Policy case

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

Ecological Impact

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

Social Impact

Impacts on the financial condition of a company, as well as the the economicconditions of its stakeholders and on economic systems at local, national, andglobal levels.

Economic Impact

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

Jobs

Contribution to social parity, or impact on social disparity

Equality

Impact on the ease of innovation, and facilitating uptake of innovations

Innovation

Scalability

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Producing transporation equipment and providing services for thetransportation of goods and people

Transportation and Logistics

Providing air, water, rail, and land transportation for passengers, such as airlines, airports, ferries, cruise-ships, tour boat operators, marine ports, railways, train stations, tour bus operators, vehicle rental, and taxi companies, travel agencies and related services

Passenger Transport Services

Ensure renewable, reusable, non-toxic resources are utilised as materials and energy in an efficient way

Prioritise regenerative resources

Work together throughout the supply chain, internally within organisations and with the public sector and communities to increase transparency and create joint value

Team up to create joint value

Replace energy sources with less impactful alternatives and enact energy efficiency measures

Regenerative energy

Industry peers to industry peer collaboration to create joint value and identify synergies

Industry collaboration

Converting fossil fuel based operations to electric

Electrification

Working together with industry peers to engage in business activities or exploratory projects that advance the circular economy

Joint industry ventures, projects, pilots

'Manage' influences the use and function of physical and material elements within the urban environment. 

Manage

Infrastructure

Develop infrastructure to support sustainable lifestyles

Regenerate strategies phase out hazardous or toxic materials and processes and substitute them with regenerative biomass resources. A circular economy aims to mimic natural cycles—by shifting to more regenerative farming practices, for example—while also maximising the share of circular biomass that enters the economy. Regeneration can happen both at the systems level (by designing regenerative processes) as well as at the product level (by switching synthetic to organic fertilisers, for example).

Regenerate

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

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

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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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 Microfactories - Local Production    Our business is to supply kits and knowhow to locally owned and managed microfactories where bikes and upcoming vehicles are build. We franchise these low
entry point enterprises. Our transport products are made locally,
made for local use and the microfactories
are locally owned. Maintanance and customization can be performed by the knowlegeable microfactory staff.  Our first microfactory was setup in 2018 in Sharpeville, Gauteng, South Africa. The project was supported by the German BMU (Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety).   
  

   Press release | Social Entrepreneurship | 8. July 2020    Electromobility is being discussed worldwide as the technology of the future. Sub-Saharan Africa can be a pioneer in leapfrogging into a climate-friendly mobility future. © Siemens Stiftung    A growing population, rampant urbanization, and insufficient connections within rural areas create major, daily challenges for Africa’s people and transport sector. At the same time, climatic conditions there represent an exceptional chance for a direct transition into a climate-friendly mobility future. Today’s publication of Siemens Stiftung’s new booklet, “E-Mobility Solutions for Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging Economic, Social and Environmental Change,” provides an in-depth look at the electromobility sector in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Siemens Stiftung collaborates closely with African start-ups and social enterprises that work on custom solutions for leapfrogging to a sustainable mobility sector: converting conventional cargo motorcycles into electric motorcycles, local assembly of electric cargo bikes, or transitioning from gasoline-powered to electric-powered fishing boats are just some examples of this local innovation boom.
The now published booklet introduces currently available technologies and related business models being implemented by local companies. The booklet provides a snapshot of the current range of regional challenges and opportunities and is supplemented by reliable data and expert interviews.
Engagement focused on rural regions
Siemens Stiftung’s efforts are focused on the feasibility of electromobility for small businesses, trade, and agriculture in rural Africa. “Achieving the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals is inextricably linked to a functional transport system that connects people and goods. In the fight against poverty and hunger, or air and water pollution, light and robust electric vehicles can play a key role,” said Rolf Huber, Managing Director of Siemens Stiftung.
Local vehicle production and locally-sourced renewable energy for the battery charging infrastructure create jobs and new perspectives for local populations that are future-oriented and economically sustainable.
Electromobility solutions compiled in a single booklet
The innovative technical solutions and business models, which include rental models and circular economy principles, still require appropriate regulatory and policy framework conditions in addition. For this, Siemens Stiftung works to connect local institutions, start-ups, universities, and public authorities. Key findings from the “Spotlight on E-Mobility” conference that took place at the end of 2019 in Kisumu/Western Kenya are also included in the booklet, which was created in response to the urgent demand for a current survey of viable, sustainable business models and technical solutions for an emission-free future. It compiles technical facts and data on the mobility situation in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlights the tremendous innovative spirit in the region, and shares stories from people who are putting these innovative solutions to use in their lives.
You can read and/or download the complete booklet here: Please write us an email if you are interested in a free copy of the print edition of the booklet:
alexandra.kovanetz@siemens-stiftung.org    

Kenya

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WeTu

Anywhere in Berlin

Tapping into nature’s regenerative processes, Dr. Naluyima created a hybrid farming system that connects livestock and plant crops in a mutually symbiotic relationship. To design a circular resource flow system, Dr. Naluyima divided the one-acre farm into four zones that enable one system to exchange resources with another.

Uganda: One-acre farm

Safa Tempo electrifies small, diesel powered cabs, transforming public transportation in Kathmandu City.

Nepal: Safa Tempo

Business case

WeTu provides e-mobility solutions to rural Kenya.

Anywhere cargo bikes

This cross-sectoral project aims to develop the textiles recycling industry in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh: Circular fashion partnership

Global Bugs aims to combat the negative environmental impacts of animal agriculture with the help of sustainable, alternative protein made from crickets.

Global Bugs harvest crickets for protein-rich superfood

In 2017, the Chinese city of Shenzhen was the first in the world to electrify all public buses. Today, there are over 16,000 e-buses on its streets.

China: Shenzhen’s shift to an electric mobility system

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (AMM) took on a challenge to transform 2005 model diesel buses at end-of-life into 100% electric buses.

Turkey: Ankara Metropolitan Mobility

Vietnamese Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) initiative transforms pollutive industrial zones to protect ground water and reduce emissions.

Vietnam's industrial ecology program sets up eco-industrial parks across the country

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Rampant material extraction is pushing the ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to their limits. Over 11% of global raw materials are extracted within the region, yet it represents only about 8% of the world's population.

[*The Circularity Gap Report* (CGR) Latin America and the Caribbean](https://www.circularity-gap.world/lac), a first of its kind, demonstrates how the region can leverage the circular economy to tackle systemic inefficiencies in satisfying societal needs, conserve its unique natural wealth, and improve its people’s well-being.

To devise pathways for a circular transition, the report analysed the sectors where circular interventions could yield the most positive impact—environmentally, economically, and socially. This entails shifting to a circular food system, building a circular built environment, advancing circular manufacturing, transforming the energy system, reducing waste generation, and improve waste cycling.

[Circle Economy](https://www.circle-economy.com/) is a global impact organisation with an international team of passionate experts based in Amsterdam. We empower industries, cities, and nations with practical and scalable solutions to put the circular economy into action. Our vision is an economic system that ensures the planet and all people can thrive. To avoid climate breakdown, our goal is to double global circularity by 2032. Through the Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative, our mission is to deliver Circularity Metrics that measure the state of the global and national economy and identify key levers to transition to circularity. 

Latin America Collection

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Brazilian cosmetics company, Natura &amp; Co, sources ingredients from the Amazon while protecting it from deforestation.

Natura & Co uses unconventional business model to produce natural cosmetics

Dutch cycling culture emerged in response to resource scarcity.