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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

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

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

Chemical and Plastic

Providing upgrade programmes or upgrade services for products or parts of products

Product upgrade

Transforming waste products, materials for reuse within other industries

Open loop upcycling

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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     Copyright © Trashy Bags Project 2008-2020 (move mouse over images for exceptions) - All rights reserved Webmaster & Design: Stuart Gold    Trashy Film - Fantastic in Plastic  Trashy Bags is a social enterprise based in Accra, Ghana that makes recycled eco-friendly bags and gifts from plastic trash. We employ over forty local people to collect, clean and stitch plastic trash in the form of sachets that have been previously used to contain drinking water and other drinks, into fashionable and useful bags and other products.  Plastic sachets have become a big problem across Africa because of the lack of recycling initiatives and waste management infrastructure. We also make bags from used advertising billboards that have been displayed on the streets of Ghana. Trashy Bags is leading the way in sustainable development in Africa in the area of plastic recycling and we have collected and recycled approximately 20 million plastic sachets since we started in 2007. Every month nearly 200,000 plastic sachets are being collected and brought to Trashy Bags by a network of people who are obtaining an income from their efforts. Our product list includes laptop bags, laptop sleeves, messenger bags, tote bags, vanity cases, backpacks, gym bags, purses, wallets, shopping bags for everyday use.  We make designer products which have been designed in-house by our own employees and some given names that are unique to our range. These include laptop sleeves, e-reader sleeves, shoulder bags and handbags like Sankofa, Mama Africa, Moonlight, Home Sweet Home, Fish Bag and Obaapa.     Fantastic in Plastic is a fun documentary film about a very special day at Trashy Bags.  It was produced for the Environmental Film Festival of Accra and was premiered on June 6th 2010   Trashy Bags - Recycled and Eco-Friendly Bags and Gifts from Ghana  See what Trashy Bags is doing for the environment in Ghana.  Latest news on the Smart Ghana Initiative...  News - Smart Ghana Initiative  “It's a super super campaign I must say and the most inspiring.” Chani - Sri Lanka   I love the gym bag. Do you sell to the US yet? Jamie - OH, USA  This is Janet. Now meet the rest of the workers...      “Congratulations for this beautiful project!” Nathalie - Belgium         Trashy Ad Bags are made in Ghana from discarded advertising billboards that are now proliferating throughout Accra, Ghana’s capital city in West Africa. Because the Ad Bags are all made from different billboards, each one cut for individual products, every one of the Ad Bags is unique in design and colour. Trashy Ad Bags are hand-crafted with luxurious African print linings       ...see Fantastic in Plastic      

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Africa

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Accra

Ghana

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Footprints Africa supports SMEs to adopt future-friendly practices, address the challenges of growth and create jobs, using supply chains as a tool for development. 

Footprints Africa

The vision of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) is to build a restorative African economy that generates well-being and prosperity inclusive of all its people through new forms of economic production and consumption which maintain and regenerate its environmental resources.

African Circular Economy Network

Bags manufactured from water sachets and pieces of fabric

Trashy bags

<p>Trashy Bags makes backpacks and bags from reclaimed drinking water and ice-cream sachets. These sachets are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is recyclable but non-biodegradable. Trashy Bags washes the sachets and stitches them together to form a whole piece of fabric. Also, they purchase fabric off-cuts from designers to be stitched together and used for their designs instead of buying new fabrics.</p>