CIRCULAR ECONOMY

• Virtual Side events for the Seventieth Commission Session - 3-5 April 2023. Please register here: https://forms.office.com/e/UqFnzwC3fc 

Circular Economy related highlights of ECTD serviced normative processes

• The 27th session of the UN/CEFACT Plenary (19-20 April 2021) adopted a far-reaching package of solutions in support of a circular economy : UNECE Recommendation 46 “Enhancing Traceability and Transparency of Sustainable and Circular Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector” and a Call to Action for Traceability, Transparency, Sustainability and Circularity of Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector. With this UNECE-brokered package of recommendations, also called “The Sustainability Pledge”, governments and responsible companies can gather the information necessary for improving sustainability in the sector and prioritizing circular economic approaches to production.
• The Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies (ToS-ICP) has developed two policy papers on the identification of good practices for the platform economy and on innovation-enhancing procurement for sustainable development. One of the previous works of ToS-ICP on circularity includes policy paper “Towards the Circular Economy - Innovation Policies for Sustainable Production and Consumption”. The ToS-ICP is currently preparing summary policy documents, offering key elements of a policy solutions on innovation and circularity.
• The fifth session of the Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) (29-30 November 2021) endorsed UNECE’s People-first PPP Evaluation Methodology for the SDGs. Applying the methodology will foster the incorporation of circularity dimension in project evaluation and design and will better evaluate circularity-enhancing projects in different infrastructure sectors. The Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies (ToS-ICP) has developed two policy papers on the identification of good practices for the platform economy and on innovation-enhancing procurement for sustainable development. One of the previous works of ToS-ICP on circularity includes policy paper “Towards the Circular Economy - Innovation Policies for Sustainable Production and Consumption”. The ToS-ICP is currently preparing summary policy documents, offering key elements of a policy solutions on innovation and circularity. 
• To mobilise public and private investment for the transition to a more circular economy ECTD is supporting UNECE’s Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the advancement of Guidelines on Promoting People-first PPP Waste-to-Energy Projects for the Circular Economy, and the development of Guidelines to Catalyse the Circular Economy Agenda throughout the PPP process.
• ECTD is also supporting the work of the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) to create a Sustainable Development and Circular Economy Reference Data Model Support (SDCERDM). The Reference Data Model will ensure data compatibility and enable data interoperability among stakeholders in global value chains ensuring their compliance with sustainability requirements.
• ECTD is serving the recently established Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy, which is developing ESG traceability approaches and systems for the exchange of data and information along global value chains in priority industries for the circular transition.
• ECTD is leading the implementation of a project “Accelerating the transition towards a more circular economy in the UNECE region” (multi-agency UNDA project, 2021-2024). Under the project,  ECTD launched the CIRCULAR STEP network on 6 April 2022. Recording of the meeting is available here Circular Economy and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources – Institutional Arrangements - YouTube 

• 6 April 2022 - UNECE launches platform for policy dialogue on circular economy
• 17 December 2021 - UNECE and FAO join forces on cotton traceability to connect sustainable rural producers in Latin America to global value chains
• 20 November 2021 - Tashkent meetings breathe new air into SPECA by bolstering sustainable connectivity for a greener, circular and inclusive economy
• 17 November 2021 - UNECE Agricultural Quality Standards boost trade and support shift towards sustainable food systems
• 28 October 2021 - UNECE launches project to build countries’ capacities for the circular economy transition at Regional Policy Dialogue on Economic Cooperation
• 29 September 2021 - United Nations issues guidance on negotiating trade agreements for increasing trade resilience in times of crisis and pandemic
• 22 September 2021 - UN regional commissions launch policy brief on transforming food systems
• 21 September 2021 - The Sustainability Pledge is gathering momentum with commitments from across the garment and footwear industry, government, campaign groups and academia
• 1 September 2021 - UNECE releases handbook to help countries in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus foster Innovative, High-Growth Enterprises
• 19 July 2021 - UNECE and the European Investment Bank strengthen cooperation to support countries’ sustainable development efforts
• 9 July 2021 - UN/CEFACT standards advance sustainable use of maritime resources
• 20 May 2021 - UNECE launches ‘The Sustainability Pledge’ for measurable and verifiable sustainability in the garment and footwear sector
• 22 April 2021 - Countries step up commitments for circular and sustainable resource use, leveraging multilateral cooperation at UNECE’s 69th Commission session
• 25 February 2021 - UN/CEFACT standards help to tighten the net on illegal fishing

• 3-5 April 2023 -Virtual Side events for the Seventieth Commission Session. Please register here: https://forms.office.com/e/UqFnzwC3fc 
  

• 5 July 2022- Circular Economy Agriculture in Serbia - First National Policy Dialogue | UNECE 
• 6 April 2022 (17:15-18:30) - Policy Dialogue on Institutional Arrangements for the Circular Economy and the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. Recording of the meeting - Circular Economy and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources – Institutional Arrangements - YouTube
• 25 May 2022 -  Webinar: Enhancing the contribution of MSMEs in the facilitation of the circular economy transition & green post COVID-19 resurgence | UNECE
• Live meeting - 15 November 2022 - Regional Policy Dialogue: Sustainable and Innovation-Enhancing Procurement to support Circular Transition in the UNECE region | UNECE
• Live meeting in Tajikistan - 6 September 2022 - 1st National Policy Dialogue - Circular Economy in Tajikistan - Improving Traceability of Products Along International Value Chains | UNECE 
• Live meeting in Serbia - 5 July 2022 - 1st National Policy Dialogue on the Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector | UNECE

• IISD's Trade and Sustainability Hub 2021, on occasion of the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference, Session 20 “Trade in Circularity: Perspectives of developing and transition economies”
  2 December 2021, Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland
  Recording
  The virtual discussion explored the interconnections between trade policies and circular economy concepts by providing insights on specific sectors, opportunities, and challenges for developing and transition economies through concrete examples.

• Fifth session of the Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships
  29 November - 30 November 2021, Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 1, Switzerland
  Presentations
  The session explored ways for the Working Party to contribute to more high-quality projects in the sphere of circular economy through its People-first PPP approach for the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Thirty-first Session of the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6)
  24 November - 26 November 2021, Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 1, Switzerland
  Presentations
  The special panel “Circular economy and regulatory cooperation and standardization” (Item 9) explored alignment of standards with the circular economy approaches with special focus on market surveillance, risk management, quality infrastructure, gender-responsive standardization and standardization in education.

• Future-proofing Supply of Critical Minerals for Net-Zero: Cross-sectoral Perspectives
  23 November 2021, Virtual and Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 1, Switzerland
  Recording
  The discussion explored how minerals are mined, distributed, tracked through supply chains, re-used and recycled effectively and ethically for a circular economy.

• SPECA Economic Forum “Sustainable Transport and Trade for a Green and Inclusive Economy after the pandemic”
  17 November 2021, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
  Presentations and Statements
  Special sessions discussed the principles of circular economy in sustainable transport, trade and tourism in the SPECA countries.

• Sixteenth session of the SPECA Working Group on Trade
  16 November 2021, Tashkent Uzbekistan
  Documentation and Presentations
  The session reflected on the progress in SPECA region in applying best practices, measures, and procedures, focusing on the cross-cutting nature of energy and water resources management and the progress towards the circular economy.

• Roundtable “Circular Economy – Fostering Circularity in Food Trade”
  16 November 2021, Online, Palais des Nations, Switzerland
  Recording
  The virtual discussion explored the links between circular economy and agri-food production, trade and standards, including in relation to food loss and waste.

• First meeting of the Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy
  10 November 2021, Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland
  Presentations
  Experts discussed perspectives, available solutions and priorities for advancing ESG traceability and transparency of value chains in priority industries for the circular transition, including agri-food and fishery, garment and footwear, minerals, transport and waste management.

• Thirteenth session of the Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies
  1- 2 November 2021, On-line and Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 2, Switzerland
  Documentation and Presentations
  Policy seminar “Leveraging innovation for the circular economy”, organized on the sidelines of the session, discussed how UNECE countries can further encourage innovative entrepreneurship for a circular economy.

• Regional Policy Dialogue "Harnessing trade and economic cooperation for the transition to a circular economy in UNECE region"
  28 October 2021, Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland
  Recording
  The event launched the project “Accelerating the transition towards a more circular economy in the UNECE region” charting the way forward to in-depth discussions on the gaps, potentials and member States’ experience in the transition to a circular economy.

• High-level Political Forum 2021 “Making the circular transition work for a transformative and prosperous post-COVID recovery”
  12 July 2021
  Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland and New York, United States
  Recording
  The session brought together leaders from government, business, campaign groups and international organizations to contribute to an accelerated shift towards more circular and resilient economic models.

• Sixth session of the Steering Committee on Trade Capacity and Standards
  21 June - 22 June 2021, Palais des Nations, room Tempus 2, Switzerland
  Presentations and Statements
  The session featured discussion on circular economy. The secretariat stressed how UNECE, through its trade-related work, could contribute to addressing the pressing challenge of transitioning to a circular economy. Committee endorsed programmes of work of the Trade Subprogramme, Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies as well Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards, which reflects future work on the sphere of circular economy.

• Fourteenth session of the Committee on Innovation, Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships
  2 June - 4 June 2021, Online and Palais des Nations, room Tempus 2, Switzerland
  Documentation and Presentations
  The Committee endorsed policy recommendations related to the circular economy and discussed how innovation policy and public private partnerships can build a more productive, sustainable, inclusive and circular economy.

• Sixty-ninth session of the Commission “Promoting Circular Economy and Sustainable Use on Natural Resources in the UNECE Region”
  20 April - 21 April 2021, Palais des Nations, Room XVII, Switzerland
  Statements and Presentations, Recording
  At the session governments announced commitments for bold action to strengthen measures for circularity and sustainable resource use. Two roundtables “Circular Energy, Mobility and Digital Transformation Towards Cradle -to-Cradle Models” and “Supply Chain Traceability and Sustainability” provided an opportunity for experience-sharing on better management of natural resources and improved supply chain traceability for transition to circular economy business models.

• 27th Session - UN/CEFACT Plenary
  19 April - 20 April 2021, Palais des Nations, room Tempus 2, Switzerland
  Documentation
  The session adopted a far-reaching package of solutions in support of a circular economy.

• Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
  19 March - 18 March 2021, Virtual meeting, Geneva, Switzerland
  Recording
  Special sessions of the forum were dedicated to the unlocking the potential of advanced technologies for circular and sustainable value chains in the garment and footwear sectors as well as to sustainable production and consumption for the circular economy.

ECTD extra-budgetary projects of relevance to Circular Economy

2022-2025: Reinforcing the Innovation Ecosystem in the UNECE Region to Promote Innovation and Digital Technologies for Sustainable Development and for the Circular Economy Transition

2021-2024: Building Cross-border Cooperation for Sustainable Trade in the SPECA Subregion

2021-2024: Accelerating the Transition Towards a More Circular Economy in the UNECE Region

2021-2023: Fostering Resilient, Diversified and Sustainable Value Chains in the Eurasian Region after COVID-19

2019-2022: Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector

2021: Global Initiative Towards post-Covid-19 MSME Sector – MSME Surge Project

Sustainability Pledge

[email protected]

Standards for the SDGs - UNECE Portal

Featured publications and briefs in support of Circular Economy

• Circular STEP Policy Brief: Accelerating the Circular Economy Transition: Policy Options for Harnessing the Power of Trade and Economic Cooperation (Dec. 2022)

• Promoting Sustainable Trade and Circular Economy in SPECA Countries: State of Play and Way Forward (Draft), UNECE (Nov. 2021)
• Transforming Food Systems, UNECA, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA, and UNECE (Sept. 2021)
• Supporting Innovative High-Growth Enterprises in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus, UNECE (Aug. 2021)
• Circular Economy and the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: Trends and Opportunities in the UNECE Region, UNECE (Feb. 2021)

ECTD policy tools in support of the Circular Economy

• People-first Public-Private Partnerships Evaluation Methodology for the Sustainable Development Goals
  11 November 2021
• Code of Good Practice: reducing food loss and ensuring optimum handling of fresh fruit and vegetables along the value chain
  21 May 2021
• Building Back Better: Using Platforms to Enable Sharing and Progress towards the Circular Economy
  7 May 2021
• Building Back Better: Innovation-enhancing Procurement for Sustainable Development
  7 May 2021
• Call to Action for Traceability, Transparency, Sustainability and Circularity of Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector
  18 March 2021
• Recommendation 46 “Enhancing Traceability and Transparency of Sustainable and Circular Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector”
  8 February 2021
• Guidelines on Promoting People-first Public-Private Partnerships Waste-to-Energy Projects for the Circular Economy (Draft)
  15 December 2020
• Towards the Circular Economy - Innovation Policies for Sustainable Production and Consumption
  12 February 2018

Circular STEP was launched in April 2022 to “step-up” the circular economy transition, filling gaps and creating synergies among the many practical and value-creating initiatives in the sphere of the circular economy. Its objective is to develop and disseminate evidence-based international good policy practices and unite experts from national, regional, and local governments, business and academic community, civil society from the UNECE region. The circular economy is a very wide topic, Circular STEP has started by zooming into eight areas: Trade, Innovation-Enhancing Procurement, Waste Management, Small and Medium Enterprises, Traceability of Value Chains, Financing, Digital Solutions, Institutional Arrangements. The activities of the network are demand driven, to address the priorities and needs of UNECE Member States. The network is maintained within a project “Accelerating the transition towards a more circular economy in the UNECE region” (multi-agency UNDA project, 2021-2024). ECTD regularly sends out newsletters, updating members about ongoing activities. More information about Circular Step is available in the brochure here.

Join the Circular STEP by submitting the questionnaire (Circular STEP: Membership Questionnaire (office.com).

Should you have any questions - please contact us at [email protected].