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This case study describes a circular economy initiative facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) involving Siyavana Solutions and the Shell Petroleum Company to upcycle decommissioned fuel pumps in South Africa.

An open letter from the World Resources Institute to CEOs warning that current business models relying on increased consumption are unsustainable given natural resource limits and the rapid growth of the global middle class.

A speech delivered by IISD President and CEO Scott Vaughan at the World Circular Economy Forum 2017 in Helsinki, discussing the need for macroeconomic indicators beyond GDP to properly value the circular economy, the potential for job growth, and the necessity of reforming fiscal incentives.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes the 'Hållbara Hökarängen' (Sustainable Hökarängen) project, an action-research initiative conducted between 2012 and 2015 in a Stockholm district. The project aimed to develop and test methods for collaboration between residents, property owners, and local actors to reduce energy and resource use. The findings emphasize that engagement is highest when activities are linked to areas where residents have direct influence and personal interest, such as urban gardening and communal cooking, rather than technical energy issues in rental housing.

The 2015 GreenCape Market Intelligence Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the waste economy in South Africa, with a specific focus on the Western Cape. It examines the market for dry recyclables, organic waste, construction and demolition waste, and waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies, while detailing the regulatory barriers and investment opportunities within the sector.

This fact sheet describes the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP) Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education (SLE). The programme aims to foster the uptake of sustainable lifestyles as a common norm to address global challenges such as climate change, resource efficiency, and biodiversity conservation through multi-stakeholder cooperation and education.

This executive summary details the first year of a GreenCape project (2013-2014) aimed at analyzing water consumption and economic productivity in the Western Cape to identify constraints on economic growth. The project shifted from its initial deliverables to develop a conceptual model and a 'framing question' to determine the optimal water sources, quality, and pricing for specific developments, with a particular focus on Saldanha Bay and the Berg Water Management Area.

This 2014 report by SEI Tallinn, funded by the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, provides the first detailed analysis of food waste and food loss in Estonian households and catering institutions. The study identifies households as the largest contributors to food waste and highlights significant potential for reduction in both domestic and professional food service settings.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes the application of a water-energy-food nexus framework in Ningxia, China. It examines the interdependencies and potential conflicts between the province's development targets and its natural resource constraints, specifically regarding water scarcity, land-use changes, and a heavy reliance on coal for energy production.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores how public procurement can transition from buying discrete products to procuring functions and services through performance-based specifications. It argues that this shift can drive resource efficiency, stimulate private sector innovation, and reduce costs, provided the business models are aligned with the environmental impacts of the specific product categories.

This executive summary details an impact analysis of environmental fees in Estonia from 2000 to 2011, conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Tallinn and the University of Tartu's RAKE center. The study evaluates how these fees—specifically resource use fees and pollution charges—affect corporate behavior, competitiveness, and the overall efficiency of resource use and pollution reduction in Estonia.

This report analyzes market trends and policy drivers within the international copper supply chain, specifically focusing on China's imports of copper scrap (Flow C) and primary copper mining products (Flow D). It examines the environmental and social impacts of these flows, the regulatory landscapes in key exporting and importing regions, and provides policy recommendations to improve sustainable development outcomes.

This case study examines the construction of the Autodesk AEC Solutions Division Headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, as a demonstration of how Building Information Modeling (BIM) combined with Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) can create radical process efficiencies. By aligning the financial incentives of the owner, designer, and builder, the project achieved its goals under budget and on time, while securing LEED-CI Platinum certification.

This research paper outlines the principle of integrative design, which applies engineering principles to optimize whole systems for multiple benefits rather than focusing on individual components. The author argues that this approach can lead to energy and resource efficiency gains that are significantly larger and more cost-effective than conventional methods, potentially resulting in expanding returns on investment.

This report analyzes the environmental and social impacts of China's role as a leading producer, importer, and exporter in the global cotton and textile supply chain. It examines the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental degradation, proposing a transition toward sustainable production practices and a strategic shift in sourcing toward rain-fed regions in Africa to reduce global environmental pressure.

In a 2019 commencement speech at Olin College of Engineering, Amory Lovins outlines the concept of "applied hope," which RMI uses as a framework for creating tangible, scalable solutions to global crises. Lovins distinguishes applied hope from passive optimism, arguing that the most effective way to improve the future is through practical action, integrative design, and resource efficiency to transition away from fossil fuels and environmental degradation.

This 2006 report, prepared for the World Bank, provides a framework for establishing a Circular Economy (CE) indicator system in China. It advocates for the use of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to monitor resource efficiency and decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressure, drawing on experiences from the European Union, the United States, and Japan.

This report documents the recommendations and proceedings of the 'Design for Health: Summit for Massachusetts Health Care Decision Makers,' held on September 28–29, 2004. Organized by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), the summit aimed to promote the adoption of sustainable, high-performance design in healthcare facilities to improve patient outcomes, staff performance, environmental health, and financial security.

This report, prepared by the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre for the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, examines the results of Ecological Tax Reforms (ETR) in selected European Union countries, specifically Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. It analyzes how shifting the tax burden from labour to consumption and resource use can simultaneously improve environmental quality, reduce unemployment, and increase economic competitiveness. The document provides detailed case studies of these four nations and offers specific policy recommendations for implementing a similar green tax reform in Estonia.

This guide introduces the concept of 'green building' as a holistic, integrated approach to design and construction aimed at reducing resource consumption and enhancing quality of life. It emphasizes that resource efficiency is achieved through early interdisciplinary collaboration and the optimization of interlinked systems rather than the piecemeal addition of environmental components.