Circularity transitions: from industry standards to informal systems

Learn what circular economy looks like in practice, in different global contexts!
We will delve into India’s circular economy, powered by millions of informal waste workers. They form the backbone of urban recycling systems by recovering large portions of plastics, paper, and other materials, yet they remain invisible in policy and markets. This is also observed in many other developing economies. What needs to change? How can we focus on re-designing transition pathways where circular economy ambitions meet social equity to enable a just transition to bring back the focus on people. This session will explore few case studies of how social enterprises are enabling this.

We will then move on to examining how circularity is implemented in the Dutch construction sector, showcasing how whole-life carbon assessments can bridge policy and practice to guide policymakers and industry stakeholders toward decarbonization pathways.