THEME OF THE FORTNIGHT
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
REPORTS
Reference Guide: Business Models and Economic Assistance for Municipal Solid Waste Projects
Author(s): Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Publication Details: February 2025
The report provides a comprehensive overview of viable business models and financial assistance mechanisms for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) projects in India. Aimed at urban local bodies (ULBs), policymakers, and private sector stakeholders, the guide outlines practical approaches to enhance the financial sustainability and operational efficiency of solid waste management systems. The report emphasises the need for a structured and strategic approach to attract private investment, improve service delivery, and ensure the long-term viability of MSW projects. The guide details sources of economic assistance available at national and multilateral levels, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, Urban Infrastructure Development Schemes, and support from international development agencies. It also discusses risk mitigation strategies, viability gap funding (VGF), user fee structuring, and performance-based incentives to make projects bankable and attractive to investors. The guide serves as a practical toolkit for designing and implementing sustainable MSW projects.
Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain - A Global Roadmap
Author(s): United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Publication Details: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2023
The report provides a strategic framework for transforming the textile industry towards sustainability and circularity. Recognising the sector's significant role in global industrialisation and its environmental impact, the roadmap outlines three interconnected priorities:
Shifting Consumption Patterns: Encouraging consumers to adopt sustainable purchasing behaviours and reducing the demand for fast fashion.
Improved Practices: Implementing sustainable production methods, minimising waste, and adopting eco-friendly materials throughout the supply chain.
Infrastructure Investment: Developing and enhancing facilities for recycling, waste management, and sustainable manufacturing processes.
To operationalise these priorities, the report introduces nine building blocks, each tailored with specific actions for various stakeholders, including policymakers, manufacturers, brands, retailers, financial institutions, and consumers. These building blocks serve as actionable steps to foster collaboration and drive systemic change within the industry.
Circular Economy: From Indicators and Data to Policy-making
Author(s): United Nations Environment Programme
Publication Details: United Nations Environment Programme, 2024
The report outlines a strategic framework for integrating indicators and data systems into policy-making processes that support the global transition to a circular economy. It emphasises the critical role of reliable, harmonised, and accessible data to assess and guide circularity at national, regional, and global levels. The document builds upon UNEP's Guidelines for Measuring Circular Economy, offering a structured approach for mapping circular economy indicators and their availability across different countries.
By focusing on a core set of indicators — material footprint, recycling rates, secondary raw material use, and product life cycle metrics—the report aims to align data collection with practical policy applications. These indicators are intended to help government’s design more targeted and effective circular economy policies, track progress, and identify gaps in implementation. Several case studies from countries,applying circular economy metrics are presented, showcasing how data-driven policy has supported waste reduction, resource efficiency, and innovation. The report also highlights challenges such as inconsistent data quality, lack of institutional coordination, and the need for technical capacity-building. The report advocates for stronger international collaboration and data harmonisation to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, circular future.
The Circularity Gap Report 2024
Author(s): Matthew Fraser, Álvaro Conde, Laxmi Haigh
Publication Details: Circle Economy Foundation, 2024
The report reveals that global circularity has declined to just 7.2%, down from 9.1% in 2018. Despite circular economy (CE) becoming a popular discourse, material consumption continues to soar, over 580 billion tonnes consumed in just six years. The report calls for urgent systems change by shifting from theory to action, with 12 practical circular solutions mapped across food, built environment, and manufactured goods. It categorises countries as Shift, Grow, and Build, proposing tailored CE strategies for each. The report places people at the centre of the transition, emphasising skills development and equitable circular employment. Key recommendations include aligning fiscal policy with sustainability, reforming trade frameworks, and redesigning taxation systems to incentivise circular behaviour. The report calls for radical collaboration, and policy shifts are essential to live within planetary boundaries.
Read More: https://reports.circularity-gap.world/cgr-global-2024-37b5f198/CGR+Global+2024+-+Report.pdf
RESEARCH PAPERS
Product Eco-Design in the Era of the Circular Economy
Author(s): Claudio Favi, Marco Marconi
Publication Details: Sustainability, 2025
The article explores how eco-design is being transformed by the circular economy (CE) principles, emphasising the need to move from linear production models toward more sustainable, regenerative systems. With the global economy consuming vast material resources and only a small fraction being recycled, urgent action is required to redesign products for improved environmental performance. Key drivers of this shift include stricter environmental policies and growing consumer awareness, particularly in regions like Northern Europe and Japan. Eco-design is positioned as a central solution, requiring products to be conceived with recyclability, modularity, and durability in mind. The integration of life cycle thinking early in the design process is depicted as essential, allowing for better control over environmental impacts and enabling closed-loop strategies like reuse, remanufacturing, and material recovery. Through diverse case studies and reviews, the article demonstrates the application of CE in sectors such as food packaging, electronics, healthcare, and shipbuilding. Several methodologies and tools are presented, including life cycle assessment (LCA), circularity indicators, and knowledge-based systems. The importance of education and company-wide knowledge sharing is stressed, along with the need for user-friendly design tools and interdisciplinary collaboration. Ultimately, the article argues for systemic changes that support circularity across industries, driven by innovation, policy, and design integration.
Read More: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/1/213
Sustainable Waste Management for Carbon-Neutral and Circular Economy in Japan
Author(s): Jeongsoo Yu, Xiaoyue Liu, Tadao Tanabe, Gaku Manago, Shiori Osanai
Publication Details: The Energy Transition in Japan, Routledge, 2025
In response to global efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions and promote efficient resource recycling aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this chapter highlights the need to reform integrated waste management by reducing reliance on incineration and increasing recycling rates. Japan’s recycling policy centres on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), encouraging shared responsibility among industries, governments, citizens, and organisations. However, local governments in Japan face a heavy financial and operational burden, which hampers progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving sustainable recycling. The chapter reviews the historical development and current challenges of Japan's waste management system, particularly in recycling and energy recovery. It also presents case studies on innovative plastic recycling technologies, strategies to improve collaborative recycling behaviour, and public engagement through education. These examples offer insights into creating a sustainable, cross-sectoral recycling network. The chapter concludes with policy recommendations for building smart cities grounded in carbon neutrality and circular economy principles.
Circular Economy in a Recently Transitioned High-income Country in Latin America and the Caribbean: Barriers, Drivers, Strengths, Opportunities, Key Stakeholders and Priorities in Chile
Author(s): Alejandro Gallego-Schmid, Leonardo Vásquez-Ibarra, Ana Belén Guerrero, Claudia E. Henninger, Ricardo Rebolledo-Leiva
Publication Details: Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 486, 2025
This study examines Chile’s progress toward a circular economy (CE) following its transition to a high-income country. Using data from 22 semi-structured interviews, the research identifies key barriers, drivers, opportunities, and stakeholders involved in the CE landscape. Major challenges include cultural resistance, low public awareness, inadequate training, consumerism, weak regulatory enforcement, and limited technology infrastructure, especially in non-urban areas. The economy’s dependence on resource extraction and insufficient funding from both the public and private sectors further hinders progress. Despite these obstacles, Chile has made progress, supported by a robust regulatory framework, alignment with global sustainability goals, and increasing environmental awareness among younger generations. Enablers such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, local knowledge systems, and grassroots entrepreneurship have helped advance CE practices at the community level. Key sectors identified for CE integration include mining, agriculture, and tourism. The study highlights the need for stronger collaboration among the government, institutions, and businesses. It also emphasises the importance of education reform and workforce development to build capacity and sustain long-term CE initiatives.
Read More: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652624038782
Measuring Progress Toward A Circular Economy of the ASEAN Community
Author(s): Nargessadat Emami, Alessio Miatto, Shabbir Gheewala, Natthanij Soonsawad, Thi Cuc Nguyen, Anthony SF Chiu, Ivan Henderson Gue, Marianne Faith Martinico-Perez, Xaysackda Vilaysouk, Heinz Schandl
Publication Details: Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2025
The study evaluates the ASEAN region's advancement towards a circular economy using an economy-wide material flow analysis (EW-MFA). This method quantifies material use, waste generation, emissions, and resource efficiency across ASEAN member states. The findings reveal that while the region has experienced significant economic growth, it has also seen a substantial increase in material consumption and waste generation. The study highlights disparities among member states in terms of resource efficiency and circularity performance. It emphasises the need for coordinated policies, improved data collection, and regional collaboration to enhance circular economy practices. The research provides a foundational framework for policymakers to monitor progress and implement strategies aimed at sustainable development within the ASEAN community.
Read More: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.13597
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