Global Circularity Protocol (GCP)

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The Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP) is a voluntary framework that aims to address key accountability and policy gaps currently impeding the scaling of circularity globally.

The Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) for Business is a new global initiative spearheaded by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), in collaboration with The One Planet network (OPN). By 2026, the Global Circularity Protocol for Business will be the go-to action framework to guide companies in target-setting, measuring, reporting and disclosing progress on resource efficiency and circularity, combined with comprehensive and targeted policy guidance to accelerate the shift toward circular business models and a regenerative economy. The GCP will cover resource flows in both the techno-sphere and the bio-sphere.

The
challenge

The global economy is currently hardwired for a linear (take, make, waste) economic model, and science shows that most circular business models do not reach the market. The current national, international, and regional legislative frameworks, standards, international conventions, and harmonized product coding standards all support a linear economy. It needs rapid rethinking and repurposing to facilitate and accelerate the transition to a circular economy. This requires vital collaboration across sectors and stakeholders in all spheres to achieve the transition at the speed and scale we need.

The
business case

A circular economy creates value through redesigning products and services, reducing waste and pollution, and maintaining resource use within planetary boundaries. Businesses are seeking ways to drive strategic change towards sustainable business practices. Circular approaches are essential for increasing material efficiency (a.o. reducing GHG emissions) and mitigating resource risk. However, the current lack of a unified approach to corporate performance and accounting for circularity makes it difficult to measure, steer, disclose and compare. A second key perspective is the policy and regulatory environment. Evaluating and adjusting policies, regulations and standards is drastically needed to create a level playing field that incentivizes the transition to a circular economy.

The
solution

Launched In 2023 by WBCSD in collaboration with the One Planet Network, the Global Circularity Protocol aims to become the go-to framework for companies to assess, measure, set science-based targets, report, and disclose progress on resource efficiency and circularity information consistently and comparably. The initiative is structured as a multi-year and multi-stakeholder process engaging cross-sectoral and policymakers and aims to address accountability and policy gaps currently impeding the scaling of circularity through developing a comprehensive corporate performance and accountability system (CPAS) for Circularity and laying the basis for a policy framework for circularity.

The approach

Workstream 1: Impact analysis; to estimate the impact on Climate, Nature and Social indicators and lay the basis for the design of the GCP and further finetune other workstreams
Workstream 2: Development of a comprehensive corporate performance and accountability system (CPAS) for Circularity; to foster harmonized circularity methodologies and accounting metrics for reporting and disclosure, enabling comparison between businesses

Workstream 3: Development of a policy framework for circularity; to support policy makers in creating the right incentives and establish a level playing field for businesses
Workstream 4: Development of Science-based targets for circularity; building on CPAS, define measurable and time bound targets and in collaboration with key scientific partners such as the International Resource Panel

Governance
structure

The Global Circularity Protocol for Business aims to be the result of a collaborative process to assure scalability and completeness. For this reason the following Governance structure has been created.

As illustrated in the image, the governance structure comprises the following bodies:

Exco : the Executive Committee is composed by the convenors of the GCP. It  is the decision-making body of the Protocol, ultimately represented by CEO WBCSD and UNEP LD.

Coordination Group: A coordination group is convened by WBCSD and UNEP/OPN on a regular basis to provide strategic advice to the Exco on the process of development of the Protocol.

Advisory Committees: The Advisory Committees report to the Exco and provide technical and strategic guidance on the development of the GCP including at the Coordination Group.

Business Advisory Committee (BAC)
Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)
Independent Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC)
Among ISAC functions is the submission of an independent evaluation report to the Exco and to the Coordination Group at major GCP version releases

Furthermore, the work will be developed by the Technical Working Group, whose members provide technical guidance on the development of the GCP. Its products are presented to the Advisory Committees for review.