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

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

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

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

Latin America Collection

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Policy case

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

Jobs

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

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)

Collecting waste from households and businesses by means of refuse bins, wheeled bins, containers, etc., and providing treatment, incineration, materials recovery and reclamation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Waste Management

Reuse, repurpose, and recycle waste streams within the same industry

Valorise waste streams - closed loop

Reuse, repurpose, and recycle waste streams within other industries

Valorise waste streams - open loop

Maintenance to extend useful life

Develop infrastructure to support resource cycling

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

Impacts

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Industries

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

Policy Instruments

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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 Authors: R. Conde  Abstract: The Brazilian economic projections and social indicators show a future of crisis for the country. Solutions to avoid this crisis scenario are necessary. Several developed countries implement initiatives linked to sustainability, mainly related to the circular economy, to solve their crises quickly - green recovery. This article aims to assess social gains if Brazil followed the same recovery strategy. Furthermore, with the use of data presented and recognized in the international academic society, the number of jobs that can be created, if Brazil took the first steps towards a more circular economy, was found. Moreover, in addition to the gross value in the number of jobs created, this article also detailed the number of these jobs by type of activity (collection, processing, and manufacturing) and by type of material.  Keywords: Circular economy,  green recovery,  job creation,  social gains.  Procedia
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 References: [1]	Porsse, A., Souza, K. B., Carvalho, T. S., & Vale, V. A. Impactos Econômicos do COVID-19 no Brasil. Nota Técnica NEDUR-UFPR No 01-2020. [2]	Miranda, L.; Pinto, V.; Martins, T.; Peruchetti, P. Novos cenários para a evolução da atividade econômica brasileira em 2020. Retrieved from www.blogdoibre.fgv.br/posts/novos-cenarios-para-evolucao-daatividade-economica- brasileira-em-2020, 2020. [3]	Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics: seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. Chelsea Green Publishing. [4]	Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD) 2019. Retrieved from www.agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br/agencia-noticias/2012-agencia-de-noticias/noticias/26741-desemprego-cai-para-11-9-na-media-de-2019-informalidade-e-a-maior-em-4-anos [5]	Agrawala, S., Dussaux, D., & Monti, N. (2020). What policies for greening the crisis response and economic recovery? Lessons learned from past green stimulus measures and implications for the COVID-19 crisis. [6]	Lahcen, B., Brusselaers, J., Vrancken, K., Dams, Y., Paes, C. D. S., Eyckmans, J., & Rousseau, S. (2020). Green recovery policies for the COVID-19 crisis: modelling the Impact on the economy and greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental and Resource Economics, 76(4), 731-750. [7]	Bastein, A. G. T. M., Roelofs, E., Rietveld, E., & Hoogendoorn, A. (2013). Opportunities for a Circular Economy in the Netherlands (pp. 1-13). Delft: TNO. [8]	Morgan, J., & Mitchell, P. (2015). Employment and the circular economy: Job creation in a more resource efficient Britain. Green Alliance. [9]	Metabolic. (2018). Circular Charlotte: Becoming a zero waste and inclusive city. Retrieved from https://www.metabolic.nl/projects/circular-charlotte/ [10]	Goldstein, J. (2014). From Waste to Jobs: What Achieving 75 Percent Recycling Means for California. [11]	Muçouçah, P. S. (2010). A política nacional de resíduos sólidos e a geração de empregos verdes. Bahia análise & dados, 20(2/3), 349-359. [12]	Brasil. (2010) Law N° 12.305 - Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS). [13]	Godoy, M. R. B. (2013). Dificuldades para aplicar a Lei da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos no Brasil. Caderno de Geografia, 23(39), 1-12. [14]	De Oliveira Morais, M., Brejão, A. S., Silva, U. J., & Neto, J. S. (2020). Dez anos da política nacional de resíduos sólidos: um estudo comparativo entre 2011 e 2020 sobre o entendimento dos consumidores referente ao descarte de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos. Brazilian Journal of Development, 6(11), 91851-91873. [15]	Abrelpe. (2019). Panorama dos resíduos sólidos no Brasil 2018/2019 Retrieved from www.abrelpe.org.br/download-panorama-2018-2019/ [16]	SNIS. (2020). Diagnóstico do manejo de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos - 2019. Retrieved from www.snis.gov.br/diagnostico-anual-residuos-solidos/diagnostico-do-manejo-de-residuos-solidos-urbanos-2019 [17]	SNIS. (2019). Diagnóstico do manejo de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos - 2018. Retrieved from www.snis.gov.br/diagnostico-anual-residuos-solidos/diagnostico-do-manejo-de-residuos-solidos-urbanos-2018 [18]	Blomsma, F., Pieroni, M., Kravchenko, M., Pigosso, D. C., Hildenbrand, J., Kristinsdottir, A. R., ... & McAloone, T. C. (2019). Developing a circular strategies framework for manufacturing companies to support circular economy-oriented innovation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 241, 118271. [19]	Institute of Local Resilience. (2002). Recycling means business. Retrieved from www.ilsr.org/recycling-means-business/ [20]	Ramos, N. F., Gomes, J. C., Castilhos Jr, A. B., & Gourdon, R. (2017). Desenvolvimento de ferramenta para diagnóstico ambiental de lixões de resíduos sólidos urbanos no Brasil. Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, 22(6), 1233-1241. [21]	Silva, S. P.; Goes, F.; Alvarez, A. (2013) Situação social das catadoras e dos catadores de material reciclável e reutilizável: Brasil. Brasília: Ipea. [22]	MNCR. (2006). Sobre o Movimento. Retrieved from www.beta.mncr.org.br:8080/site/sobre-o-mncr/duvidas-frequentes/quantos-catadores-existem-em-atividade-no-brasil [23]	IPEA. (2012). Diagnóstico dos resíduos sólidos urbanos - relatório de pesquisa. 2012. Retrieved from www.ipea.gov.br/agencia/images/stories/PDFs/relatoriopesquisa/121009_relatorio_residuos_solidos_urbanos.pdf [24]	Ferreira, J. A., & Anjos, L. A. D. (2001). Aspectos de saúde coletiva e ocupacional associados à gestão dos resíduos sólidos municipais. Cadernos de saúde Pública, 17, 689-696. [25]	Damásio, J. (2010). Impactos socioeconômicos e ambientais do trabalho dos catadores na cadeia da reciclagem. GERI/UFBa–Centro de Referência de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis–PANGEA. [26]	COMLURB. (2021). (personal communication, January 15, 2020). [27]	Conde, A., Campos, J., Quintaes, B., Hinojosa,M., Amorim, V., Tonnera Jr, J., & França, J. (2019). Composição de resíduos sólidos domésticos na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: uma visão histórica [28]	Rio de Janeiro. (2016). Plano municipal de gestão integrada de resíduos sólidos - PMGIRS. Retrieved from www.rio.rj.gov.br/dlstatic/10112/3372233/4177431/D.O._28112016DECRETO42.605_2016PMGIRScompletocomanexos.pdf [29]	Ornelas, B. (personal communication, September 25, 2020). [30]	Rio de Janeiro. (2020). Cooperativas de catadores cadastradas. Retrieved from www.rio.rj.gov.br/web/comlurb/exibeconteudo?id=1141317 [31]	IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (2020). Projeções da População. Retrieved from www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/tabela/7358#resultado [32]	Brazil. (2019). Ministério do Meio Ambiente(MMA) - Programa Lixão Zero. [33]	Conde, A.,Campos, J., Quintaes, B., Hinojosa, M.,Lourenço, A.F., Tonnera Jr, J., & França, J. (2018). Household Solid waste composition in Rio de Janeiro city - 2018. [34]	Chawla, K., Singh, R., & Singh, J. (2020). Segregation and Recycling of Plastic Solid Waste: A Review. In Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (pp. 205-221). Springer, Singapore. [35]	Tellus Institute and Sound Resource Management. (2011). More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S. Retrieved from wwwnrdc.org/globalwarming/files/glo_11111401a.pdf. [36]	Innes Hoos Consulting, Inc for the Environmental Standards Branch, British Columbia Ministry of the Environment. (2013). Zero Waste Business Case, Draft for Expert Review. 

Brazil

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International Journal of Economics and Management Engineering

"QUALIVERDE is a voluntary city-specific programme with sustainable targets. Points are available for using certified timber and concrete replacement. Using the QUALIVERDE assessment can come with tax benefits" (Source: C40's Clean Construction Policy Explorer)

QUALIVERDE, tax breaks for sustainable projects - Rio de Janeiro

Business case

Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global non-profit organization, and Plug and Play, an early-stage venture accelerator, announced the extension of their End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform with three additional hubs in Shanghai, So Paulo, and Johannesburg to enhance closing the loop through helping startups. These hubs help circular and sustainable entrepreneurs to learn, network, gain investment, and form partnerships that make difference in plastic pollution and recycling.

Startup accelerator hubs aim to close the plastics loop

Green School International is a global education network that is committed to educating children about sustainability practices. The schools are located in&nbsp;New Zealand,&nbsp;South Africa, Bali and Mexico. Their curriculum educates for sustainability through community-integrated, entrepreneurial learning in a natural environment.

Creating a global community of sustainability learners

Almost 70% of greenhouse gas emissions produced in Mérida, Mexico, can be traced back to the transport sector. Unplanned urban expansion is a major cause; neighborhoods in the south of the city were not efficiently connected to the city center. Residents commuting from the city's southern side were forced to take multiple buses or spend up to an hour in the car to reach to the city center. The city embraced sustainable mobility planning as a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and better connect the city's disparate neighborhoods. The cornerstone of the strategy is the Circuito Sur, a 13.4 km road that connects the city center to the southern periphery. Following the construction of Circuito Sur, it became possible to reach the city center in 20 minutes by car, or in 25 minutes by bicycle. The new road includes public transit stops, along with bicycle lanes and improved sidewalks to faciliate non-motorized transit. Besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Circuito Sur is a step in the direction of intra-city equity and will improve quality of life for all urban residents.

Circuito Sur: A road to cutting greenhouse gases in Mérida, Mexico

The city of Rosario, Argentina, collaborated with NGOs to create its highly successful Urban Agriculture Program (UAP). Concerted efforts on the part of the municipality, including provision of funding, implementation of supportive policies, and forward-looking city planning, contributed to the program’s success. One major outcome of the project was the development of a strong local food economy in the city, which offered residents income opportunities and reduced food insecurity. In addition, the project helped revitalize polluted urban areas via regenerative agriculture techniques.

Urban agriculture in Rosario 

Volta Redonda, Brazil, launched the Eco-Oil program in partnership with the city government, civil society and private sector actors. The program collects used cooking oil waste to be reprocessed for reuse as biodiesel. Besides creating this valuable output, the program also helps prevent used cooking oil from entering the city's waterways and wastewater treatment system.

Volta Redonda's Eco-Oil Program turns cooking oil into biodiesel

"Sao Paulo (Brazil) launched the Composta Sao Paulo initiative to promote home-composting on a voluntary basis. The City handed kits for home composting with worms to 2,006 households, together with training workshops on how to compost."

Composta Sao Paulo initiative

The City of Curitiba is implementing a program called “Cambio Verde” (green exchange), in which organic waste that can be upcycled is exchanged for products grown by peri-urban and rural smallholders. It promotes selective sorting in schools, hospitals, and public institutions to set the example for everybody to follow.

Curitiba “Cambio Verde” 

NATU is a Brazilian brand that supports a sustainable movement that values ​​awareness from production to purchase and the fair price to make conscious fashion available to everyone. The brand's principles are: sustainable fashion available to everyone, zero waste, respect for the environment, for the workers and consumers. The slow fashion process also includes natural dyeing in its pieces, reuse of waste fabrics and organic cotton fabrics, local labor and zero waste. Every process of this brand is designed in a way that has the least impact on the environment, having two main raw materials: scrap fabrics (textile waste) and organic cotton from Brazilian cooperatives of small producers, in which cotton is grown without pesticides. In addition, the part is delivered to the consumer in a reusable fabric package, and the part label is made of seed paper.

NATU clothing brand focuses on social and environmental awareness through slow fashion commerce.

Article / Report

This paper presents the job creation potential for Brazil of implementing circular waste management strategies. Making use of job production factors, the author affirms the country could create 109,205 direct jobs if the goal of 30% recycling rate is reached. Moreover, in addition to the gross value in the number of jobs created, this article also detailed the number of these jobs by type of activity (collection, processing, and manufacturing) and by type of material. Finally, the author mentions there could be a further creation of indirect jobs equal to 40,891 jobs.

Analyzing the potential of job creation by taking the first step towards Circular Economy: case study of Brazil 

This paper presents the expected effect on job creation of implementing circular strategies for the waste management sector. Borrowing data from the international literature on labour production factors, the paper finds that Brazil could