A circular economy organises production, supply, and consumption of materials into closed loops, thereby reducing pressure on the world’s finite materials. The core principles of the circular economy are referred to as the ‘6R principles’ for circularity: refuse, reduce, reuse, repair and refurbish, recycle, and recover (residual waste).
Circular infrastructure is any infrastructure that:
- Enables wider circular economy activity (e.g. enabling the application of the 6R principles of the circular economy) and/or
- Minimises the amount of material used across the infrastructure lifecycle or value chain, in line with the 6R principles of the circular economy.
Our research indicates that infrastructure consumes 60% of the world’s materials and is responsible for about half of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Some other analyses put this even higher; the UN Environment Programme has reported infrastructure is responsible for 79% of GHGs.
In our report, we found infrastructure overall is responsible for 53% of GHGs, and 10% of GHGs emitted globally are embodied emissions from infrastructure that can be addressed by applying circularity principles. The production of steel and cement are the two largest contributors to infrastructure’s embodied emissions.
“The 1.5°C Paris Agreement target can only be achieved by combining renewable energy and energy efficiency with other approaches, including circular economy.” Ellen MacArthur Foundation
To learn more about the 12 action areas and the transition pathways, download our paper, Advancing the Circular Economy Through Infrastructure.
Read Advancing the Circular Economy Through Infrastructure – Prepared by the GI Hub for the G20
To view the complete paper containing our data, analysis, and key findings on circular economy transition pathways in infrastructure, click through to view the paper.
Read Advancing the Circular Economy Through Infrastructure – Prepared by the GI Hub for the G20
To view the complete paper containing our data, analysis, and key findings on circular economy transition pathways in infrastructure, click through to view the paper.
Compendium of Innovative Funding and Financing of Green and Circular Infrastructure. This compendium, prepared for the G20, presents overarching lessons learnt and insights drawn from our analysis of global case studies that saw green and circular infrastructure being funded and financed in effective and innovative ways.
Compendium of Innovative Funding and Financing of Green and Circular Infrastructure. This compendium, prepared for the G20, presents overarching lessons learnt and insights drawn from our analysis of global case studies that saw green and circular infrastructure being funded and financed in effective and innovative ways.
Funding and Financing Infrastructure for a Net Zero Future. This PwC report explores from a private sector perspective how circular infrastructure can be funded and financed, building on the lessons learnt in our Compendium of Innovative funding and Financing of Green and Circular Infrastructure.
Funding and Financing Infrastructure for a Net Zero Future. This PwC report explores from a private sector perspective how circular infrastructure can be funded and financed, building on the lessons learnt in our Compendium of Innovative funding and Financing of Green and Circular Infrastructure.
