thumbnail_Starter kit image.JPG

Starter kit image.JPG

Starter Kit collection

Article / Report

Impact on the health and happiness of human populations

Well-being

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

Innovation

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

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

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)

Reduced use of fossil fuel energy sources and/or increased use of renewable energy

Reduce Energy Consumption

Producing electronics products for businesses and consumers, including cellular phones, personal computers, printers, servers, electronic computer components and peripherals, TVs, audio equipment, as well as household appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, etc.

Electronics and Appliances

Producing indoor products for the home and office, such as furniture, including upholstery, carpets and wall-coverings, as well as cutlery, cookware, glassware, crystal, silverware, utensils, kitchenware and household specialties

Home and Office Furnishings

Producing and providing leisure and personal products and services for consumers, such as cleaning products, sports equipment and toys, personal and beauty care products, as well as domestic and personal services such as caretaking, cleaning, hairdressing and other beauty treatment, funeral and related activities

Personal Products and Services

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

Fashion and Textiles

Producing and refining oil, gas, and other consumable fuels related to the generation of energy

Consumable 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 internally to guide employees and facilitate greater knowledge sharing between internal divisions

Internal collaboration

Facilitate discussions and meetings between internal team members to identify circular opportunities

Dialogue with internal stakeholders

Research and facilitate new technological developments to aid the transition to a circular economy.

Research and Development

Roadmaps and strategies and targets

Cross-departmental collaboration and engagement

Advocate for circular change

Voluntary agreements around circular ambitions

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

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

Prioritise regenerative resources [Textiles]

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

Regenerative materials [Textiles]

Enacting measures that optimise material use such as 3D printing, etc.

Material efficiency [Textiles]

Impacts

small_climate-4803653_640.jpg

thumbnail_climate-4803653_640.jpg

climate-4803653_640.jpg

Industries

small_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

thumbnail_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policy Instruments

medium_image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

small_image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

thumbnail_image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

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

large_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

medium_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

small_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

thumbnail_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

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

thumbnail_wctd.jpg

wctd.jpg

The Textiles Key Elements Framework is based on the main Key Elements Framework which renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive textile-focused strategies and interventions. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete inspiring exemples to prevent and reduce the textiles waste mountain. 

The Framework consists of:
- 3 core elements: activities directly handling textile product or material flows; and uniquely,
- 4 Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.

Under which strategies provide further detail. Finally, each strategy consists of a diversity of tangible solutions which are framed in relation to the sought outcome. 

'Click through each of the seven elements cards below to explore the framework and circular textile-focused case studies in more depth!'

This framework was developed in collaboration with Circle Economy's textiles team. Read more about it [here]( https://www.circle-economy.com/programmes/textiles). 

Textiles Key Elements Framework

large_hector-j-rivas-Nh6NsnqYVsI-unsplash.jpg

medium_hector-j-rivas-Nh6NsnqYVsI-unsplash.jpg

small_hector-j-rivas-Nh6NsnqYVsI-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_hector-j-rivas-Nh6NsnqYVsI-unsplash.jpg

hector-j-rivas-Nh6NsnqYVsI-unsplash.jpg

 An action-based framework for apparel brands working towards circular strategies

![Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2024_10_21_at_16_53_12_12858da6aa.png)

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

medium_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

small_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

thumbnail_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

 GC3 project groups have produced the following publications. These are available for free download and distribution. These cutting-edge resources were developed though the efforts of GC3 project groups and provide extensive case examples, research, and analysis related to the application of green chemistry and design for environment. For more information on publications, please contact us. The GC3 Blueprint of Green Chemistry Opportunities for a Circular Economy February 2021 The GC3 Blueprint of Green Chemistry Opportunities for a Circular Economy (pdf) Measuring Progress towards Green Chemistry December 2015 The GC3 commissioned this research from Environmental & Public Health Consulting to support its efforts to mainstream green chemistry by understanding barriers and opportunities to accelerating green chemistry adoption across supply chains. Metrics play a critical role in understanding if green chemistry design, policy, business, or educational efforts are leading us towards desired outcomes. The purpose of this Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) report is to identify and characterize metrics that can be used to measure progress in green chemistry. Measuring Progress towards Green Chemistry - Report (pdf) An Agenda to Mainstream Green Chemistry November 2015 Ninety percent of manufactured goods are in some way linked to the chemical industry. Yet, despite its many environmental, public health, business, and economic benefits, green chemistry is still only a small part of the chemical enterprise. The GC3's Agenda to Mainstream Green Chemistry identifies strategies and actions needed from all corners to significantly accelerate green chemistry's practice and impact. The document integrates existing and original research on green chemistry barriers and accelerators, along with input from our members who are leaders in the field. Advancing Green Chemistry: Barriers to Adoption & Ways to Accelerate Green Chemistry in Supply Chains June 2015 There continues to be a growing interest and awareness in green chemistry. There are successful cases of adoption of safer alternatives, and scaling of supply, in response to demands from regulators and customers. However, overall progress is slow, measured in decades. Despite efforts from many stakeholders to accelerate green chemistry use adoption rates remain low. Why aren’t more green chemicals in use? What are the barriers? What is the means to accelerate adoption? The GC3 commissioned T. Fennelley and Associates to answer these questions through a series of supply chain interviews, discussions, and document review.Advancing Green Chemistry - Report (pdf)Advancing Green Chemistry Webinar - Slide plus audioAdvancing Green Chemistry Webinar - Slides only (pdf) Making the Business & Economic Case for Safer Chemistry April 2015 This report, authored by the consulting firm Trucost, evaluates the potential business and economic value of safer chemistry. This includes reducing the use and generation of hazardous substances, reducing the human health and environmental impacts of processes and products, and creating safer products. The research included interviews with 17 industry experts, as well as a review of literature and available data on the business and economic opportunities achievable through safer chemistry and the business and economic value at risk from not adopting safer chemistry. Making the Case for Safer Chemistry - Report (pdf)Making the Case for Safer Chemistry - Press release (pdf) Chemical Hazard Assessments of Alternative Plasticizers for Wire & Cable Applications June 2013 The Business and Academic Partnership Project Group of the GC3 developed and piloted a new type of collaboration between companies and universities to evaluate safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. The goal was to generate robust assessments of alternatives to support chemical substitution decision-making by GC3 companies and their supply chain partners, through pooling of knowledge, data and funds. The model was developed through a pilot project focused on identifying and evaluating alternatives to a known toxic phthalate plasticizer in wire & cable applications -- DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate). This project report provides a summary of the project results and links to detailed chemical hazard assessments for nine plasticizers. Download Document (pdf)Download BASF's comments on the GreenScreen™ assessment of Hexamoll® DINCH® (pdf) Meeting Customers' Needs for Chemical Data: A Guidance Document for Suppliers February 2011 Business-to-business communication of chemical data, such as chemical identity and health and safety impacts, along supply chains is critically important to product manufacturers' efforts to make informed decisions on the health and environmental impacts of the products that they put on the market. Forward looking companies working to bring safer products to market need the active engagement of suppliers to provide relevant chemical information. This document provides tools and examples in support of improved supply chain communication between suppliers and their customers, and in the development of more sustainable products.   Download Document (pdf)   Compilation of Terms Marketing Green Products: A Green Glossary November 2010 In an effort to gain some clarity about the definitions of terms commonly used to market and sell "green" products, a GC3 working group has developed a "Green Glossary." Terms that are commonly used to market and sell green products were researched and a number of these were selected for inclusion in Version One of the Glossary. Gathered from various sources including government, industry, certifiers, and the nonprofit sector, the glossary presents a variety of definitions for single terms, highlighting the conditions making greenwashing so prevalent in the marketplace.  Download Introduction (pdf)Download Glossary (pdf) Best Practices in Product Chemicals Management in the Retail Industry December 2009 Faced with growing demands to identify, disclose and substitute potentially harmful chemical ingredients in the products they sell, innovative retailers are incorporating product chemicals management systems into their sustainability strategies. This report examines the influences on retailers to encourage the adoption of chemicals management systems; the systems that Apple, Boots, Green Depot, Patagonia, REI, Staples, and Walmart have adopted; and the challenges, benefits, and best practices identified in the development and implementation of these systems.  Download Report (pdf)   Gathering Chemical Information and Advancing Safer Chemistry in Complex Supply Chains: Case Studies of Nike, S.C. Johnson, and Hewlett-Packard September 2009 As part of the Tools for Safer Chemical Assessment working group, three case studies of leading firms with complex supply chains were conducted to explore and share experiences on how these companies gather chemical information from their supply chains and how they use this information to develop safer products. A summary report synthesizes the lessons learned and best practices that were distilled from each of the case studies. Download the Summary Report (pdf) Download the case studies:Nike (pdf)  |  S. C. Johnson  (pdf)  |  Hewlett-Packard (pdf)   Growing the Green Economy: A State's Guide to Creating Opportunitiesfor Green Chemistry and Design for Environment  September 2009 For more than fifteen years, green chemistry and design for environment have been used successfully to benefit both the environment and the economy. In an effort to further entrench these approaches as the fundamental bedrock of industry practices and government policies, the GC3 and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable have teamed up to provide this guide outlining options for states to successfully promote research, development and application of these approaches to eliminate or reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in manufacturing and to promote a green economy.  Download Document (pdf)   An Analysis of Corporate Restricted Substance Lists (RSLs) and Their Implications for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment November 2008 Given the general lack of information on many chemicals in commerce, some companies have developed screening programs and criteria to guide hazardous materials restrictions. Despite the development of these lists and publication by certain sectors or companies, there has been no effort to date to pool restricted substances lists across sectors and companies to better understand the types of chemicals restricted and rationale for their restriction. GC3 companies contributed their restricted substances lists for this analysis of key differences, trends, and the importance of RSLs within various industrial sectors. Download Analysis & Compiled RSLs (pdf) 

United States

Massachusetts

large_blob

medium_blob

small_blob

thumbnail_blob

blob

Green Chemistry & Commerce Council 

<p>This report was written by the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council to support its GC3 members who are facing increasing policy, marketplace, and investor demands for more circular materials and products. Green chemistry (GC) and the circular economy (CE) are aligned in their shared goal to shift towards an economy that uses resources efficiently and safely, thereby reducing waste and protecting human health and the environment by rethinking how to design chemicals, materials, products, and processes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This report serves as a blueprint to understand how GC and CE can work together and optimise each other. The report focuses on the innovations needed to realise different opportunities and is designed to kick-start an on-going dialogue in terms of how to align the circularity, safety, and sustainability of chemicals, materials, and products, while minimising potential trade-offs.&nbsp;</p>