New set of universal circular economy goals published

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has published a set of Universal circular economy policy goals to help speed the transition to a circular economy.

As governments and businesses pursue a resilient recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, the circular economy policy goals detailed in the paper can offer solutions to key global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, whilst delivering economic development.

The Foundation worked with an extensive group of representatives from across its global network of businesses and policymakers to create the five goals.

Work by the Foundation has shown that moving to a circular economy – in which waste is eliminated, products and materials are kept in use, and natural systems are regenerated – can play a pivotal role in tackling climate change, while delivering new opportunities for better growth.

However, for this to happen, there is a need for greater alignment between industry and government, and the Foundation therefore calls on businesses and policymakers at all levels to work together and align with these five goals as the basis for a society-wide transition to a circular economy.

Global adoption could catalyse private sector innovation and the development of solutions that can be deployed and scaled rapidly around the world.

Jocelyn Blériot, executive lead institutions, governments, and cities at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation said: ‘We have seen rapidly growing recognition around the world that the circular economy is critical to meeting the SDGs, tackling climate change, and delivering better growth. To seize those opportunities and reach scale quickly, it is now crucial to foster far greater policy alignment. The universal circular economy policy goals have been created to support that alignment, setting a clear direction that can help governments as well as the private sector build healthier economic recoveries.’

Steven N. Schonberger, director for sustainable development Europe and Central Asia Region, the World Bank, added: ‘The new policy goals publication from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation provides exactly what is needed by governments to take the circular economy from concept to practice. I have already found these goals extremely useful in discussions with a range of countries and stakeholders who want to put the circular economy at the centre of their Covid recovery and longer term sustainability agenda.’

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