply the costly and time consuming carbon credit certification processes. Programmes of Activities are a recent facility under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s main carbon credit scheme. Other schemes such as Joint Implementation, the Voluntary Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard have adopted comparable facilities that allow for massive bundling of emission reduction projects of which location and characteristics are still unknown when the programme is launched. The number of operational programmes is steadily growing and shows the huge potential of bundling through programmes. Programmes of Activities can bring sustainable development to people and places that have hardly benefited from carbon finance before: rural communities, farms or households in developing countries with little or no industry.
The Biogas Sector Partnership in Nepal
The Biogas Sector Partnership (BSP) implements household biogas digesters. The digesters enable households to displace firewood and fossil fuels with biogas from animal waste and human excreta. The generated biogas feeds cook stoves, and replaces the firewood which is usually used for cooking on wood stoves. Since the firewood is sourced from non-renewable sources and contributes to deforestation, its avoided use can be counted as mission reduction under the CDM.
The Biogas Sector Partnership (BSP) is managed by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC). AEPC is a government entity that executes renewable/alternative energy programs in Nepal. The BSP has a range of sustainable development benefits:

A significant reduction of smoke and fumes from cooking, which improves the living conditions in and around the house.
Reduced deforestation, avoiding loss of biodiversity and soil erosion.
Reduced time spent on fuel collection.
Improved sanitary conditions in and around the house, in particular when connecting the toilet to the digester.
Improved safety (less fire incidents).




Digester design
The technologies used in the PoA are household biogas digesters with a sludge and gas holding capacity between 4 and 10 m3. The programme uses only one design i.e. GGC 2047 model. The biogas digesters are based on a uniform technical design and are manufactured and installed following established technical standards in Nepal. The digester itself is a closed underground container made of brick or concrete. The GGC 2047 biogas digester consists of five parts: the inlet, outlet, digester, dome and the compost pits. The required quantity of dung and water is mixed in the inlet tank and this mix in the form of slurry is allowed to be digested inside the digester. The gas produced in the digester is collected in the dome, called as the gas holder. The digested slurry flows to the outlet tank from the digester through the manhole. The slurry then flows through the overflow opening to the compost pit where it is collected and composted. The gas is supplied to the point of application through a tube.
In the PoA the point of application is a stove. The biogas is extracted from the digester and transported to the stove. The digester has an overpressure which creates a stable flow of gas for use in the cooking stoves.The biogas consumption capacity of each biogas stove is 400 litre/hour. With an estimated methane content of 52%, this gives an annual natural gas capacity of maximum 1.86 kWth per stove.
As project leader for the registration of the Nepalese Biogas Support Programme, Shifting Paradigms gained early practical experience with the PoA concept. This experience was used to assist the UNFCCC with designing and improving the PoA concept.
The programme was registered with the CDM in January 2013. It includes over 140,000 digesters, reducing an estimated 420,000 tCO2/year from avoided deforestation.
Further information: SNV biogas.
Client: KfW, in cooperation with SNV
Partners: (project implemented as staff member of) Climate Focus, Mr. Raju Laudari, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) Nepal
2008-13 

 Home » Countries » Kenya Kenya was among the first countries in Africa to adopt biogas technology in the early 1950’s. However, uptake remained low until the Kenya Biogas Programme was rolled out in 2010. During Phase 1 (2009- 2013) 11,529 plants were constructed at a target of 11, 690 biogas plants. The Programme adopted a national dissemination approach, away from a defined regions approach prescribed in the Programme Implementation Document (PID).
The implementation period saw a significant expansion in the partnership network with over 160 institutions and organizations from both the private and public sectors collaborating with the programme in the implementation of the various programme components, enhancing the programme’s outreach and service delivery to clients.
Quality management remains a key pillar of the program, 40 supervisors have been engaged to back up the ten biogas technicians to enhance quality control services, alongside deliberate efforts to emphasize quality management in individual Biogas Construction Enterprises (BCEs) and biogas masons operations. To sustain growth of the market, the programme’s marketing strategy is focused more on full biogas benefits with more value attached to the bio-slurry benefits. To further enhance outreach, the programme partners with three implementing partners as a strategy to strengthen both the supply and demand sides of the sector in their respective areas of operation.
Since the programme is based on the development of a commercially viable and market-oriented biogas sector 82 of the 577 trained mason have registered business companies and now operate as business entities – BCEs 240 masons are still working as sole proprietors. The program is facilitating the formation and registration of an Association of Biogas Contractors of Kenya (ABC-K) and Association of Biogas Sector of Kenya (ABSK), whose membership is made up the biogas value chain sector actors to continue steering the biogas sector ahead in Kenya even beyond the programme closure. The program has initiated various credit partnerships with financial institutions, culminating in joint MOUs to finance biogas installation. These institutions include Kenya Women’s Finance Trust (KWFT), Letshego formerly Micro Africa, Taifa Sacco, , among others. The program has also assisted local Sacco’s to access cheap loans from The Rabo Bank Foundation for purposes of on lending to their members. This is to enable as many eligible clients take up biogas technology. During phase one, 21% of all installations were financed through credit facilities, Rural Micro-Finance Institutions MFIs and saving cooperatives accounted 97% of lending with only 3% of the credit being provided for by conventional banks.
Women are reported to account for 78% of borrowers and men 22%. Women lead in the uptake of biogas plants loans, in addition, the number of females trained in operation and maintenance and bioslurry utilization stood at 48%. Use of bioslurry for improved agricultural production has increased due to enhanced training and awareness among women users 

                                       
Domestic biodigesters provide a way for households with livestock to reduce their dependence on polluting firewood and expensive fossil fuels. Cooking on biogas is fast and smokeless, improving family health, especially among women and children. Leftover slurry from the biogas process is an excellent organic fertilizer that improves crop yields – and having more vegetables to sell, provides families with extra income.
The Kenya Biogas Programme provides biodigesters to individual households. The programme was founded by the Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABPP), a partnership between the Dutch government, Hivos and SNV Netherlands Development Organization, in support of national programmes in five African countries including Kenya. The overall objective of ABPP is to develop a commercially viable biogas sector that supports the use of domestic biogas as a local, sustainable energy source.
Since the start of the programme in 2009, over 17,000 biodigesters have been built across Kenya; early 2020 88% of them were in operation and use. Entrepreneurship is encouraged and, to date, nearly 100 masons have started their own business entities, helping to build the local economy.
A barrier for some families is the cost to apply the biogas technology, the programme has therefore initiated credit partnerships with financial institutions. Working together with rural micro finance institutions and saving cooperatives, it ensures that biodigester buyers get the most favourable credit terms. Income from carbon credit sales benefits directly biogas users in forms of after-sales support, bioslurry training and other useful services.
Project impacts and benefits (until March 2020):

14,950 smoke-free kitchens
103,440 direct beneficiaries 
365,200 tCO2 reduced 
223,000 ton of wood saved
13,700 productive slurry users
31 private enterprises 
107 full time jobs plus part-time unskilled day labour

             

Kenya

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Hivos

SNV (Netherlands Development Organization)

Africa Biogas Partnership Programme

<p>The Kenya Biogas Program&nbsp;is a public-private partnership between development partners Hivos, SNV (Netherlands Development Organization) and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABBP) in Kenya. Its objective was to develop a commercially viable and sustainable domestic bio-digester sector in Kenya, using revenue from the sale of carbon credits to subsidise the programme.[1]&nbsp;For those who own dairy cattle, just two cows can provide sufficient manure for a biogas plant that provides enough gas for cooking.[2]</p>

Kenya Biogas Program: Developing a sustainable, domestic biodigester sector in Kenya

The Garment and Textile Agreement is the first in a series of agreements based
on international corporate social responsibility, aimed at making Dutch
companies' international supply chains more sustainable. They will draw up an
action plans to deal with a range of issues, such as reducing fire hazards,
eradicating child labour and supporting trade unionists facing intimidation.
The companies that signed the agreement today represent about 35% of the Dutch
clothing and textile market. This figure is set to rise to 80% over the next
five years.



Read more at:

<https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2016/07/04/ploumen-congratulates-
textile-agreement-signatories>

  

  

