| Circular Transformation of Industries: Unlocking Value in Manufacturing and Resources |
World Economic Forum, 2025 (World Economic Forum Reports) |
This report maps how major industries (steel, textiles, plastics, electronics, food, etc.) can transition to more circular models. It identifies levers like design for disassembly, material substitution, increased use of secondary/recycled inputs, extended product lifespans, and better industrial infrastructure (recycling, remanufacturing). It also provides estimates for potential economic value unlocked, emissions avoided, and material extraction reduced. |
It gives a sector-by-sector playbook, helping policy makers and companies see which interventions yield the biggest gains. Good for understanding where production/manufacturing can be made more circular. |
| The Circularity Gap Report 2025 |
Circle Economy / Deloitte / partners, mid-2025 (Circularity Gap Report) |
Key headline: the global economy is only ~6.9% circular. That means only ~6.9% of material inputs are reused/recycled; the rest is virgin raw materials, or otherwise “linear.” The report shows that material consumption is rising faster than recycling or reuse rates; waste generation is increasing. It also introduces a “Circularity Indicator Set” and argues for stronger targets and policy incentives. |
This is a benchmark / wake-up call: many promises of circularity are not keeping pace. Useful data for setting policy targets, corporate strategy, and seeing where manufacturing is lagging. |
| World Circular Economy Forum 2025 Summary Report |
Sitra, June 2025 (Sitra) |
Highlights current challenges and opportunities in circular economy, including in mobility, product design, material innovation, waste infrastructure. Brings together expert views from government, business, academia. Focuses particularly on policy, systemic barriers, needed innovation, and governance to scale circular solutions. |
Useful for seeing what governments & industry believe are the bottlenecks, and where consensus is forming. It frames circularity not just as technical improvements but as systemic (policy, markets, regulation). |
| Harmonized Circular Economy Finance Guidelines |
IFC, May 2025 (IFC) |
These are guidelines aimed at financiers / investors. They define what kinds of projects are eligible under “circular economy” criteria (design and production, circular use, value recovery). Also define “+Circularity Enablers” (business models, platforms, tools) that help further circularity. The idea is to align financial flows with circular objectives so production & manufacturing get supported. |
Important because finance is often a bottleneck: if investments don’t distinguish circular vs linear, then progress is slow. These guidelines help channels investment into the right kinds of production/manufacturing upgrades. |
| ETC CE Report-2025/8: A Just Transition to Circular Economy |
European Topic Centre on Circular Economy (ETC CE), 2025 (Eionet Portal) |
This report adds a strong social justice dimension. It looks at circularity across key value chains (batteries, plastics, textiles), mapping where circular economy policies are implemented, what their social impacts are (jobs, livelihoods, equity), and what risks there are of circular transitions that leave some populations behind. It recommends ways to make the circular economy transition more inclusive and equitable. |
Vital because circularity is not just about materials and waste, but about justice: who benefits, who loses, who has access. For manufacturing production systems, it points out risks of displacement, supply chain inequality, labor issues, etc. |
| Integral Circular Economy Report 2025 (ICER) |
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), early 2025 (PBL) |
Focus is on the Netherlands: how far its circular economy transition is going. Tracks metrics like material reuse, waste generation, resource productivity, and examines policies that succeed or lag. Also includes scenario analyses of how to deepen circularity (design, reuse, recycling, material substitution). |
Though country-specific, provides a detailed case study of what manufacturing/production sectors need to invest in, regulatory moves, infrastructures, behavioral change. Useful as analog for other countries. |
| “Maximizing circular economy benefits for manufacturing” |
C. Wandji et al., 2025 (ScienceDirect / academic article) (ScienceDirect) |
Examines how manufacturing industries can lower virgin material inputs by using more recycled materials, improve resource efficiency, and redesign processes. Also analyzes economic trade-offs, technology readiness, and policy levers. |
This is more technical but gives useful data + modeling on what kinds of upgrades in manufacturing (processes, material input, reuse) actually bring benefit versus cost. |
