On 11 December 2019, stakeholders of the Retail Forum were introduced to the ECESP. Several discussions took place about the interest and role of retailers in advancing the circular economy in Europe.
The topic of ‘Retailers and Consumers’ was seen as an opportunity to start a leadership group to discuss and advance circular economy action between those two key stakeholder groups.
This case study on the EU's Circular Economy Plan (CEAP) by the Ellen McArthur Foundation reflects back on the steps which the European Commission took to take a lead in circular economy policies globally. From initially aiming at improving resource efficiency, to redefining growth with positive social, environmental, and economic benefits, this case study analyses this policy-making process.
The CEAP was a comprehensive body of legislative and non-legislative actions adopted in 2015, which aimed to transition the European economy from a linear to a circular model. It mapped out 54 actions, as well as four legislative proposals on waste.
By rethinking resource efficiency and material flows, the European Commission has developed a framework to promote systemic change.
PC4Change is a project of the Reware Cooperative - Social Enterprise, specialized since 2013 in the refurbishing of computers dismissed by large companies.
The ECESP leadership group on economic incentives is focusing on incentives with a specific potential for increasing the demand for a circular economy, and on policies and challenges such as circular public procurement, Extended Producer Responsibility, tax shift, CO2 pricing, etc.
ReTuna Återbruksgalleria revolutionises shopping by being the world's first recycling mall in Eskilstuna, Sweden. ReTuna takes old items and gives them new life through repair and upcycling. The public can leave items in the recycling containers provided by the mall, and they are then redistributed to the shops.
The City of Helsinki’s Action Plan for the Circular and Sharing Economy is the updated version of the original roadmap of May 2020.
The Action Plan now extends to 2035. The focus areas are:
construction
procurement
environmental awareness and sustainable consumption.
Circular economy goals and measures are assembled under each focus area. The intention is to achieve the goals gradually.
Progress will be monitored using the Kiertotalousvahti service (Circular Economy Watch), and reported annually in the city’s environmental report and in the annual report of the European Circular Cities Declaration.
Swappis is a clothing retail store in central Budapest that attempts to counteract the linear approach of the fashion industry by introducing a business model that focuses on circularity and the reuse of second-hand clothes. Their membership loyalty mechanism is designed to build a strong relationship with customers by encouraging them to choose sustainable options.
