Analysis identifies critical opportunities to enhance corporate circular-economy performance 

 Geneva, 31 July 2024 – A collaboration of leading global organizations and companies has published an analysis of the key gaps and opportunities to improving business performance for circularity. 

Developed by the Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP), the “Landscape Analysis of Circularity-related Corporate Performance & Accountability and Policy & Regulation” identifies opportunities for improvement within existing circularity methods, standards, frameworks, and policies. The analysis evaluates the regulatory landscape in the Global North and South, highlights bottlenecks, and proposes solutions to help improve corporate measurement, performance and reporting on circularity. 

The Landscape Analysis provides critical insight on challenges and solutions to strengthen corporate accountability and reporting on circularity metrics and performance. Development of the Global Circularity Protocol for Business is continuing with robust stakeholder engagement from business, government, NGOs, IGOs, and academia. This assessment of corporate performance and accountability and related policy and regulation identifies the key opportunity areas that will guide the GCP’s work going forward.

- Diane Holdorf, Executive Vice President at WBCSD

The GCP is a groundbreaking collaboration between the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the One Planet Network, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, that addresses critical gaps in accountability and policy to help business transition from a linear to a circular economy. “We develop guidance that helps scale circularity.

- Filipe Camaño Garcia, Manager and Project Lead at WBCSD

The GCP has four strategic workstreams; (1) Circular Impact Analysis, (2) Corporate Performance and Accountability System (CPAS) for Circularity, (3) Policy Framework for Circularity, and (4) Science-informed targets for Circularity; and aims to deliver the first Protocol version by 2026. The workstreams receive strategic and technical guidance from Policy, Business, and Independent Scientific Advisory Committees, and Technical Working Groups. Deloitte Consulting AG and Circle Economy Consulting are providing ongoing technical support for Workstream 1. 

Building from the Landscape Analysis, Workstream 1 will conduct an Impact Analysis which will explore the potential impact of the Global Circularity Protocol in accelerating climate, nature, economic and social agendas as well as in improving business performance, and insights for where the protocol can maximize its impact, using focused qualitative analysis and quantitative modeling. The Impact Analysis will be presented at key global events in September 2024, including the OPN Forum in Brazil and the WBCSD Council Meeting 2024 during Climate Week in New York City. 

To learn more or participate in the Global Circularity Protocol for Business, please contact Filipe Camaño Garcia, Manager, GCP, WBCSD.