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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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Article / Report

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 textile and leather products and processing them into apparel and accessories

Fashion and Textiles

Providing repair services or maintenance services for products or parts

Product maintenance, repair

Marketplaces or services that enable the second hand sale of own-brand products

Own brand second-hand sale

Collection programmes that process products and parts for reuse or recycling within the same industry

Closed loop collection

Transforming waste products, materials for reuse within the same industry

Closed loop upcycling

Selling high quality, long-lasting products

Sale of durable, long-lasting goods

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

Design for recycling

Designing products to resist damage and wear, and serve a long and useful life.

Design for physical durability

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

Cross-industry projects, pilots

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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WHAT'S TOMMY FOR LIFE?At Tommy Hilfiger, we're working towards an inclusive and circular future for fashion, where we Waste Nothing and Welcome All. Tommy For Life is a program where we invite you to help us create a fully circular system that puts pre-loved Tommy pieces  -or those that are damaged from our operations- back in action, ready to be loved again by someone else. Since 2020, we've been able to keep over 100,000 kg of textile from going to waste. One of our partners has announced they'll be stopping their operations, unfortunately. That's why our Tommy For Life setup will need some changes before we can resume our journey again. Our aspirations will carry on, and we'll be back very soon.…another one opens”. We’re taking this time to reflect and find more ways to give our pre-loved and damaged pieces a second life.We figured you’d have some questions, so we put some answers in the FAQs below. If you want to know more, feel free to reach out to us. WHY WE CREATED TOMMY FOR LIFEThese days, each item of clothing bought gets discarded way too soon. With the planet's resources being strained, we need a new approach to the way we use materials, and we need to find ways to love our clothes longer.TRADE-IN... HOW IT WORKSYou trade in the Tommy pieces you no longer need for a reward. We'll renew your pre-loved items or reuse them to create a Remixed one—then find them a new home. With this change, our trade-in service will be on hold for a while, unfortunately. We recommend finding local trade-in or recycling opportunities to make sure nothing goes to waste for now. Thank you for being part of the Tommy For Life family. You help us create a fully circular system where style lives on and on. Leave your email below and we’ll let you know when we’re ready to resume again. Until when can I shop on tommyforlife.com?You can continue to order your favorites until February 22, 2022. What if the item I ordered gets damaged?For any warranty-related questions, please contact us. You have a two-year warranty from the date of purchase as per EU law.Till when can I trade in my Tommy's?The last day when you can register to trade in your Tommy's is January 22, 2022.Till when can I use my trade-in direct mail voucher code? If you traded in an item before January, your voucher should be valid for six months on Tommy.com. If you did so after January, your voucher would be valid until June 30, 2022, on Tommy.com.Who can I contact after 22 Feb 2022?Please find our contact details here.Instagram. Facebook.

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We’re a charity committed to creating a circular economy, which is designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. It’s an economic system that delivers better outcomes for people, and the environment.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Fashion for Good is a global initiative to inspire change and drive the collective movement to make fashion a force for good. We work directly with the fashion industry to innovate towards solutions that are better for people and the planet and empower behaviour change through our sustainable fashion Museum. 

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Fashion for Good

Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit that creates leaders in
the preferred fiber and materials industry.
With a robust membership representing leading brands, retailers, and suppliers, Textile Exchange is positively impacting climate through accelerating the use of preferred fibers across the global textile industry. We develop, manage, and promote a suite of leading industry standards, as well as collect and publish critical industry data and insights that enable brands and retailers to measure, manage and track their use of preferred fiber and materials.

Textile Exchange

PVH is one of the most admired fashion and lifestyle companies in the world. We power brands that drive FASHION FORWARD – FOR GOOD. PVH Corp., formerly known as the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, is an American clothing company which owns brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Warner's, Olga and True & Co. The company also licenses brands such as Kenneth Cole New York and Michael Kors.

Tommy Hilfiger B.V., formerly known as Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and Tommy Hilfiger Inc., is an American clothing brand, manufacturing apparel, footwear, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings. Part of PVH Corp. 

Tommy Hilfiger

<p>PVH commits for three of its most commonly purchased products will be completely circular, including the full traceability of key raw materials by 2025. The company is supported by NGO partners:&nbsp;Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Cradle to Cradle and Textile Exchange.</p>