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This collection has been built by a community of passionate researchers, students, and industry professionals as part of <a href="https://worldcirculartextilesday.com/" target="_blank">World Circular Textiles Day</a> (WCTD). 


World Circular Textiles Day takes place every year on 8th October. Our vision is to galvanise the collective ambitions and goals of people, organisations and businesses to reach a fully circular textiles world by 2050. Our mission is to provide a framework for circularity stakeholders to develop and deliver a collaborative, evolving roadmap and to chart circularity’s momentum annually from the 8th of October until 2050.

What does fully circular by 2050 mean?
- Shared textile resources, in the form of products and raw materials, are kept in **continual circulation**.
- Virgin resources are **replaced with circular materials**.
- Dignity, equity, and equality for the **people** involved in all parts of the circular value chain.

We need to know where we stand today to chart how to get to 100% Circularity by 2050. What circular activity is currently happening in the textiles and apparel industry, and where in the world is it happening? The WCTD Collection aims to answer this question by building the world’s largest digital library of circular textiles case studies. 

World Circular Textiles Day is proud to be supported by our 2022-23 Circular Hero Partners:
[Lenzing](https://www.lenzing.com/), [Texaid](https://retailsolutions.texaid.com/), [Bank & Vogue](https://www.bankvogue.com/), [Usha yarns limited](https://ushayarns.com/), [The Conduit](https://www.theconduit.com/), and [Asia Pacific Rayon](https://www.aprayon.com/en/)

## Want to contribute to the WCTD Collection? Sign up and add your circular textiles activities.

World Circular Textiles Day

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Business case

Impact on the health and happiness of human populations

Well-being

Direct and indirect reduction in economic costs

Cost Savings

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

Innovation

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Producing textile and leather products and processing them into apparel and accessories

Fashion and Textiles

Utilise waste streams as a source of secondary resources and recover waste for reuse and recycling

Use waste as a resource

Account for the systems perspective during the design process, to use the right materials, to design for appropriate lifetime and to design for extended future use

Design for the future

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

Industry collaboration

VISION:
Raw materials are renewable, recyclable and safe, kept in continual circulation.

DETAIL:
Imagine a time when…the raw materials that are used to make things are sourced from existing products and regenerative agriculture, via carbon negative and climate neutral processes. Biodegradable raw materials are used for products with biodegradable end routes. Toxic chemicals have been washed out of the global materials pool, disposed of safely and replaced with beneficial alternatives. Virgin fibres made from fossil fuels have been banned, while secondary synthetic fibres, derived from what was already in the system, are kept in constant circulation as a resource. Circularity accounting methods, built on science-based metrics, help to manage a balanced system of resources, across all industries, and in line with the planet’s environmental limits.

Raw Materials and Planetary Boundaries

VISION:
Products and services are designed for multiple use and material value retention, with maximum positive impact.

DETAIL: 
Imagine a time when…products flow via optimal collection and distribution streams into reusable and repairable product platforms. Reuse and access models are dominant, and products are designed for multiple recirculation before biodegrading (if designed to do so), or being broken down into reusable raw materials for production. People only consume what they need. Production and consumption wastes have been fully eliminated and multifunctional, season-less and timeless fashions are the norm, yet still fulfil our human need for expression and creativity without constraint. All business models, organisations, governments and citizens play a role in maintaining a healthy, functioning circular ecosystem.

Products and Services

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

CE Materials

Impacts

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Industries

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Materials

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.

Browse case studies by type of implementing stakeholder.

Implementing stakeholders

80+ circular strategies for product development 
organised hierarchically into three tiers
with tier 1 and tier 2 based on the Key Elements Framework

DISRUPT

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

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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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 Why we use it
Semi-synthetic fibers are biochemically processed to reconstitute hardwood tree cellulose (a sugar molecule that gives trees their strength) to create a functional, sustainable material. Although chemically identical to natural cellulose (like cotton and linen consist of), this innovative process allows us to harness the renewable properties that trees provide.
Our Seaweed Fiber is made using a patented process that embeds seaweed particles firmly within lyocell fiber. 
Lyocell is a fabric that embodies complete circularity, beginning and ending in nature.
Our lyocell is 95% harvested from eucalyptus trees and the remaining 5% from spruce, acacia and beech trees. Eucalyptus grows quickly without irrigation, pesticides or fertilizers, and can be grown on arid land. The lyocell is made through a closed loop production system, using a process that recycles water and reuses up to 99% of the solvent used. This creates very little waste and results in a fiber that biodegrades in water, landfills and composting environments. 

Outdoor air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2016; this mortality is due to exposure to small particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5), which cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers.People living in low- and middle-income countries disproportionately experience the burden of outdoor air pollution with 91% (of the 4.2 million premature deaths) occurring in low- and middle-income countries, and the greatest burden in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. The latest burden estimates reflect the very significant role air pollution plays in cardiovascular illness and death. More and more, evidence demonstrating the linkages between ambient air pollution and the cardiovascular disease risk is becoming available, including studies from highly polluted areas.WHO estimates that in 2016, some 58% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to ischaemic heart disease and strokes, while 18% of deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute lower respiratory infections respectively, and 6% of deaths were due to lung cancer.Some deaths may be attributed to more than one risk factor at the same time. For example, both smoking and ambient air pollution affect lung cancer. Some lung cancer deaths could have been averted by improving ambient air quality, or by reducing tobacco smoking.A 2013 assessment by WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that outdoor air pollution is carcinogenic to humans, with the particulate matter component of air pollution most closely associated with increased cancer incidence, especially lung cancer. An association also has been observed between outdoor air pollution and increase in cancer of the urinary tract/bladder.Addressing all risk factors for noncommunicable diseases – including air pollution – is key to protecting public health.Most sources of outdoor air pollution are well beyond the control of individuals and demands concerted action by local, national and regional level policy-makers working in sectors like transport, energy, waste management, urban planning, and agriculture.There are many examples of successful policies in transport, urban planning, power generation and industry that reduce air pollution:for industry: clean technologies that reduce industrial smokestack emissions; improved management of urban and agricultural waste, including capture of methane gas emitted from waste sites as an alternative to incineration (for use as biogas);for energy: ensuring access to affordable clean household energy solutions for cooking, heating and lighting;for transport: shifting to clean modes of power generation; prioritizing rapid urban transit, walking and cycling networks in cities as well as rail interurban freight and passenger travel; shifting to cleaner heavy-duty diesel vehicles and low-emissions vehicles and fuels, including fuels with reduced sulfur content;for urban planning: improving the energy efficiency of buildings and making cities more green and compact, and thus energy efficient;for power generation: increased use of low-emissions fuels and renewable combustion-free power sources (like solar, wind or hydropower); co-generation of heat and power; and distributed energy generation (e.g. mini-grids and rooftop solar power generation);for municipal and agricultural waste management: strategies for waste reduction, waste separation, recycling and reuse or waste reprocessing; as well as improved methods of biological waste management such as anaerobic waste digestion to produce biogas, are feasible, low cost alternatives to the open incineration of solid waste. Where incineration is unavoidable, then combustion technologies with strict emission controls are critical.In addition to outdoor air pollution, indoor smoke from household air pollution  is a serious health risk for some 3 billion people who cook and heat their homes with biomass fuels and coal. Some 3.8 million premature deaths were attributable to household air pollution in 2016. Almost all of the burden was in low-middle-income countries. Household air pollution is also a major source of outdoor air pollution in both urban and rural areas.The 2005 WHO Air quality guidelines offer global guidance on thresholds and limits for key air pollutants that pose health risks. The Guidelines indicate that by reducing particulate matter (PM10) pollution from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m), we can cut air pollution-related deaths by around 15%.The Guidelines apply worldwide and are based on expert evaluation of current scientific evidence for:particulate matter (PM)ozone (O3)nitrogen dioxide (NO2)sulfur dioxide (SO2).Please note that the WHO Air quality guidelines are currently under revision with an expected publication date in 2020.Particulate matter (PM)Definition and principal sourcesPM is a common proxy indicator for air pollution. It affects more people than any other pollutant. The major components of PM are sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water. It consists of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances suspended in the air. While particles  with a diameter of 10 microns or less, (≤ PM10) can penetrate and lodge deep inside the lungs, the even more health-damaging particles are those with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, (≤ PM2.5). PM2.5  can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the blood system. Chronic exposure to particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as of lung cancer.Air quality measurements are typically reported in terms of daily or annual mean concentrations of PM10 particles per cubic meter of air volume (m3). Routine air quality measurements typically describe such PM concentrations in terms of micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). When sufficiently sensitive measurement tools are available, concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5 or smaller), are also reported.Health effectsThere is a close, quantitative relationship between exposure to high concentrations of small particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) and increased mortality or morbidity, both daily and over time. Conversely, when concentrations of small and fine particulates are reduced, related mortality will also go down – presuming other factors remain the same. This allows policy-makers to project the population health improvements that could be expected if particulate air pollution is reduced.Small particulate pollution has health impacts even at very low concentrations – indeed no threshold has been identified below which no damage to health is observed. Therefore, the WHO 2005 guideline limits aimed to achieve the lowest concentrations of PM possible.WHO Air quality guideline valuesParticulate matter (PM)Guideline valuesFine particulate matter (PM2.5)10 μg/m3 annual mean25 μg/m3 24-hour meanCoarse particulate matter (PM10)20 μg/m3 annual mean50 μg/m3 24-hour meanIn addition to guideline values, the WHO air quality guidelines provide interim targets for concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 aimed at promoting a gradual shift from high to lower concentrations.If these interim targets were to be achieved, significant reductions in risks for acute and chronic health effects from air pollution can be expected. Achieving the guideline values, however, should be the ultimate objective.The effects of PM on health occur at levels of exposure currently being experienced by many people both in urban and rural areas and in developed and developing countries – although exposures in many fast-developing cities today are often far higher than in developed cities of comparable size."WHO air quality guidelines" estimate that reducing annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations from levels of 35 μg/m3, common in many developing cities, to the WHO guideline level of 10 μg/m3, could reduce air pollution-related deaths by around 15%. However, even in the European Union, where PM concentrations in many cities do comply with guideline levels, it is estimated that average life expectancy is 8.6 months lower than it would otherwise be, due to PM exposures from human sources.In low- and middle- income countries, exposure to pollutants in and around homes from the household combustion of polluting fuels on open fires or traditional stoves for cooking, heating and lighting further increases the risk for air pollution-related diseases, including acute lower respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.There are serious risks to health not only from exposure to PM, but also from exposure to ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). As with PM, concentrations are often highest largely in the urban areas of low- and middle-income countries. Ozone is a major factor in asthma morbidity and mortality, while nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide also can play a role in asthma, bronchial symptoms, lung inflammation and reduced lung function.Ozone (O3)Guideline valuesO3100 μg/m3 8-hour meanThe recommended limit in the 2005 Air Quality Guidelines was reduced from the previous level of 120 µg/m3 in previous editions of the "WHO Air Quality Guidelines" based on recent conclusive associations between daily mortality and lower ozone concentrations.Definition and principal sourcesOzone at ground level – not to be confused with the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere – is one of the major constituents of photochemical smog. It is formed by the reaction with sunlight (photochemical reaction) of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) from vehicle and industry emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by vehicles, solvents and industry. As a result, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during periods of sunny weather.Health effectsExcessive ozone in the air can have a marked effect on human health. It can cause breathing problems, trigger asthma, reduce lung function and cause lung diseases. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)Guideline valuesNO240 μg/m3 annual mean200 μg/m3 1-hour meanThe current WHO guideline value of 40 µg/m3 (annual mean) was set to protect the public from the health effects of gaseous.Definition and principal sourcesAs an air pollutant, NO2 has several correlated activities. At short-term, concentrations exceeding 200 μg/m3, it is a toxic gas which causes significant inflammation of the airways.NO2 is the main source of nitrate aerosols, which form an important fraction of PM2.5 and, in the presence of ultraviolet light, of ozone. The major sources of anthropogenic emissions of NO2 are combustion processes (heating, power generation, and engines in vehicles and ships).Health effectsEpidemiological studies have shown that symptoms of bronchitis in asthmatic children increase in association with long-term exposure to NO2. Reduced lung function growth is also linked to NO2 at concentrations currently measured (or observed) in cities of Europe and North America.Sulfur dioxide (SO2)Guideline valuesSO220 μg/m3 24-hour mean500 μg/m3 10-minute meanA SO2 concentration of 500 µg/m3 should not be exceeded over average periods of 10 minutes' duration. Studies indicate that a proportion of people with asthma experience changes in pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms after periods of exposure to SO2 as short as 10 minutes. Health effects are now known to be associated with much lower levels of SO2 than previously believed. A greater degree of protection is needed. Although the causality of the effects of low concentrations of SO2 is still uncertain, reducing SO2 concentrations is likely to decrease exposure to co-pollutants.Definition and principal sourcesSO2 is a colourless gas with a sharp odour. It is produced from the burning of fossil fuels (coal and oil) and the smelting of mineral ores that contain sulfur. The main anthropogenic source of SO2 is the burning of sulfur-containing fossil fuels for domestic heating, power generation and motor vehicles.Health effectsSO2 can affect the respiratory system and the functions of the lungs, and causes irritation of the eyes. Inflammation of the respiratory tract causes coughing, mucus secretion, aggravation of asthma and chronic bronchitis and makes people more prone to infections of the respiratory tract. Hospital admissions for cardiac disease and mortality increase on days with higher SO2 levels. When SO2 combines with water, it forms sulfuric acid; this is the main component of acid rain which is a cause of deforestation.WHO responseWHO Member States recently adopted a resolution (2015) and a road map (2016) for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution.WHO is custodial agency for 3 air pollution-related Sustainable Development Goals indicators:3.9.1 Mortality from air pollution7.1.2 Access to clean fuels and technologies11.6.2 Air quality in cities. WHO develops and produces air quality guidelines recommending exposure limits to key air pollutants (indoor and outdoor).WHO creates detailed health-related assessments of different types of air pollutants, including particulates and black carbon particles, and ozone.WHO produces evidence regarding the linkage of air pollution to specific diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancers, as well as burden of disease estimates from existing air pollution exposures, at country, regional, and global levels.WHO develops tools such as AirQ+ for assessing the health impacts from various pollutants, but also the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) to assess walking and cycling interventions, the Green+ tool to raise importance of green space and health, the Sustainable Transport Health Assessment Tool (STHAT) and the Integrated Transport and Health Impact Modelling Tool (ITHIM).WHO is developing a Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST) to provide countries and programmes with the tools needed to create or evaluate policies that expand clean household energy access and use, which is particularly important as pollutants released in and around the household (household air pollution) contribute significantly to ambient pollution. CHEST tools include modules on needs assessment, guidance on standards and testing for household energy devices, monitoring and evaluation, and materials to empower the health sector to tackle household air pollution.WHO assists Member States in sharing information on successful approaches, on methods of exposure assessment and monitoring of health impacts of pollution.WHO is leading the Joint Task Force on the Health Aspects of Air Pollution within the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to assess the health effects of such pollution and to provide supporting documentation.The WHO co-sponsored Pan European Programme on Transport Health and Environment (PEP), has built a model of regional, Member State, and multisectoral cooperation for mitigation of air pollution and other health impacts in the transport sector, as well as tools for assessing the health benefits of such mitigation measures.

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PANGAIA is a direct-to-consumer materials science company who aspires to create essential products from innovative tech and bio-engineered materials, using as many sustainable and recyclable elements as possible.



Pangaia

Graviky Labs is a MIT spinoff working in developing cleantech solutions. It aspires to change industrial production with forays into packaging, apparel printing, and advanced materials.



 Graviky Labs

Carbon black used in the dyeing of clothes has numerous undesirable environmental consequences and contributes to air pollution. In light of this, cleantech solutions firm Graviky Labs uncovered a new capsule collection featuring a water-based black ink made from carbon emission. By upcycling carbon emissions, AIR-INK is carbon negative, cost-effective, and directly usable in existing production lines, thus providing an alternative to the apparel, packaging, and printing industry. Material science company Pangaia collaborated with Graviky Labs and used its AIR-INK to add on to its sustainable apparel collection.

GRAVIKY LABS X PANGAIA: Introducing AIR-INK Capsule captured from air pollution

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 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

Scalability

Reduced use of virgin materials and/or an increase of the use of secondary and bio-based materials

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

Reduced use and withdrawal of water and rate of recycling and reuse of water

Save Water (SDG6)

Producing and providing business and consumer goods and services

Goods and Services

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

Prioritise regenerative resources

While resources are in-use, maintain, repair and upgrade them to maximise their lifetime and give them a second life through take back strategies when applicable

Stretch the lifetime

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

Utilise bio-based, reusable, non-toxic and non-critical materials

Regenerative materials

Ensure that biological products are properly managed and preserved

Maximise lifetime of biological products

Using bio-based materials such as bioplastics, mushroom-based materials, etc.

Alternative bio-based materials and inputs

Using <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/raw-materials/specific-interest/critical_sv" target="_blank">materials that are not considered critical</a>.

Non-critical materials and inputs 

Using <a href="https://echa.europa.eu/information-on-chemicals" target="_blank">materials that are not toxic or hazardous</a>.

Non-toxic materials and inputs

Managing and enriching biological products such as soil, land, etc.

Management, enrichment

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

Cross-industry projects, pilots

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

Joint industry ventures, projects, pilots

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

Archetypes

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

   Proteins are polymers made from various combinations of the 20 natural amino acids. These amino acids each have their own unique properties, and link together to form chains varying in length from just a few dozen all the way up to several thousand. Hair, skin, nails, muscles, insulin, and antibodies are all primarily made up of proteins and demonstrate noticeable differences in appearance, characteristics, and functions. Tens of thousands of different proteins exist in the human body, each with distinct compositions and amino acid sequences. Thus, the word “protein” encapsulates an enormous diversity of features and performance—a diversity that inspires us to think of proteins as a “material platform.” If we take the 20 types of amino acids and calculate how many sequences of length 100 are possible, the result would be 20 to the power of 100. The number of atoms in the entire universe is estimated to be somewhere around the order of 10 to the power of 80, meaning the potential number of sequences a mere 100 amino acids in length already surpasses the total number of atoms in the universe by over 20 digits. Against the background of this immense potential, the amino acid patterns underlying past and present life on Earth represent a tiny fraction of the total number of theoretical combinations. There are an enormous amount of unknown proteins not found in nature but which could result in incredible materials if adopted for industrial use. How, then, can humanity go about unlocking this untapped treasure? We believe that the answer lies in the process of evolution, one of the most creative and innovative systems found in the biological world. Evolution happens when a variation occurs in an organism’s genetic information (that is, its DNA), overriding information that encodes a protein’s amino acid sequence. The resulting new protein gives the organism an advantageous new material, ability, or mechanism which is preferentially selected for by natural selection, allowing the organism to proliferate more than its counterparts which lack the variation. In the natural world, modifying genetic information risks losing an existing material, function, or mechanism that an organism needs to survive. Accordingly, such modifications need to happen slowly and carefully, little by little, over a long period of time. In the lab, however, information science techniques allow for bold and large-scale genetic modifications that let us strategically design materials that exhibit particular characteristics. Based on this methodology, Spiber has established the keystone technologies for replicating the process of protein evolution—which requires millions of years in nature—in the laboratory, where it can be achieved in a matter of years or even months. We also develop microbial strains capable of producing our proteins in a highly energy-efficient manner, while utilizing sustainably-sourced plant-derived feedstock to lower environmental impact and cost.  Spiber pursues these research and development initiatives as part of our core endeavor to master the use of proteins as an industrial material platform. By harnessing the hidden potential of proteins, we hope to offer one piece of the puzzle needed to accelerate humanity’s shift towards a more sustainable society. 


Together with our partner Spiber, we’ve made a step forward in our ongoing search for low-impact petroleum-free material alternatives. Taking inspiration from the incredible properties of nature, Spiber explores the diverse genetic designs found in nature to create tailor-made protein materials designed at a molecular level.
The result: The NXT GEN Hoodie, created with Brewed Protein™ fibers.



Materials science company Pangaia and Japanese biotech start-up Spiber have teamed up to unveil the world’s first sweatshirt featuring ‘Brewed Protein’ fibres and organic cotton.
The launch is the first time a product made from ‘Brewed Protein’ fibres will be available worldwide for purchase and also marks the beginning of a multiyear partnership between Pangaia and Spiber to find bio-based alternatives to fossil fuel and animal-derived fibres.
Dr. Amanda Parkes, chief innovation officer at Pangaia, said in a statement: “Spiber’s Brewed Protein fibres will disrupt the way we create fabrics through bio-fabrication and allow brands to transition away from carbon-polluting materials.
“The Spiber team shows a deep and impressive commitment to complex innovation; we both were eager to bring this capsule to life through Pangaia Lab and show the cutting-edge technology is ready to scale.”
Pangaia enters into a multiyear partnership with biotech firm Spiber
Spiber Inc. is a Japanese biotechnology start-up that uses cutting-edge synthetic biology, polymer, and material science to make its ‘Brewed Protein’ materials made from plant-derived biomass using a proprietary fermentation process that produces a biological building block that can be sculpted for different applications.
‘Brewed Protein’ polymers can be transformed into a variety of forms, from delicate filament fibres with a silky sheen to spun yarns that have cashmere-like softness or the thermal and moisture-wicking properties of wool.
 Image: Pangaia/Spiber

Both companies also add that ‘Brewed Protein’ fibres are “well-positioned to address numerous pressing environmental issues and risks,” unlike many existing synthetic materials. Their large-scale production is expected to produce significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and require less land and water use than traditional animal-derived fibres such as cashmere.
Kenji Higashi, head of business development, sales and sustainability at Spiber, added: “Not many brands have the capabilities and patience to harness a completely new material like ‘Brewed Protein’ fibre to create a first-of-a-kind product.
“It has been a great experience working with the Pangaia team, whose members brought world class technical expertise and scientific insight to our joint project, and whose mission to enable innovative solutions for a more sustainable world overlaps with our own. After over two years of joint development, we are very excited to finally see the world's first sweatshirts containing ‘Brewed Protein’ fibre being produced by Pangaia.”
The ‘Nxt Gen’ hoodie powered by ‘Brewed Protein’ has a limited run of 200 worldwide and will be available on pangaia.com for 395 US dollars in sizes XXS to XXL. The sweatshirt will also be displayed at the Biofabricate Summit in New York City.


Brewed Protein™ refers to protein materials produced from plant-derived biomass using Spiber’s proprietary fermentation process. Brewed Protein materials can be processed into a variety of forms, with examples ranging from delicate filament fibers with a silky sheen to spun yarns that boast features such as cashmere-like softness or the renowned thermal and moisture-wicking properties of wool. Brewed Protein materials have a lot to offer ethically, too—Spiber’s in-house technology allows for the production of compelling animal-free fur and leather alternatives, and Brewed Proteins can also be processed into resins closely resembling tortoiseshell or animal horn. With potential uses ranging from medical applications to lightweight composite materials, the adaptability of Brewed Proteins means they are perfectly placed to support a wide variety of consumer needs. 

In addition to their diversity, Brewed Protein materials also offer several noteworthy environmental benefits. Designed to be non-reliant on petrochemicals as primary feedstock, and to not create or break down into environmentally-persistent microplastics, Brewed Protein materials are expected to have considerably less impact on marine ecosystems when compared to traditional plastic materials. Furthermore, the unique microbial fermentation technology used in Brewed Protein production shows considerable potential for avoiding ethical and environmental concerns including high greenhouse gas emissions often associated with commonly-used animal fibers. 

Spiber is also pursuing environmentally-conscious endeavors at the organizational level, including the creation of a dedicated sustainability team and initiatives to build a sustainable material production process and business structure. We have also established in-house biodegradability testing capabilities and an environmental impact evaluation system and are preparing to publish a life cycle assessment report at the start of commercial production in Thailand.

This combination of environmentally responsible design—from the production process to the material itself—with near-endless adaptability makes Brewed Protein materials an exciting new option for designers and creators looking to build a better, more sustainable future.

The next material revolution

With support from government, academia, and numerous organisations and individuals, Spiber has succeeded in forging a new industry based on the use of protein biomaterials. After more than 15 years of research and development, Spiber is now focusing on the transition to mass production. Spiber’s Thailand plant, currently under construction, is scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2021 with an annual capacity of several hundred tonnes, and preparations are underway for additional scale-up initiatives aimed at further reducing environmental burden and production costs. With an eye towards driving future progress, Spiber is engaged in collaborations with designers, creators, and top-tier companies in numerous industries, all working towards one goal—to bring the next stage of the protein revolution to fruition.


Spiber Inc

Materials science company Pangaia and Japanese biotech start-up Spiber have teamed up to unveil the world’s first sweatshirt featuring ‘Brewed Protein’ fibres and organic cotton. The sweatshirt is made with the Brewed Protein™ fiber created through a fermentation process using microbes. This is a unique innovation that analyses and builds on the DNA codes of various species in nature, creating a brand new material non-reliant on petrochemicals.

Pangaia partners with Spiber to present the world’s first biofabricated hoodie

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)

Designing to enable multiple uses and lifecycles of a product and its materials

Design for cyclability

Designing products that can easily breakdown and degrade in the environment

Design for bio-degradability

Slow strategies aim to keep materials in use for as long as possible, for example through design for durability and repairability. A more circular economy is also a slower one: materials, components, and products—and even buildings and infrastructure—that we lock in stocks are made to last. This will lower material demand in the long run, in essence also serving to narrow resource flows.

Slow

                                        That’s why we’re setting a new standard.                                               “We are committed to bring visibility to an opaque part of the supply chain to help brands build a better, more sustainable future [...]. We’re thrilled to work with PANGAIA, a brand [...] committed to revolutionizing raw materials [seen] through their track record of working with eco-friendly innovations and processes.” 
— Alissa Baier-Lentz, Co-Founder and COO at Kintra Fibers
                                                            “We are excited to [...] bring real systemic change of material possibilities for the industry. We hope this material will become a model not just for PANGAIA, but for the industry at large. The Kintra fiber is a true embodiment of PANGAIA’s commitment to ‘high tech naturalism’, our material philosophy. Kintra’s breakthroughs in responsible, bio-based chemistry allow us to design for the performance and end-of-life of our garments from the molecule up.” (Forbes) 
— Amanda Parkes, Chief Innovation Officer at PANGAIA             “PANGAIA’s science-based standards for sustainability are unparalleled, and their commitment to the planet is visible in each step of their supply chain. We look forward to collaborating with the PANGAIA team and integrating our technology into their fabrics and garments. As a lifelong surfer, protecting the oceans is near and dear to me. By designing for the material end-of-life at its start, we offer the industry a solution for microfiber pollution, as well as the ability to fit with chemical and physical recycling systems.” (Forbes)
— Billy McCall, Co-Founder and CEO at Kintra Fibers                               PANGAIA x Kintra coming soon. For more information on biodegradable polyester, please contact us.        

                         We use inputs derived from sugar, instead of fossil fuels.           We design our materials to naturally degrade, keeping our oceans microfiber-free.           Our textiles fit physical and chemical recycling schemes, as well as industrial composting.           With a lower processing temperature, our materials require less energy in production.                                       Traditional fossil fuel-based synthetics represent two-thirds of the global fiber market. The production of petrochemical-based polyester (PET) alone accounts for more annual oil consumption than the entire country of Spain.* At Kintra, we envision a future for the fashion industry that is free from fossil fuels. Our inputs are derived from sugar instead of petroleum, and we design our materials to fit industrial composting. From our perspective, Kintra materials are “leased” from nature to humans and formulated to return to the soil from which they originate. *Changing Markets Foundation, Fossil Fashion Report         Each time you do laundry, millions of microfibers shed from your clothes. Microfibers from PET, nylon, and their recycled or bio-based versions get through wastewater facilities and pollute the oceans with tiny plastic particles, equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles per year.* At Kintra, we believe the planet deserves clean water. We’ve designed our materials to naturally degrade in the aerobic environment of a waste water treatment facility, keeping our oceans and soil clean.*Ellen MacArthur Foundation                                                 “Importantly, Kintra’s bespoke bio-synthetic design approach supports the circular approach of making materials fit for purpose but simultaneously designed for end of life.”           “Recycled plastics are not a silver bullet. They still shed microfibers and will likely ultimately end up in a landfill. Kintra’s solutions bridge the gap between the convenience of plastic and the environmental benefits of a biodegradable material.”           “Instead of petroleum, Kintra sources corn- and wheat-derived sugar to produce its resins and fibers, which undergo a melt-spinning process similar to polyester, nylon and other synthetic materials, providing a comparable look, feel and performance without contributing to the problem of microplastic pollution.”                                                         contact@kintrafibers.com63 Flushing AvenueBuilding 212, Suite 305Brooklyn, NY 11205

New York

Kintra Fibers is a materials science company that makes compostable bio-synthetic resin and yarns for the apparel industry

Kintrafibers

Leading innovation company Pangaia joining forces with materials science company Kintra Fibers to help eliminate microplastic pollution by making polyester out of plants which can seamlessly biodegraded into the Earth post consumer usage.