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Starter Kit collection

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

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)

Contributing to the improvement of biodiversity including species diversity, total number of protected species, and ecosystem health

Biodiversity

Extracting resources and processing them to produce materials for use bysociety

Materials and Fuels

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

Chemical and Plastic

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

Engage with the government on circular policies and programmes

Government collaboration

Engaging in discussions with government bodies and policymakers to push for regulations that support the circular economy

Advocacy for circular economy policy

'Inform' increases the overall levels of awareness and builds the necessary skills and knowledge around the circular economy to foster long-term change.

Inform

Circular Economy in school programmes

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

Manage

'Mobilise' sets the direction of and builds momentum towards long-term change, while also determining how this direction is determined and governed.

Mobilise

Govern the Transition

Institutional design to enable circularity

Cross-departmental collaboration and engagement

 Convene Towards Action

Advocate for circular change

Voluntary agreements around circular ambitions

'Regulate' changes the rules of the systems to achieve compliance through enforcement. 


Regulate

 Regulation

 Public Procurement

Archetypes

CE Materials

Impacts

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Industries

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Materials

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

Nace Sectors

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

Topics

Urban Opportunities

Whilst no two countries are the same, there are still obvious similarities between some of them, with discernible development patterns and parallels in evidence. Common problems and shared solutions help place unique country identities and individual issues in context.

Whilst this classification is far from clear-cut and exhibits some overlap, it does underline how the discourse on transitioning to a circular economy needs to account for both differences and commonalities, if we are to arrive at a more strategic and instructive analysis. It also allows to highlight a set of key themes that are likely to be central to the countries that fall under the respective profiles. 

Country profiles (Build, Grow, Shift)

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A framework to distinguish between different country profiles and their circular transition needs.

It is 2050.  Full systems change has taken place. This wouldn’t have been possible without the immediate action and radical steps taken from 2020 onwards. Many targets had to be identified in the early 2020s and achieved by 2030 to ensure that the 2050 goal happened in full. A sense of urgency, turbo stakeholder collaboration, supportive government regulation and clear, data driven targets enabled the mindsets and systems change needed to transform to a fully circular textiles ecosystem.

A circular economics model underpins what we have created. It reflects and supports a living organism made up of makers, users and restorers, interacting across vibrant and interconnected networks. Checks and balances, alongside transparency and accountability, ensure a healthy system. Financial, environmental, and social metrics have the purpose of serving communities and the planet. There is shared ownership of profit and loss – across all three metrics – throughout the value chain.

This is what we’ve achieved over the last 30 years:

WCTD Themes

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The Circular City Actions Framework provides urban changemakers with five complementary strategies they can use to start working towards a more circular system. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete strategic directions and showcase the desired outcomes of each strategy. 
The framework consists of five complementary **strategies**, under which **sub-strategies** provide further detail. Finally, each sub-strategy consists of a diversity of tangible **solutions** which are framed in relation to key thematic areas. 

Note: solutions are currently focused on:
- 🍏 **Food systems**
- 🏢  **Built environment**
- 👕📱  **Consumer goods**
- ⚡ **Energy Systems**
- 🚌 **Mobility Systems**
- 💧 **Water Systems**

More thematic areas are coming soon...

'Click through each of the five strategy cards below to explore the framework and circular economy case studies in more depth!'



This framework was developed in collaboration with ICLEI, Metabolic and Ellen MacArthur Foundation with support from the MAVA Foundation. Read more about it [here]( https://circulars.iclei.org/action-framework/). 



Circular City Actions Framework

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An action-based framework for local governments working towards circular cities

Thematic Areas

City Stakeholders

Test Framework

Challenges

Based on the ongoing ISO standardisation process, a taxonomy has been defined under which to cluster indicators to measure circularity. 

ISO Taxonomy

If managed well, the transition to the circular economy will have multiple benefits for the labour market, including the opening up of job opportunities, raising job standards and reducing inequalities through a global redistribution of value. But a positive transition to circularity for work and workers must be underpinned by three pillars: upskilling the workforce, quality of work and inclusive job opportunities. Find out more and explore cases that illustrate these pillars below.

Circular Jobs Initiative Pillars

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A positive transition to circularity for work and workers must be underpinned by three core pillars.

This is a survey that dives into understanding the policy environment around specific circular solutions. 

The survey is divided into five sections, based on the five key elements of the Circular Cities Action Framework. 
Each section asks 2-3 questions to explore which policies may or may not be present within your city to support a transition towards a circular economy. 

You are not alone! Each question provides some practical examples from cities around the world that have adopted a certain policy to support their transition. This can help to compare with your city - is your city doing something similar?

The survey answers should be based on your current knowledge, and not illicit additional research - ! Please make use of the Not sure option as appropriate.


Ganbatte Cities Policy Tracker [Food]

Ganbatte Cities - Policy tracker policy instruments

Policy Tracker - TEST

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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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             	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/Policy_paper_Nang_cao_hieu_qua_quan_ly_chat_thai_va_can_hang_tu_tau_bien_thong_qua_Du_an_Suy_nghi_lai_ve_nhua_1.pdf

	Text Body 1: 
The Policy Paper shares insights about efficient waste collection from ships in Vietnam based on European experiences, international regulations and an assessment of the current situation. It also summarises steps for improving ship waste management based on learnings from pilot activities in Cat Lai Port. If ships calling ports cannot deliver their waste at port reception facilities or other collection systems, they are indirectly forced to dump it illegally into the sea. It is therefore vital that the waste collected from ships is managed properly on land and to the extent possible merged into the municipality waste streams. The Policy Paper shares insights about efficient waste collection from ships in Vietnam based on European experiences, international regulations and an assessment of the current situation. It also summarises steps for improving ship waste management based on learnings from pilot activities in Cat Lai Port.
  The Policy Paper shares insights about efficient waste collection from ships in Vietnam based on European experiences, international regulations and an assessment of the current situation. 	           	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/Policy_paper_How_to_Improve_the_Management_of_Ship-Generated_Waste_and_Cargo_Residues_in_Vietnam.pdf

	Text Body 1: 
The Policy Paper shares insights about efficient waste collection from ships in Vietnam based on European experiences, international regulations and an assessment of the current situation. It also summarises steps for improving ship waste management based on learnings from pilot activities in Cat Lai Port. If ships calling ports cannot deliver their waste at port reception facilities or other collection systems, they are indirectly forced to dump it illegally into the sea. It is therefore vital that the waste collected from ships is managed properly on land and to the extent possible merged into the municipality waste streams. The Policy Paper shares insights about efficient waste collection from ships in Vietnam based on European experiences, international regulations and an assessment of the current situation. It also summarises steps for improving ship waste management based on learnings from pilot activities in Cat Lai Port.
  The Policy Paper shares insights about efficient waste collection from ships in Vietnam based on European experiences, international regulations and an assessment of the current situation.	           	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/EPR_Thailand_Policy_Brief.pdf

	Text Body 1: 
The Policy Brief summarises key findings regarding the current situation of packaging waste management in Thailand and features recommendations for developing a policy framework for EPR for packaging waste. How can EPR improve the management of packaging waste in Thailand, which are the key challenges and what do key stakeholders recommend? The paper summarises key findings regarding the current situation of packaging waste management in Thailand and features recommendations for developing a policy framework for EPR for packaging waste based on interviews with stakeholders along the plastic value chain. The document includes both English and Thai language versions.
  The Policy Brief summarises key findings regarding the current situation of packaging waste management in Thailand and features recommendations for developing a policy framework for EPR for packaging waste.	           	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/improving-ship-waste-management-in-port.pdf

	Key Area: 
Waste Management

	Text Body 1: 
Illegal ship waste discharges into the ocean negatively impact the marine environment, fishing and the tourism industry. Port reception facilities or other collection systems need to be in place for ship waste delivery. Our infographic summarised international regulations, success factors and concrete steps towards an efficient Ship Waste Management in Ports
  Illegal ship waste discharges into the ocean negatively impact the marine environment, fishing and the tourism industry.	           	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/ports-fisheries.pdf

	Key Area: 
Ports & Fisheries

	Text Body 1: 
Often, fishers catch plastic waste while working on the sea. Fishing for Litter approaches encourage the fishing communities to collect and discharge this waste on land instead of in the ocean. This works through incentives, connection to recyclers and providing information on marine protection. In our pilot projects, we cooperate with various partners on identifying good practices and finding new solutions for Fishing for Litter. Our infographic shows how it works and summarises key steps to set up a Fishing for Litter scheme.
  Fishing for Litter approaches encourage the fishing communities to collect and discharge plastic waste caught on sea on land. Our infographic shows how it works and the key steps to set up a Fishing for Litter scheme.	           	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/giz-vietnamese.pdf

	Key Area: 
Ports & Fisheries

	Text Body 1: 
Often, fishers catch plastic waste while working on the sea. Fishing for Litter approaches encourage the fishing communities to collect and discharge this waste on land instead of in the ocean. This works through incentives, connection to recyclers and providing information on marine protection. In our pilot projects, we cooperate with various partners on identifying good practices and finding new solutions for Fishing for Litter. Our infographic shows how it works and summarises key steps to set up a Fishing for Litter scheme.
  Fishing for Litter approaches encourage the fishing communities to collect and discharge plastic waste caught on sea on land. Our infographic shows how it works and the key steps to set up a Fishing for Litter scheme.	           	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/EPR_Toolbox_Chinese_Version_updated_by_March_2022.pdf

	Key Area: 
Waste Management, Green Public Procurement

	Text Body 1: 
The EPR Toolbox is a collection of internationally relevant knowledge on the topic of EPR for packaging. It contains detailed training materials on EPR, practical country examples and a set of FAQs. Institutional and operational actors, among them public authorities, producers, collectors, operators or recyclers, can now enhance their knowledge about EPR for packaging with the Chinese translation of the EPR Toolbox. The toolbox was developed by the PREVENT Waste Alliance and translated by ‘Rethinking Plastics’.  More about the PREVENT Waste Alliance.
  The EPR Toolbox is a collection of internationally relevant knowledge on the topic of EPR for packaging.            	pdf: 
https://rethinkingplastics.eu/media/acfupload/PREVENT-EPR-Toolbox-in-vn-PDF-interactive13052021.pdf

	Text Body 1: 
The EPR Toolbox is a collection of internationally relevant knowledge on the topic of EPR for packaging. It contains detailed training materials on EPR, practical country examples and a set of FAQs. Institutional and operational actors, among them public authorities, producers, collectors, operators or recyclers, can now enhance their knowledge about EPR for packaging with the Vietnamese translation of the EPR Toolbox. The toolbox was developed by the PREVENT Waste Alliance and translated by ‘Rethinking Plastics’.  More about the PREVENT Waste Alliance.
  The EPR Toolbox is a collection of internationally relevant knowledge on the topic of EPR for packaging.       
  

China

Indonesia

Philippines

Thailand

Vietnam

Singapore

Japan

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GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit )

The European Union is a unique economic and political union between 27 EU countries that together cover much of the continent.

European Union 

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Government of China

Government of Singapore

Deutsche Zusammenarbeit

Expertise France

Government of Indonesia

Government of Thailand

Government of Philippines

Government of Vietnam

Government of Japan

The project 'Rethinking Plastics - Circular Economy Solutions to Marine Litter' is focusing on solutions regarding the transition towards a circular economy with the aim of reducing plastic waste leakage into the sea. It considers 7 counties of China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Key areas of the pilot projects are consumption and production, waste management and ports and fisheries encouraging green public procurement, awareness rising and education.The project offer advising, promoting knowledge exchange and best practice sharing through policy dialogues, workshops and conferences as well as implementing activities in more than 20 pilot projects in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to examine new approaches and develop best practices.