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This 2021 industry brief by GreenCape outlines the market opportunity for circular economy solutions to manage wastewater sludge in the City of Cape Town (CCT). Driven by national and provincial landfill bans on liquid and organic wastes, the CCT is transitioning toward anaerobic digestion via Biosolids Beneficiation Facilities (BBFs) to produce treated digestate cake and recover energy and nutrients.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the intersection of circular economy solutions and international trade policies to support global decarbonization. It argues that transitioning from primary to secondary materials and extending product lifespans are essential for meeting Paris Agreement goals, as resource extraction and processing account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions. The authors advocate for the removal of trade barriers to circular goods and services and the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to establish standards for low-carbon circularity.

This report details the outcomes of the ENHANCE project (2017-2020), an Interreg Europe initiative designed to improve regional policy instruments that support the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) to increase resource efficiency and promote the circular economy. The project involved six partners across Europe who identified 24 good practices and implemented 31 actions, primarily focusing on regulatory reliefs and promotional incentives for EMAS-registered organizations.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the implementation of Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Tallinn, Estonia. It evaluates the current state of procurement within city agencies, identifies systemic barriers—such as lack of time and expertise—and compares Tallinn's approach with other Nordic and Dutch cities. The document concludes with a four-stage strategic roadmap to increase the prevalence of environmental criteria in city contracts.

This policy brief examines the global plastic pollution crisis, arguing that current waste-management strategies are insufficient because they focus on the waste stage rather than the production stage. The author discusses the limitations of recycling, the role of the petrochemical industry, and the potential for a new global treaty to address the lifecycle of plastics.

This report examines six proxy measures for a circular economy—material efficiency, waste recycling and reuse, industrial ecology, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green procurement—to analyze their potential for job creation and economic impact. The findings indicate that these measures generally offer positive net benefits in job creation and are more labour-intensive than fossil-fuel-related employment.

This research paper outlines strategies for Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to integrate into the global electrical vehicle-related minerals and metals (EVMM) value chain through regional collaboration, policy alignment, and a shift toward circular economy principles in mining waste management.

This literature review by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Sitra examines the relationship between the transition to a circular economy and its impact on global and regional employment, emphasizing the need for 'decent work' and just transition policies.

This joint report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra examines the role of services and international services trade in supporting circular economy business models, identifying key service types, trade modes, and regulatory barriers.

This fact sheet details a EUR 35 million green bond issued by Ijsbeer Energie Europa BV on September 7, 2020, to fund 'Project Ice Block'. The project aims to retrofit an existing combined heat and power (CHP) facility to increase its energy utilization from 25% to 90% through a circular economy approach.

This policy brief examines the implications of large-scale electric vehicle (EV) adoption for the mining sectors of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states. It argues that while the region possesses vast reserves of EV-related minerals and metals (EVMM), it primarily exports raw materials. The author advocates for regional cooperation, the establishment of a public-private EVMM working group and coalition, and the adoption of a circular economy approach to ensure a just mining transition and the development of local value chains.

This policy brief examines the potential for the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) to collaborate on a circular economy transition in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that the EU's goal to shorten global value chains for food and medical security, combined with Africa's need for sustainable economic growth and job creation, provides a mutually beneficial opportunity to implement green recovery strategies and achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

This fact sheet from the Climate Bonds Initiative details a USD 705 million green bond issued by Coca Cola FEMSA on September 1, 2020, with a maturity date of September 1, 2032.

This report presents the results of a country-wide sorting study conducted in Estonia between 2019 and 2020. It analyzes the composition and quantities of mixed municipal waste, separately collected paper and packaging waste, and Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of waste collection systems and provide a basis for future waste management planning.

This guide by the World Resources Institute outlines the necessity of transitioning from a linear "take-make-waste" economic model to a circular economy to mitigate the climate crisis and resource depletion. It proposes three primary strategies for this transition: reducing overall consumption, improving the quality and nature of consumption, and implementing systemic changes through design and policy.

This policy brief examines the impact of plastic pollution on Canada's freshwater systems, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of single-use plastics and personal protective equipment (PPE), thereby exacerbating the litter problem. It advocates for a transition from a linear to a circular economy and urges the Canadian government to implement a zero plastic waste strategy.

This report details a policy dialogue workshop organized by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in autumn 2019. The workshop focused on developing a vision for a sustainable bioeconomy in the Öresund region by 2050, using the Foodhills platform in Bjuv, Sweden, as a concrete example of circular food production systems.

GreenCape issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on June 19, 2020, to appoint a Product Development Organisation (PDO) to support the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP). The project aims to develop viable products or value chains from unwanted manufacturing materials in the Atlantis Industrial Area to improve resource efficiency and reduce landfill waste.

This policy brief argues for the institutionalisation of futures literacy, foresight, and anticipatory governance within the African mining sector to empower the implementation of the African Mining Vision (AMV). It proposes that the African Mineral Development Centre (AMDC) lead this effort by establishing a dedicated working group, creating a competency framework, and fostering partnerships to build adaptive capacities against global disruptors like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report proposes a new global Convention on Plastic Pollution to address the full lifecycle of plastics, from production and design to waste management. It argues that existing international instruments are fragmented and insufficient to tackle the transboundary crisis of plastic pollution, which causes an estimated $13 billion in annual environmental damage to marine ecosystems.