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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

Initiatives with disadvantaged communities, minorities, people distanced from the labour market

Give-back programmes

Using waste materials that have been processed and recycled to produce new products within other industries

Using open loop recycled materials

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

Chemical and Plastic

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)

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

Jobs

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

Impact on the health and happiness of human populations

Well-being

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

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

Cross-industry projects, pilots

Providing goods on the Internet, through mail order, or television, or providing goods in stores, including apparel, electronics, furniture, food and drug, etc.

Retail

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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 The NaturALL Bottle Alliance is a research consortium formed in 2017 by Danone, Nestlé Waters and bio-based materials development company Origin Materials to accelerate the development of innovative packaging solutions made with 100% sustainable and renewable resources. Today it announced that PepsiCo, Inc. has joined the Alliance to advance the shared goal of creating beverage containers with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The Alliance also provided a progress report in its goal of developing and launching a PET plastic bottle made from bio-based material. Launched in March 2017, the Alliance uses biomass feedstocks, such as previously used cardboard and sawdust, so it does not divert resources or land from food production for human or animal consumption. The technology being explored by the Alliance represents a scientific breakthrough for the sector, and the Alliance aims to make it available to the entire food and beverage industry. Read the full press release  

The NaturALL Bottle Alliance is a research consortium formed in 2017 by Danone, Nestlé Waters, and bio-based materials development company Origin Materials  to accelerate the development of innovative packaging solutions made with 100% sustainable and renewable resources. On Sept. 11, NaturALL announced that PepsiCo, Inc. has joined the alliance to advance the shared goal of creating beverage containers with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The alliance also provided a progress report in its goal of developing and launching a PET bottle made from bio-based material. Launched a year ago in March, the alliance uses biomass feedstocks, such as previously used cardboard and sawdust, so it does not divert resources or land from food production for human or animal consumption. The alliance says the technology it is exploring represents a scientific breakthrough for the sector, which it aims to make available to the entire food and beverage industry. “Creating more sustainable packaging requires innovation through the value chain. Producing PET from sustainable bio-based sources that do not diminish food resources and are fully recyclable is a great example of such innovation and an important contributor to PepsiCo’s sustainable packaging program,” says Mehmood Khan, PepsiCo Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer. “Through our Performance with Purpose agenda, PepsiCo is committed to reducing the carbon impact of packaging in line with our goal to reduce absolute emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 percent by 2030; bio-based PET has the potential to reduce significantly the carbon footprint of our PET bottles, a huge contribution to our efforts in this area. We are excited to add PepsiCo’s R&D capabilities to the alliance and look forward to seeing what the combined efforts of the alliance members can achieve.” “PepsiCo is a welcome addition to the alliance because we share the goal of making renewable plastic a reality,” says Origin Materials CEO John Bissell. “Through the combined efforts of its members, the NaturALL Bottle Alliance is setting the bar for sustainability for an entire industry.” Commentes Frédéric Jouin, Head of Research and Development for plastic materials at Danone, “We are very enthusiastic about PepsiCo joining the alliance. By bringing together major players and pooling our complementary expertise and resources, we can make 100-percent renewable and recyclable PET plastic at commercial scale a reality. We also expect to see additional opportunities for this breakthrough technology.” Massimo Casella, Nestlé Waters’ Head of Research and Development, adds, “We are pleased to welcome PepsiCo into the NaturALL Bottle Alliance. Their addition is further proof of the importance of this disruptive technology. The alliance has taken an important step in working together to tackle the challenges around plastic packaging. Developing 100-percent bio-based PET is one way Nestlé is working to use more materials from sustainably managed renewable resources.” Progress report After producing samples of 80% bio-based PET at pilot scale in 2017, the alliance has made further progress toward its goal of bringing its technology to full commercial scale. It has selected a site in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, with the assistance of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, and has begun construction of its demonstration-scale plant. The major process equipment has been fabricated, and modules are under construction for this plant, which is expected to have a capacity of 18,000 tons of biomass and be fully operational by 2020. Following that milestone, the alliance plans to increase production to 95% bio-based PET and achieve full commercial-scale soon after. Alliance members plan to continue their joint R&D efforts to increase the level of bio-based content, with the ultimate objective of reaching 100%.

 WHERE WE ARE TODAY
Today, we systematically look to collaborate with public authorities and private companies to optimize formal Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) systems. In fact, Danone helped pioneer the concept of EPR in France with the founding of Eco-Emballages (today known as CITEO).
In countries where collection systems for recycling are informal, we work with local communities governments and partners like the Inter-American Development Bank to improve standards for waste collection and invest in recycling infrastructure. Danone and the Danone Ecosystem Fund have launched projects to support waste pickers in 7 countries, including by ensuring they work in a safe environment, are paid appropriate wages and afforded greater social protection. As of 2018, close to 6,000 waste pickers have been professionally empowered, and more than 45,000 tons of waste are recycled each year through these projects.
Finally, our brands have been working to engage consumers in the circular economy and support cutting edge research innovation.  For instance, evian® is taking part in a research mission with The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit start up that has developed scalable advanced technologies to help rid the oceans of plastic, while Danone AQUA has pledged to recover more plastic than it uses in Indonesia, including through interception of marine littering. 

Bengaluru

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Our story started in 1976. It began with our founder, Anita Roddick, opening a little green shop in Brighton with a belief in something revolutionary: that business could be a force for good. We’ve never been your average cosmetics company, with over 40 years of campaigning, change-making and smashing beauty industry standards – and we’re still going strong. Welcome to The Body Shop. Part of the Natura & Co group.

The Body Shop

THE WORLD’S LARGEST AND MOST TRUSTED SOURCE OF FAIR-TRADE VERIFIED RECYCLED PLASTIC

Plastics for Change

<p>The Body Shop is committed to tackling the plastic crisis differently. The company is fighting for people and the planet with Community Trade recycled plastic from Bengaluru, India. The company trade will help empower the waste pickers it supports with access to more sanitary working conditions, a fair price and the respect and recognition they deserve.</p>

The Body Shop & Plastics for change - Empowering informal waste pickers through ethical circular procurement of plastic packaging 

This collection is being created to regroup all case studies related to the packaging industry (CAT purpose)

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Packaging collection

Impacts on the social fabric of the community and well-being of the individuals and families.

Social Impact

Societal Services

Use digital, online platforms and technologies that provide insights to track and optimise resource use, strengthen connections between supply chain actors, and enable the implementation of circular models



Incorporate digital technology

Employ online platforms to connect and improve information sharing between stakeholders

Digital platforms

Developing or utilising online platforms to enable circular economy opportunities through information, product or service offering

Online platforms

Contribution to social parity, or impact on social disparity

Equality

Impact on the availability of resources as well as their effect on living organisms, ecosystems, and components of the environment.

Ecological Impact

SolarGik's mission is to unlock the potential of solar energy by solving the industry's biggest challenges - intermittency, reliability, predictability, and flexible production and distribution.  ​ SolarGik was founded by veterans of the solar energy industry with hundreds of years of combined solar industry experience. They have designed, installed and operated hundreds of thousands of solar trackers with Gigawatts of installed capacity. 

 Asia-Pacific  AI + Energy storage for optimizing energy costs for facilities and power grids. These systems can be used on grid or off grid across a variety of applications such as diesel abatement, demand charge reduction, hybrid mini-grids, among others.  Page 2 North America  Real-time water intelligence that enables the future of smart industries and sustainable operations. KETOS is a 100% autonomous water quality monitoring solution that provides lab-accurate, real-time water insights by combining robotics, data science, AI/ML, IoT and Material Science for water.  Page 3 North America  60 Decibels enables you to listen to any farmer, factory worker, or customer on the planet to understand if, and precisely how, their lives are improving.   Page 4 North America  Teralytic offers a wireless NPK monitoring sensor and AI platform to help farmers see for the first time what’s happening beneath the soils and use data to improve management practices and reduce the environmental impact of farming. The probes can evaluate moisture, soil temp, EC, pH and NPK at 15cm, 45cm and 90cm, and the data can help adjust fertilizer and irrigation applications via its native interface or API to all of Coca Cola’s existing technology. This open data approach can bring critical information into a “single pane of glass” and help automate soil management and input decisions.  Page 5 Asia-Pacific  Research, development, production and sales of innovative photovoltaic products.
Through the research and development of composite materials, Sunman has successfully commercialized the world's first glass-free, lightweight and flexible Panel – eArc. Replacing glass completely, eArc brings solar power to markets and applications scenarios that were previously impossible.  Page 6 North America  TURN- We gamify recycling & reuse.
Turn eliminates single-use plastic cups at large-scale events across Australia, US, and Europe.
The TURN system includes reusable products such as cups, reverse vending bins that collect all products post-consumer use through a customizable incentive system, and fully autonomous and mobile washing systems engineered specifically to wash, rinse, and sanitize reusable products on-site or in close proximity. As you can imagine, there is a huge customer acquisition data play available here, as the TURN system encompasses both software and hardware offerings.  Page 7 North America  TURN- We gamify recycling & reuse.
Turn eliminates single-use plastic cups at large-scale events across Australia, US, and Europe.
The TURN system includes reusable products such as cups, reverse vending bins that collect all products post-consumer use through a customizable incentive system, and fully autonomous and mobile washing systems engineered specifically to wash, rinse, and sanitize reusable products on-site or in close proximity. As you can imagine, there is a huge customer acquisition data play available here, as the TURN system encompasses both software and hardware offerings.  Page 8 South America  Developed a technology capable to transform recycling materials into clean energy with high efficiency.  

India

<p>Plastics For Change has developed an ethical sourcing platform that connects informal waste workers to global markets and ensures a consistent supply of high-quality recycled plastic for brands. This initiative is about bettering the lives of the urban poor while keeping plastic out of the ocea</p>