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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

Impact on the quantity or quality of jobs, and shifts in the labour market

Jobs

Impact on the health and happiness of human populations

Well-being

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)

Collecting waste from households and businesses by means of refuse bins, wheeled bins, containers, etc., and providing treatment, incineration, materials recovery and reclamation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Waste Management

Using renewable energy like solar, wind, etc. or renewable fuels like biomass, etc.

Renewable energy, fuels

Generating energy from waste through processes such as anaerobic digestion, gasification, incineration, etc.

Generating energy from waste

Working together with stakeholders and parties in other unrelated industries to implement circular economy strategies and opportunities

Cross-industry projects, pilots

Awareness raising events

Information campaigns

Impacts

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Industries

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

Policy Instruments

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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

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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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  Company making progress towards goals announced in Charter on Plastics  Mississauga, ON, October 24, 2019 – Since launching the Walmart Canada Charter on Plastics earlier this year, Walmart Canada has implemented a number of packaging changes which will help prevent more than 1.1 million pounds of plastic from entering the supply chain – the weight of 100 elephants. The retailer is working closely with suppliers to identify areas to curb plastic use and ensure the plastic that does remain is recyclable. While there is more work to do for Walmart Canada to achieve the bold goals set out in the Charter, recent improvements include: Eliminating plastic wrap from organic bananas bunches which will remove about 14,000 lbs. of plastic Eliminating plastic wrap from single peppers which will remove about 193,000 lbs. of plasticIncreasing post-consumer recycled content in the packaging holding baked goods, avoiding the use of 925,000 lbs. of new plastics annuallyRemoving 420,000 lbs. of expanded poly styrene (a hard to recycle plastic) from entering the supply chain annually by introducing new packaging for sausage traysWalmart Canada’s Charter on Plastics is the retailer’s commitment to address plastic waste in Canada using a three-pronged strategy: using less plastic, recycling more plastic, and supporting improvements to the plastic waste reduction system. Read more here. Today's update builds on Walmart's mission to champion plastic waste reduction initiatives in Canada, including: Decreasing plastic bag use by 50 per cent since 2016 and a further 50 per cent by 2025 taking approximately 1 billion checkout bags out of circulation over that periodCommitting to 100 per cent recyclable packaging in all private brand products by 2025. Eliminating single-use plastic straws and replacing them with paper alternatives by 2020, taking approximately 35 million single-use plastic straws out of circulation annuallyIn addition, Walmart Canada and the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) are announcing the winners of the 2019 Recycling Council of Ontario’s Plastic Bag Grab Challenge. Through this challenge, a total of 290,617 students from 822 schools across the country collected 1.7 million single-use plastic shopping bags – 13.68 metric tonnes of plastic – and brought them to their local Walmart stores for recycling, diverting another 30,000 lbs. of plastic from landfills. “We are absolutely committed to reducing our plastics footprint. We know there is a lot more to do to achieve our goals, but we’re confident we are on the right path ,” said Susan Muigai, EVP, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada. “We’re proud that Walmart Canada’s Charter on Plastics is leading to a decrease in plastic use and we hope this shows other Canadian companies that reducing plastics is a viable option that makes business sense and that customers value.” About Walmart Canada Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving more than 1.2 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, Walmart.ca is visited by more than 750,000 customers daily. With more than 85,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $400 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/walmartcanada. 

Africa

Morocco

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Rabat

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Cooperative established to manage the sorting platform and the selling of sorted materials from the Oum Azza landfill near Rabat, Morocco. 

Attawafouk cooperative

<p>When the landfilling site of Akreuch, that used to treat the waste generated in the Rabat agglomeration was closed down and replaced by the new sanitary landfill of Oum Azza, a cooperative was created to secure the activity and improve the working conditions of about 150 informal workers who were scavenging waste in Arkeuch.</p>