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ANNIVERSARY

5

T H

2022

Five years of analysis

and insights

THE

CIRCULARITY

GAP REPORT

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CIRCLE ECONOMY

We are a global impact organisation with an

international team of passionate experts

based in Amsterdam.

We empower businesses, cities and nations

with practical and scalable solutions to put

the circular economy into action. Our vision

is an economic system that ensures the

planet and all people can thrive.

To avoid climate breakdown, our goal is

to double global circularity by 2032.

This report is published as an affiliate project of the Platform for Accelerating the

Circular Economy (PACE). PACE is a global community of leaders, across business,

government and civil society, working together to develop a collective agenda

and drive ambitious action to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

It was initiated at the World Economic Forum and is currently hosted by the

World Resources Institute.

BEHIND THE COVER

The image we chose to mark our fifth edition is an organic, regenerative

and fundamental material: wood. The unique gains and rings that mark each

piece represent an untold history—shaped by the climate the tree has grown in.

These ripples of impact remind us of the inherent connection between

nature and climate—and the lasting impression a changed climate will

have on our world.

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IN SUPPORT OF THE

CIRCULARITY GAP REPORT

JULES KORTENHORST

CEO at Rocky

Mountain Institute

‘We have less than ten years to mitigate the worst impacts

of climate change. Using metrics to gauge our progress in

addressing the climate crisis is crucial. The metrics- and

data-driven approach that the Circularity Gap Reports have

pioneered over the past five years has been significant in

advancing circular metrics—but we need to go further. We

look forward to collaborating and sharing knowledge on this

topic to help us reach our 1.5-degree goal.’

DAVID MCGINTY

Global Director at the Platform

for Accelerating the Circular

Economy (PACE)

‘The triple planetary crisis—climate, nature and

pollution—along with the need for greater equity and

stability—are why circular action at scale is critical now.

The Circularity Gap Report continues to be an invaluable

tool for measuring progress towards global circularity.

As PACE leaders aim to double global circularity by 2032,

we are committed to continuing to enhance the data,

insights and metrics required to champion and deliver

the urgent actions needed.’

JANEZ POTOČNIK

Co-Chair at the International

Resource Panel of the

United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP)

‘The circular economy was not on the European policy agenda

for a long time. From the beginning, the Circularity Gap Report

accompanied policy efforts to raise attention to the circular

economy. The reports show us a reflection of what we need

to see in implementing the circular economy: the path from

words to deeds is a real challenge, which demands our focus.’

FEIKE SIJBESMA

Climate Advocate

and Honorary Chairman

at Royal DSM

‘Scarcity of resources is largely a result of omissions and

mistakes in the design and use of value chains. A switch

from a linear to a circular economy enables us to re-use

our resources almost endlessly and protect our planet and

civilization. The Circularity Gap Report shows the threats—as

well as the opportunities.’

FRANS VAN HOUTEN

CEO at Royal Philips and

Co-Chair at the Platform

for Accelerating the

Circular Economy (PACE)

‘The Circularity Gap Reports have played a vital role mobilising

the global circular economy agenda. This edition reinforces

key findings from five years of analysis and lays out actions

that companies can take to drive transformative change.

Widespread adoption of circular strategies across all sectors

and value chains are needed to tackle the three most

pressing challenges of the climate crisis, nature loss

and mounting inequality.’

KATE RAWORTH

Author of Doughnut Economics

and Senior Teaching Associate

at the Environmental Change

Institute, University of Oxford

‘It’s clear—we must act now! There’s no time to lose. By

applying the circular solutions outlined in this report, we

can reduce the use of scarce materials and dramatically cut

emissions—thereby fighting climate change and biodiversity

loss. But we can only do it by joining forces. That’s why I’m

calling on all CEOs and business leaders, governments and

NGOs to step up and accelerate our combined efforts, so we

can reach the goal of doubling circularity within ten years.

Let’s take bold actions and deliver impact.’

‘Preventing and reducing resource use and reusing materials

in a global circular economy are key strategies to protect

the Earth’s environment, as well as its capacity to provide

for current and future generations. A variety of metrics are

needed to understand progress alongside valuable data,

analysis, guidance and examples. The Circularity Gap Report

has provided insights on these topics over the past five years,

and it continues to inform progress and the action required to

accelerate the circular transition.’

DIMITRI DE VREEZE

Co-CEO at Royal DSM

‘Five years of the Circularity Gap Report has shown us that

“business as usual” cannot be sustained. As the world’s

population grows and crosses planetary boundaries, we must

move away from linear production and consumption systems

and work together to build sustainable models. Bridging

the Circularity Gap is crucial to support the livelihoods of

tomorrow’s population and restore the natural environment.

Let’s start putting a price on waste and accelerate our joint

circular innovation power.’

MARK WATTS

CEO at C40

‘A 1.5-degree world will be a circular world. Now is the time

for action to mitigate climate breakdown and cities have a

crucial role to play here. Circle Economy’s Circularity Gap

Report 2022 shows us solid solutions and actions that cities

can adopt to continue leading the circular transition.’

DIANE HOLDORF

Executive Vice President at

the World Business Council for

Sustainable Development

‘Circularity is not becoming a reality at anything near the

speed or scale that these times demand—and the past five

years of Circularity Gap Reports have provided the essential

and authoritative analysis to make this painfully clear. I hope

that future editions, over the coming five years, will be able to

reflect a profoundly different story; using innovative metrics

and powerful case studies to document the industrial circular

transformation that is so urgently needed.’

BORGE BRENDE

President at the

World Economic Forum

‘This fifth edition of the Circularity Gap Report makes clear that

time is fast running out to transition from a linear economy

toward a circular economy. In sounding this alarm, this

report also thankfully offers solutions. We can take collective

action—if the public and private sectors follow the roadmap

in the report—and still have the opportunity to meet our

climate objectives and realize a sustainable future.’

IN SUPPORT OF THE

CIRCULARITY GAP REPORT

STIENTJE VAN

VELDHOVEN

Vice President and

Regional Director Europe at the

World Resources Institute

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