2018: A Year for Action and Implementation for Circular Economy

In the last few years, circular economy has gained momentum in various parts of the world: corporates, governments, non-profit organizations, industry associations—everybody has been trying to unpack, decode, and understand what circular economy is. What does it mean for them? What is the effect of circular economy economically, environmentally, socially?

Groundwork Is in Place

Multiple reports have been building the evidence and the business case for circular economy. Ecofys, a Guidehouse company, contributed to the movement with its thought leadership on groundbreaking calculations and research with its white paper, Implementing Circular Economy Globally Makes Paris Targets Achievable, which was used by the Government of Netherlands in its vision and strategy for making Netherlands a circular country by 2050. As a part of Guidehouse, Ecofys’ report, Circular Economy and Environmental Priorities for Business, was used extensively by the private sector to understand their concrete potential for circularity based on sector.

The groundwork of the past few years has landed the world in the moment of action and implementation for circular economy. In 2018 there will finally be momentum to implement circular economy globally. The year started with World Economic Forum placing circular economy front and center in its agenda. As proud members of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and of its new circular economy program, Factor10 platform, Guidehouse, Inc.’s CEO Julie Howard and Guidehouse’s global Energy practice leader Jan Vrins met other senior leaders from the industry at World Economic Forum in Davos to show commitment and kickstart action for circular economy.

Guidehouse joined forces with 30 other leading companies across 16 sectors to implement the circular economy through WBCSD’s Factor10 initiative. Collectively responsible for USD $1.3 trillion in annual revenue, the companies in Factor10 represent a powerful business effort to scale-up momentum for circular economy solutions.

“We need to focus on implementation now,” said Jan Vrins, “It’s important for both the public and private sector to move out of the ‘concept-phase’ of circular economy and into the ‘implementation-phase.’”

Three-Pronged Approach to the Circular Economy

As part of Guidehouse’s focus on circular economy for 2018, the team has a three-pronged approach for this year. First, the team will continue to focus on thought leadership and contribute toward case studies, business case, scientific evidence, and research to support circular economy implementation. Second, with WBCSD as its partner, Guidehouse plans to focus on mapping out the global policy landscape of circular economy so that companies can understand existing policies and prepare for upcoming ones in the field of circular economy based on their sector and regions/countries of operation. Third, the team will continue to support governments and companies in their transition toward circular economy through the following key offerings:

• Guidehouse recognizes that each company, agency, or organization is unique and a one-size-fits all approach will not work. To support the transition, the team translated the concept of circular economy to develop tangible and implementable steps that organizations can take.
• Guidehouse looked at the key levers of energy, material, waste, and more to develop building blocks and steps to move toward a circular economy. In doing so the team focuses on reducing costs, improving efficiencies, and transforming business models for competitive advantage.
• Guidehouse is currently working across companies, sectoral organizations, and governments to develop and implement circular economy policies, strategies, and projects. Guidehouse brings together more than 30 years of experience and expertise in the field of climate change and sustainability in close cooperation with corporate companies, policymakers, and nongovernmental organizations.
• Guidehouse plans on contributing to the upward momentum of circular economy in 2018 to drive positive environmental, economic, and social impact and look forward to working with governments, companies, and organizations move to a circular and sustainable future.