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This executive summary, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in May 2022, evaluates the progress made 50 years after the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment. It argues that while knowledge and goals have increased, an 'action gap' persists, with only about one-tenth of global environmental targets achieved. The document proposes three systemic shifts—redefining the human-nature relationship, ensuring lasting prosperity for all, and investing in a sustainable future—alongside improvements in global governance to unlock transformative change.

This policy brief examines how Aid for Trade (AfT) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be leveraged to help developing and least developed countries transition to sustainable trade and circular economies to combat plastic pollution. It highlights a significant mismatch between the limited funding for plastic pollution mitigation and the massive financial flows supporting the petrochemical sector, while proposing specific short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members through the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP).

This policy brief examines the role of the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Harmonized System (HS) in tracking international trade across the life cycle of plastics. It argues that current HS classifications lack the granularity needed for evidence-based policymaking to tackle plastic pollution and proposes specific amendments for the 2022–2027 cycle to improve transparency in trade flows of feedstocks, primary plastics, manufactured products, and waste.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the decline of Kenya's coffee sector and proposes the integration of 17 Sustainable Consumption and Production Practices (SCPs) across the value chain to improve resource efficiency, worker welfare, and environmental sustainability.

This scoping study examines the plastic waste management and recycling value chain in Mombasa, Kenya. It identifies the stakeholders, institutional governance structures, and the policy and regulatory frameworks governing the sector. The report highlights the potential for a circular economy to create jobs and reduce environmental pollution, while detailing the significant socio-economic, financial, and regulatory barriers that currently limit the efficiency of plastic recovery and recycling in the region.

This policy brief provides a governance-focused overview of how the World Trade Organization (WTO) addresses the intersection of trade, environment, and sustainable development. It details the various institutional bodies, negotiating processes, and recent member-led initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable trade.

This report examines the role of lithium-ion battery reuse and recycling in supporting India's energy transition, specifically focusing on how a circular economy can meet storage demands and reduce reliance on imported precious metals.

This report evaluates the sustainability, user preferences, agricultural demand for reused products, and governance capacity of sanitation systems in Montero, Bolivia. It examines a mix of centralized sewer-based systems and decentralized in situ options, concluding that while technical optimizations can improve environmental and health outcomes, long-term sustainability requires stronger governance, policy instruments, and increased public awareness.

This report evaluates the integration of sewered and non-sewered sanitation systems in Montero, Bolivia, focusing on sustainability, user preferences, agricultural reuse of waste, and governance capacity. It highlights the role of the cooperative utility COSMOL in managing mixed systems and identifies technical and policy gaps that hinder the scaling of sustainable on-site sanitation.

This case study describes a circular economy synergy facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) between Tradewinds, a parasol manufacturer, and Mors Design, an upcycling initiative. The partnership diverts textile offcuts from landfills to be used as raw materials for boutique handbags.

This research paper presents preliminary findings from a social impact assessment in Umeå, Sweden, examining how stakeholders perceive the transition to a circular economy (CE). The authors argue that current circular city strategies are overly technocentric and neglect social dimensions, recommending a broader approach that considers job quality, accessibility, and personal and property rights to ensure a socially inclusive transition.

This report by WWF South Africa presents the economic rationale for transitioning from a linear 'take-make-waste' plastic packaging model to a circular plastics economy by 2050 in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa. Using computational general equilibrium (CGE) modelling, the study demonstrates that such a transition would lead to positive cumulative effects on GDP, employment, and consumer welfare across all three nations while significantly reducing the costs of environmental externalities.

This report by WWF South Africa reviews Phase 2 (2016–2021) of its transformational partnership with the retailer Woolworths. The collaboration focuses on integrating sustainability into Woolworths' business operations and supply chains, specifically targeting water stewardship, sustainable agriculture, seafood sourcing, food waste reduction, and low-carbon pathways. The report details the environmental and social impacts achieved through collective action, such as alien vegetation clearing in water source areas and the transition of smallholder farmers to sustainable cotton production.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the role of the informal waste sector in African cities, advocating for an "inclusive circular economy" that integrates reclaimers into formal waste management systems. It analyzes the operational status, socio-economic challenges, and policy landscapes of reclaimers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, arguing that their inclusion is essential for sustainable urban waste management and poverty alleviation.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law and the Environmental Investigation Agency provides a textual comparison of two draft resolutions on plastic pollution submitted for UNEA 5.2: one led by Rwanda and Peru (RP) and one led by Japan (JP). The document analyzes convergences and divergences in mandate, scope, and institutional structure to support the potential merging of the resolutions.

This briefing summarizes a panel discussion on the climate and environmental justice impacts of plastic production, highlighting the role of the petrochemical industry in greenhouse gas emissions and the necessity of policy shifts toward reuse and extended producer responsibility.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) summarizes a panel discussion on reducing upstream greenhouse gas emissions from the production of building materials, plastics, and food, with a primary focus on the built environment and the transition toward a circular economy.

This case study describes the 'Closing the Loop on Textile Waste in Kenya' partnership, a multistakeholder initiative that uses chemical recycling technology to transform post-production textile waste into high-quality raw materials for new clothing. The project aims to address the environmental impact of Kenya's growing garment industry while providing employment for local women.

This research paper explores the intersection of trade policy and the transition to a low-carbon circular economy, arguing that circular solutions are indispensable for achieving global decarbonization goals. The authors advocate for government incentives to prioritize secondary materials over primary resources, the scaling of business models focused on product longevity and reuse, and the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to eliminate barriers to circular goods and services.

This report analyzes the generation and management of bio-waste (kitchen, canteen, garden, and green waste) and textile waste in Tallinn. It evaluates current collection systems, provides forecasts through 2026, and proposes measures to increase recycling rates to meet EU and national targets.