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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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This collection is being created to regroup all case studies related to the packaging industry (CAT purpose)

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Packaging collection

Business case

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

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

Alternative bio-based 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

Designing products that can easily breakdown and degrade in the environment

Design for bio-degradability

Putting in place purchasing guidelines for procurement departments and evaluating suppliers on circular economy principles

Circular procurement

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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In 2001, Stella McCartney launched her eponymous luxury fashion house and showed her first collection in Paris that October. A lifelong vegetarian, she has never used leather, feathers, skin or fur in any of her designs since day one – a revolutionary stance, then and now. Since those first seeds were planted, the brand has continued to grow its sustainability thought leadership through material and supply chain innovation, partnerships and more.



Stella McCartney

At TIPA®, we create packaging that behaves just like organic waste, so nature won’t even notice we’re here.

TIPA Compostable Packaging 

Stella turned to TIPA® for their breakthrough&nbsp;fully-compostable flexible packaging&nbsp;solutions to replace conventional plastic packaging in her supply chain, and for opportunities to innovate with the compostable plastic material.

Stella McCartney & TIPA - compostable logistics packaging

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This collection features case studies selected as part of the Circularity Gap Report Textiles research.

This first-of-its-kind [**Circularity Gap Report Textiles**](https://www.circularity-gap.world/textiles)—the pioneering global Circularity Gap Report for an industry—examines how materials flow throughout the entire textile value chain, from design to post-consumer management. It explores how materials are extracted, transformed and managed at their end-of-life—from cotton farming and petrochemical production to spinning, weaving and dyeing to product assembly and distribution—and delves into the resource and energy inputs of each stage. This report focuses on the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (TLCF) industries, including those used for home furnishings and upholstery, but excludes technical textiles, such as those used by the medical and automotive industries. The findings emphasise the industry’s resource-intensive practices, its contribution to the overshoot of several planetary boundaries, and the necessary systemic changes required to transition to a more sustainable and circular model.

[**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**](https://www.circularity-gap.world/)*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. 

To learn more, read the latest [**Circularity Gap Report Textiles**](https://www.circularity-gap.world/textiles).

Circularity Gap Report Textiles

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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

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

Innovation

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

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

Regenerative materials

**Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns**

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The world is seriously off track in its effort to halve per-capita food waste and losses by 2030.The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on consumption and production patterns, with disruptions to global supply chains and changes in consumer behaviour. 

Responsible consumption and production must be an integral part of the recovery from the pandemic. 
But the global economy also needs to speed up the decoupling of economic growth from resource use by maximizing the socio-economic benefits of resources while minimizing their negative impacts. 

Reporting on corporate sustainability has tripled since the beginning of the SDG period, but the private sector will need to significantly improve reporting on activities that contribute to the SDGs. 

This primarily entails environmentally sound management of "toxic chemicals" A substantial use of chemicals is essential to meet the social and economic goals of the world community, and these can be used with a high degree of safety when best practices are followed.  Gross chemical contamination, with grave damage to human health, genetic structures reproductive outcomes, and the environment, has been continuing within some of the world's most important industrial areas, and restoration will require major investment as well as the development of new techniques.
Effective control of the generation, storage, treatment, recycling and reuse, transport, recovery and disposal of hazardous wastes is another similar challenge. 
In addition,  solid wastes include all domestic refuse and non-hazardous wastes such as commercial and institutional wastes, street sweepings construction debris, and, in some countries, human wastes. As hazardous waste is frequently intermixed with other waste, this poses particular management challenges.
Finally, this target ensures that radioactive waste is safely managed, transported, stored and disposed of, with a view to protecting human health and the environment. 

To deliver SDG12, it is crucial to implement policies that support the shift to sustainable practices and decouple economic growth from resource use.

Sources: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12](https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12)
[https://sdgs.un.org/topics/chemicals-and-waste](https://sdgs.un.org/topics/chemicals-and-waste)

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12. Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

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

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**These 17 Goals recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.**

The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, and especially on the Millennium Declaration adopted in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York which let to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.

In 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed. A major blueprint came out of this: The Sustainable Development Goals: 17 overarching goals—and 169 targets—that governments are aiming to meet by 2030. Significant progress has been made in terms of poverty, health and inequality, but there's still a way to go. This is where the circular economy comes in: by circulating resources multiple times, the circular economy tackles issues of scarcity and allows all to access what they need—without overburdening the earth. If it's implemented in a holistic way—affording attention to social considerations and the fair distribution of resources— it also offers a pathway for achieving the SDGs; and the link between the two is ever-growing. To read more about the link between the SDGs and the circular economy, click [here](https://www.circle-economy.com/blogs/how-the-circular-economy-can-help-us-reach-the-sustainable-development-goals).

It is the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) which provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues. TheDSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and in advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.
Alongside this, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.
In addition, the UN Secretary-General presents an annual SDG Progress report, which is developed in cooperation with the UN System, and based on the global indicator framework and data produced by national statistical systems and information collected at the regional level.

To read more information: [https://sdgs.un.org/goals](https://sdgs.un.org/goals)

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Stella McCartney offers a range of solutions by collaborating with startups to create alternative eco-friendly materials, enhancing supply chain transparency through blockchain, and promoting garment longevity.

Designer ready-to-wear: Stella McCartney boosts circularity with innovative materials

Use digital, online platforms and technologies that provide insights to track and optimise resource use, strengthen connections between supply chain actors, and enable the implementation of circular models



Incorporate digital technology

Employ technologies to gather and analyse data to provide insights on resource use

Data and insights

Employing artificial algorithms and robotics to identify, enable and/or implement circular strategies (eg. effective resource use & logistics planning, circular business models & design)

Advanced robotics, artificial intelligence

            We study silk proteins spun by spiders to determine what gives them their incredible properties.      We develop proteins inspired by these natural silks by using bioengineering to put genes into yeast.      We produce the protein in large quantities through fermentation, using yeast, sugar, and water.      We isolate and purify the silk protein, then spin it into fibers, similar to those like rayon and acrylic.      We knit these fibers into fabrics and garments.           Our very first collaboration with designer Stella McCartney, a shift dress made with Microsilk fabric, was unveiled at the New York MoMA in October 2017.         Our very first collaboration with designer Stella McCartney, a shift dress made with Microsilk fabric, was unveiled at the New York MoMA in October 2017.          We teamed up with Best Made Co. to develop a limited edition iconic knit hat made from a blend of rambouillet wool and Microsilk fiber.         We teamed up with Best Made Co. to develop a limited edition iconic knit hat made from a blend of rambouillet wool and Microsilk fiber.          In March 2017, we launched the very first commercially available product made of spider silk. All 50 limited-edition neckties sold out within minutes.         In March 2017, we launched the very first commercially available product made of spider silk. All 50 limited-edition neckties sold out within minutes.          In July 2019, Stella McCartney and adidas unveiled the Biofabric Tennis Dress, created with a Microsilk and cellulose blend fiber and designed to be fully biodegradable.         In July 2019, Stella McCartney and adidas unveiled the Biofabric Tennis Dress, created with a Microsilk and cellulose blend fiber and designed to be fully biodegradable.           How are spiders involved in your process?   No spiders are harmed in the making of Microsilk fiber! In fact, there are no spiders involved in the process. We originally studied real spider silk to understand the relationship between the spider DNA and the characteristics of the fibers they make. Today’s technology allows us to make those proteins without using spiders, which is a big relief to the arachnophobes among our team.       Why does the world need a new textile material?   Two reasons: performance and sustainability. We believe that it is possible to get much better performance from textiles and garments. We can imagine textiles that are both softer and longer lasting. We’re also motivated by the fact that the textile industry is among the dirtiest industries on the planet. Many of our team members have been in this industry for a long time and we’re driven to produce fabrics that can meet consumers’ needs while minimizing impacts on the environment.       How will your technology be less impactful on the environment?   At Bolt Threads, we believe that living in an increasingly resource-constrained world means we have a responsibility to find more sustainable ways of creating materials. Microsilk is protein-based and therefore has the potential to biodegrade, unlike polyester and other synthetic fibers that are contributing to microfiber pollution.       You say this is renewable. How?   The main input in our fiber-making process is sugar from plants that are grown, harvested, and replanted. Compare this renewable process to polyesters, which are made from petroleum derivatives. Currently, more than 60% of textiles are made of polyester and other non-renewable, petroleum-derived fibers.       Do your materials contain GMOs?   No. Our Microsilk fibers do not contain any genetically modified organisms. The process we use to make our fibers does utilize genetically modified yeast. After fermentation is complete, the silk protein is purified from the yeast, and the remaining yeast cells are destroyed by heat via the same methods used to pasteurize milk. There are no GMO yeast present in the final material. The sugar we use as feedstock is made from corn, and 88% of all corn produced in the US is genetically modified. The technology we’re using is not new; in fact, genetically engineered organisms have been fermented to make recombinant products, insulin, and vaccines for decades, safely.     
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The cycle starts with used cotton-rich textiles and production waste, which we work with textile recyclers, brands and retailers to source. The textile waste is then shredded, liquified, purified, and transformed into Nucycl® lyocell fiber, which looks and performs the same as, if not better than, virgin fiber. This ‘new’ regenerative fiber can be recycled again and again to make new products over and over.

                                                                      Two adidas by Stella McCartney proof-of-concepts unveiled – a 100% recyclable hoodie and a tennis dress created with Microsilk™ and cellulose blended yarn Prototypes are the latest step in adidas’ longstanding commitment to reducing the industry’s environmental impact, going beyond the promise of repurposed plastics to the possibility of biodegradable Concepts made in collaboration with Evrnu and Bolt Threads - both partnerships resulting from adidas’ open approach to co-creating the future of sport     Today adidas makes strides in the continued drive to solve the problem of product waste with the introduction of two new apparel innovations within adidas by Stella McCartney – the first 100% recyclable hoodie created from garment waste with NuCycl™ fiber by Evrnu and a tennis dress created with Microsilk™ and cellulose blended yarn.With the world producing an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste every year1, adidas by Stella McCartney and partners are helping turn this problem into a more sustainable design solution. The new eco-conscious products were developed as part of adidas’ open source approach to creation in collaboration with, Evrnu and Bolt Threads:adidas by Stella McCartney Infinite Hoodie was created with advanced textile innovations company Evrnu. The performance garment signals a move towards a reality where products can be completely recycled and repurposed. Using NuCycl™ by Evrnu technology, the Infinite Hoodie is made from 60% NuCycl™ and 40% organic cotton that has been diverted from landfills and can be reused again and again to be remade into high-performance product.adidas by Stella McCartney Biofabric Tennis Dress is a prototype concept incubated in partnership with Bolt Threads, a company that specialises in bioengineered sustainable materials and fibres. The tennis dress is the first of its kind, made with cellulose blended yarn and Microsilk™, a protein-based material that is made with renewable ingredients, like water, sugar, and yeast and has the ability to fully biodegrade at the end of its life.The inspiration behind the products is simple, create product that not only performs for the athlete, but also for the world at large. To realise this ambition, adidas is exploring ways to minimise waste via three focus areas:Made with Repurposed Plastic targets one of the biggest challenges facing the brand today – reducing the dependency on virgin use plastics and CO2 emissions associated with production. The first solution to this problem was seen in 2015 with the launch of the first adidas x Parley prototype shoe, created from upcycled marine plastic waste and illegal deep-sea gillnets. In the four years since, adidas has built a supply chain for scale and will make 11 million pairs of shoes using Parley Ocean Plastic by the end of 2019, with the goal to use only recycled polyester in products by 2024.Made to be Remade is the next step, creating a completely circular loop where products won’t end up on beaches or landfills in the first place. Through closed systems, raw materials can be broken down and remade into high performance sportswear, as seen earlier this year with the launch of FUTURECRAFT.LOOP, a recyclable performance running shoe that can be returned and repurposed into another shoe, and today with the reveal of the adidas by Stella McCartney Infinite Hoodie.Made to Biodegrade is the future-gazing ambition to create a bionic loop where products have the capability of being completely biodegradable and return to the natural ecosystem. Using materials developed from natural resources or made from cells and proteins in a lab, as seen with the adidas by Stella McCartney Biofabric Tennis Dress concept, adidas has demonstrated the possibility to create products using materials that are made with nature, and is a step in the brand’s journey to explore innovative solutions that can, at some point, also return to nature.  James Carnes, Vice President of Strategy Creation at adidas, said:“Creating products with upcycled plastic waste was our first step. The next challenge is to end the concept of waste entirely. Focusing on three core areas, we will explore ways to create products that can either be fully recyclable or biodegradable.  We don’t have all the answers and we know we can’t do it alone. By collaborating with partners who share our same vision, as we’ve done with Evrnu and Bolt Threads, we can combine adidas’ sports industry expertise with specialist knowledge to bring about a waste-free world.”“Fashion is one of the most harmful industries to the environment. We can’t wait any longer to search for answers and alternatives. By creating a truly open approach to solving the problem of textile waste, we can help empower the industry at large to bring more sustainable practices into reality. With adidas by Stella McCartney we’re creating high performance products that also safeguard the future of the planet.”The unveiling of the Infinite Hoodie and Biofabric Tennis Dress coincide with the launch of the adidas by Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2019 collection which features innovative fabrics, created in more sustainable ways without compromising performance of style.             Message Sent 

United Kingdom

Adidas AG is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the world, after Nike.

Adidas

Evrnu®

Stella McCartney is an example of a brand that is leading efforts to reduce textile waste, minimise water and energy usage, and promote circular fashion through innovative fabric technologies. The solutions involve using recycled materials, such as garment waste, that reduce reliance on non-renewable resources and offer recyclability or biodegradability.