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This 1998 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute presents two contrasting future scenarios for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) up to the year 2030: a Conventional Development Scenario (CDS) and a Sustainability Vision. The report argues that a 'business-as-usual' approach will lead to increased environmental pressure and persistent socio-economic disparities, whereas a transition to sustainability requires proactive policy interventions, technological decoupling of growth from resource use, and a shift in human values.

This case study examines IKEA's integration of environmental sustainability into its global business model, specifically focusing on its partnership with The Natural Step (TNS) and the implementation of these principles within its North American operations during the 1990s.

This editorial, published by the Rocky Mountain Institute, argues that stabilizing the global climate is not only possible but profitable through the application of advanced resource efficiency in energy, farming, and forestry. It contends that the costs of climate abatement are often overestimated by econometricians and that market failures, rather than a lack of cost-effective technology, prevent the widespread adoption of these solutions.

This 1989 research paper by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues for the creation of markets in resource efficiency to combat the economic tendency to treat natural resource depletion and pollution as free goods. Lovins proposes treating saved resources—such as 'negawatts' of electricity—as commodities that can be traded, auctioned, and hedged, providing a market-based alternative to regulatory mandates. He asserts that efficient technology is generally cheaper than producing new resources, creating a significant profit opportunity for those who sell efficiency rather than the resource itself.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that the European Union lacks the necessary metrics to track and reduce its consumption of natural resources. It proposes a framework of four specific indicators to measure resource use both within and outside the EU to improve economic resilience, protect human rights, and ensure environmental sustainability.

This case study describes a resource efficiency project facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) between Protea Chemicals and Dekro Paints to recycle expired solvents, diverting them from hazardous landfills.

This case study describes how the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) helped The Fugard Theatre manage a stockpile of half-used batteries by creating partnerships with the City of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management Department and various charities.

This case study by GreenCape examines the role of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) in a circular economy, focusing on the business model of The Real Deal 2 Cheap in South Africa. It highlights the challenges of landfill capacity and the economic potential of reselling salvageable, low-value building materials to create jobs and reduce environmental impact.

This case study describes a waste diversion project facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) for the World Economic Forum (WEF) event held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) in 2015.

This industry brief by GreenCape explores the economic and environmental opportunities of diverting waste foundry sand (WFS) from landfills in South Africa, specifically focusing on the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town. It details how WFS can be repurposed as a secondary raw material for industries such as brickmaking and road construction, provided that strict legal classifications and hazard management protocols are followed.

The Green Economy Strategy Framework by GreenCape outlines goals to establish the Western Cape as a leading green economic hub in Africa and the lowest carbon province, focusing on renewable energy, resource efficiency, and green technology investment.

This case study examines the use of green technology and indoor vertical farming for urban food production in Cape Town, focusing on the operations of Mushroom Guru (Pty) Ltd.

This case study describes a circular economy initiative by sewing thread manufacturer ACA Threads to recover and reuse polypropylene spools and cones, resulting in financial savings, landfill diversion, and social investment.

This case study examines the role of electronic waste (e-waste) repair and redistribution in South Africa, focusing on The Appliance Bank as a model for integrating circular economy principles with social upliftment. It highlights how diverting e-waste from landfills through refurbishment can create jobs for unemployed men and provide affordable technology to low-income communities.

The Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) is a free facilitation service delivered by GreenCape and initiated by the Western Cape Government to enhance business profitability and sustainability through the exchange of unused or residual resources between companies.

This case study examines how the City of Cape Town, in partnership with GreenCape’s Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), uses industrial symbiosis to improve wood recycling and build economic resilience. The initiative focuses on diverting wood waste from landfills and reducing reliance on virgin materials and imported coal by integrating waste streams back into the manufacturing economy.

This technical report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) uses System Dynamics (SD) modelling to forecast the employment impacts of circular economy (CE) interventions in Finland across six key areas: electronics, textiles, food, mining, forestry, and buildings. The study compares a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario with two levels of CE ambition (CE1 and CE2) from 2020 to 2040, finding that while some sectors like electronics and forestry see net job gains due to the labour intensity of recycling and refurbishment, others like food and textiles face net losses due to reduced primary production and retail demand.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra examines the role of services trade in transitioning to a circular economy. Based on a survey of 96 firms and 16 in-depth interviews, the report identifies key services—such as IT, R&D, and waste management—that enable circular business models. It analyzes the modes of service delivery, the impact of digitalization, and the regulatory barriers that hinder the international exchange of these services, ultimately proposing an integrated trade policy approach to support global resource efficiency.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) examines how traditional building project delivery methods hinder sustainability and proposes that specific contracting stipulations, particularly through Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), can overcome these barriers to improve energy efficiency and project outcomes.

This report chapter explores 'green development,' demonstrating how the integration of resource efficiency, environmental sensitivity, and human well-being can lead to superior financial performance in real estate. Through various case studies of commercial buildings, residential developments, and hotels, the text argues that intelligent design reduces operating costs, increases labor productivity, and enhances property value while restoring community and ecological health.