Recommended readings

This section provides links to already published articles and relevant reports, articles and tools by Sitra and partners for inspiration and further investigations:

Reports and articles by Sitra

• Putting the nature at the heart of the European Green Deal. The memorandum offers some “building blocks” upon which to design the next version of the European Green Deal as well as a number of policy recommendations. (Sitra 2023)
• The impact of the circular economy on jobs and skills. An overview of competence needs in the construction, chemical and technology sectors in Finland. (Sitra 2023)
• Nature safeguards our economy. Nature and biodiversity are declining at an alarming rate globally. Biodiversity loss has far-reaching impacts on our economy, health and well-being. A memorandum offers reflections on the importance of nature for the economy and society by finnish economics and society influencers. (Sitra 2023)
• How to build a sustainable world with Web 3.0? Remarks on the importance of a decentralised web for the environment, economy and society. Memorandum summarises the main phenomena where Web 3.0 can offer opportunities and solutions. For example, can blockchain technology be used to prevent harmful environmental impacts and promote the circular economy? (Sitra 2023)
• Sustainable growth with circular economy business models. A global transition towards a carbon-neutral circular economy is an opportunity for all companies to develop new business, expand into new markets and create sustainable growth. This playbook has been compiled to help companies in this task. (Sitra 2022)
• Tackling root causes – Halting biodiversity loss through the circular economy. Biodiversity loss is a major threat to us all demanding transformative change. We need transformative change, and we need to tackle the root causes of biodiversity loss across our extractive and polluting linear consumption and production systems. A transition to a circular economy can on its own halt global biodiversity loss. (Sitra 2022)
• Circular innovation and ecodesign in the textiles sector. To better understand both the implications of the European Commission’s regulation for Eco-Design for Sustainable Products ESPR on developing countries and the associated challenges and opportunities, this paper zooms in on textile and apparel exporting countries – an industry that has been a critical part of many developing countries’ industrialisation trajectories and comprises a significant percentage of developing country exports to the EU. (Sitra 2022)
• Inspiring circular economy solutions from around the globe. The list showcases some of the most inspiring examples of circular economy innovations from around the world. (Sitra 2021)
• Guide: How to create a national circular economy road map. A guide based on what has been learned from Finland’s circular economy road map process. The guide features tools, guidelines and inspiration for countries that want to move towards or are already taking their first steps towards a circular economy. (Sitra 2020)
• Tools to go circular: the Nordic circular economy playbook and toolkit. The playbook can be leveraged by companies that want to better meet customer expectations and deliver customer outcomes. It is for you that wants to enable outcome-oriented solutions and new levels of efficiency through technology and digitalization. It will help you improve resource utilization and mitigate risk from regulatory, investor and societal pressures. (Nordic Innovation, Sitra and Accenture 2020)
• Rethinking ownership – Producer ownership in a circular economy (Sitra 2020).
• The circular economy – a powerful force for climate mitigation (Material Economics, Sitra et al. 2018)
• Catalyse action: Lifestyle test and Shift 1.5 Method book (Sitra 2021)
• PSLifestyle is an EU Green Deal project to create an inspiring online tool European citizens can use to test their carbon footprint and build sustainable lifestyles. The project has launched a locally customisable service in eight different countries.
• Five reasons why companies should set science-based targets for nature
• Nordic circular solutions tackle biodiversity loss (Sitra)
• 9 ways the circular economy can help avert the climate crisis (PACE)
• Finland is moving towards a happier future built on a circular economy
• What makes a successful circular economy solution?
  
  

Reports by Circle Economy Foundation

• The concept of the “Circularity Gap”. The Amsterdam-based non-profit organisation has developed the concept of the “Circularity Gap” and produces, amongst others, a series of Circularity Gap Reports on various countries as well as global reports at the Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative. Newest report is Circularity Gap Report 2024.
• Unlocking the Potential of International Financial Institutions in the Circular Economy Transition. The publication proposes a series of concrete steps to unlock the potential of international financial institutions (IFIs) to fund the circular transformation. (Circle Economy 2022)
  
  

Reports by United Nations and International Resource Panel

• Building circularity into Nationally Determined Contributions. The circular economy is a largely untapped tool for reducing countries’ emissions. With the support of Sitra and the Dutch Government, three global UN organisations have jointly developed a practical toolbox for countries to incorporate circular economy measures into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• IRP Co-Chair Piece: Enabling the energy transition – Mitigating growth in material and energy needs, and building a sustainable mining sector (2023)
• The Co-Chairs of IRP suggest three solution pillars for effective transition material management – enabling policymakers to avoid risks, and make the most of opportunities. (International Resource Panel 2023)

• IRP Co-Chairs Piece: Making Climate Targets Achievable – Improving Wellbeing through Reduced Absolute Resource Use. The report expands on the IRP Co-chair Opinion Piece on climate, released in July 2022. They show how an absolute reduction in the use of natural resources is indispensable to meet climate change, biodiversity and pollution ambitions. (Systemiq, Sun Foundation 2022)
  
  

Reports by Systemiq

• Unlocking a reuse revolution: scaling returnable packaging. A reuse revolution is critical to tackling the plastic waste and pollution crisis: this study offers insights and recommendations to design and scale returnable packaging and make that revolution a reality. This study shows how a reuse revolution can combat the plastic crisis. (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Systemiq, Eunomia 2023)
• Towards Ending Plastic Pollution by 2040: 15 global policy interventions for systems change. The report presents a set of 15 global policy interventions towards ending plastic pollution. If universally adopted and supported by a set of common global rules in the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, these policies could cut annual volumes of mismanaged plastic waste by 90% and virgin plastic use by 30% by 2040 relative to 2019 levels. (Systemiq, Nordic Council of Ministers 2023)
• Efficient and balanced space use: shaping vibrant neighbourhoods and boosting climate progress in Europe. This white paper considers the role of balanced and efficient use of urban space in making high-quality urban living accessible to more people, while optimising the resource efficiency of urban hubs, minimising their emissions and waste, and boosting climate adaptation. (Systemiq, Laudes Foundation 2022)
• Critical raw materials for the energy transition in the EU: How Circular Economy approaches can increase supply security for raw materials. The EU is committed to the clean energy transition. This will require significant amounts of raw materials to create the infrastructure for electrification and clean energy production. This study highlights the importance and the opportunities for circular economy approaches to enable this transition. It demonstrates the increased resilience that can be gained in the context of ongoing geopolitical crises (Systemiq 2022)
• International System Change Compass. The climate, biodiversity and pollution crises demand global solutions. The report argues that the European Green Deal can only succeed if it’s linked to green transitions worldwide and creates new international relationships. The report calls for a “system change in international relationships” could work, and invites the EU to “step up and build true partnerships with the low-income countries and the most vulnerable states” (Club of Rome, Systemiq, the Open Society European Policy Institute 2022)
  
  

Reports by others

• Circular Economy: connecting the dots between Climate Change, Resilience, and Opportunities in Africa. When discussing climate change and its impact on Africa, the general narrative often focuses on the continent’s growing vulnerability to its negative effects. However, a panel discussion held alongside COP28 in Dubai introduced a more positive perspective. The discourse on Advancing Circular Economy for Climate Resilience in Africa concluded that Africa has the potential to become a center of opportunity in tackling climate change. The event was co-hosted by the African Development Bank through the Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA). (AfDP 2023)

• The Nordic circular economy playbook 2.0 is a step-by-step toolkit for companies on how to successfully transform and scale their circular business. Tailored to manufacturing companies, the playbook is your guide to circular business models. (Nordic Innovation 2022)
• The report Circular business models in the Nordic manufacturing industry – Current status and development provides a status update, definitions of the circular economy and an assessment of the maturity level of today’s circular business models. It also highlights the barriers of scaling circular business models and unfolds a set of recommendations for inspiring policy levels and organisations to continue and improve the framework and efforts around circular business models in the Nordic countries. (Nordic Innovation 2023)
• Data sharing for a circular economy in the Nordics maps out the current landscape of data sharing for the circular economy in the Nordics, as well as the future potential and opportunities that follow. Based on insights from interviews and survey responses from Nordic organisations, the report identifies barriers and enablers to an accelerated transition towards the use of data sharing for circularity, and the role Nordic and international policies can play in this. It also presents recommendations for the implementation of pilot projects. (Nordic Innovation 2021)