COP29: Why a Circular Economy?

Optimizing circulation for the greatest benefits

In contrast with the ‘make, use, dispose’ approach of a traditional linear economy, a circular economy aims to eliminate waste by reusing, reducing, recycling, redesigning, sharing and repairing resources. It keeps products in circulation as much as possible by reducing material consumption, streamlining processes and collecting waste for reuse. This aims to reduce raw material use and production-related emissions.

A circular economy uses products or services to their fullest. When a product’s life cycle is over, its materials must be repurposed for the production phase.

What are the benefits of a circular economy?

Organizations involved in circularity will help:

Protect the environment:

• Reusing and recycling products slows the use of natural resources, reduces landscape and habitat disruption and biodiversity loss
• Decrease annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Reduce the amount of waste and pollution to protect human health and biodiversity

Reduce raw material dependency:

• Make better use of finite resources to conserve nature
• Recycling raw materials mitigates supply chain usage and the risks associated with supply, such as price volatility and availability
• Decrease the need for critical raw materials like batteries and electric engines, which are crucial to achieving climate goals

Create jobs and save consumers money:

• A circular economy could stimulate USD 4.5 trillion in economic opportunities
• Moving toward a circular economy could increase competitiveness
• According to the EU, this could create 700,000 jobs in the EU alone by 2030
• Redesigning materials and products for circular use would boost innovation across numerous sectors
• More durable and innovative products would increase consumers’ quality of life and save them money

Partner to propel your circularity mission

With over 30 years of sustainability leadership, we are at the forefront of best practices, including circularity. Our vast array of circularity services include:

Design, reuse, recycle:

• Life cycle assessment (LCA) study and environmental product declaration
• Recyclability:
• Product and material assessments
• Plastic packaging testing and claims support
• GRS/RCS recycled content certifications


• ISCC PLUS certification
• RSB Global Advanced Products Certification

Plastic pollution:

• Prevent plastic pellets – Operation Clean Sweep® certification

Visit our circularity services page or contact us to benefit from a circular economy.