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Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency

In recent years, circular economy (CE) and resource efficiency (RE) have become central to the G7 / G20 process and the sustainable development agenda, as well as the response to climate change. A circular economy aims to realise resource circulation. It is not a one-way, but a circulative flow in procurement, production, consumption, disposal through recycling, reuse, reproduction, resource-saving product development, and sharing.

What's New

Briefing Note

International Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution - Past discussions and future perspectives

Author:
Based on UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) resolution 5/14 'Ending plastic pollution', adopted in March 2022, a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution is to be developed. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastic pollution has started and INC4 was organised in April 2024. This article analyses the...
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Policy Report

Our Actions for a Resource-efficient Future: Following up G7 Progress on Toyama Framework on Material Cycles and 5-year Bologna Roadmap

Author:
G7 Resource Efficiency Alliance Members
This synthesis report has been produced as a follow-up activity of the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency on both the Toyama Framework on Material Cycles (2016) and the 5-year Bologna Roadmap (2017) adopted at the G7 Environment Ministers’ Meetings, conducted under an initiative of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. Reports on actions by the...
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Fact Sheet

Our Actions for a Resource-efficient Future: Following Up G7 Progress on Toyama Framework on Material Cycles and 5-year Bologna Roadmap

Author:
This factsheet was developed as a follow-up of the Toyama Framework on Material Cycles and the 5-year Bologna Roadmap produced by the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency under the initiative of Ministry of the Environment, Japan. The results were compiled by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). Full report on “Our Actions for a...
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Keyword

Keyword 01: International policy trends of Resource Efficiency/ Circular Economy with focus on policy development

Resource Efficiency (RE) and Circular Economy (CE) are now under the spotlight in the international community. The increased global attention to RE and CE has been triggered by the EU’s Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (2011), and its Circular Economy Policy Package (2015). This Keyword document provides an overview of current global policy trends on RE and CE, as well as Japan's actions for CE.

Expert's View

Opportunities and Challenges for Establishing a Route for Recyclables that Targets Valuable Materials
-The case of a model source separation project and expansion to the entire city of Da Nang, Viet Nam-

Yasuhiko Hotta, Makoto Tsukiji and Ngoc-Bao Pham, IGES
July 2019

Outline of Speech at the STS Forum (7 October 2018, Kyoto)
Regional Circular and Ecological Sphere (Regional CES)

Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES
October 2018

(Commentary for the WCEF 2018) Japan’s experience: World Circular Economy Forum 2018 offers a new opportunity for circular economy

Chika AOKI, IGES
March 2018

Publications

Briefing Note
International Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution - Past discussions and future perspectives
Policy Report
Our Actions for a Resource-efficient Future: Following up G7 Progress on Toyama Framework on Material Cycles and 5-year Bologna Roadmap
Fact Sheet
Our Actions for a Resource-efficient Future: Following Up G7 Progress on Toyama Framework on Material Cycles and 5-year Bologna Roadmap
Discussion Paper
CIrculating and Ecological Economy
Circulating and Ecological Economy - Regional and Local CES: An IGES Proposal
Report Chapter
1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Targets and options for reducing lifestyle carbon footprints
Policy Brief
Proposals to Strengthen Japan’s Domestic Measures and Regional Cooperation on Stable and Environmentally Sound Plastic Scrap Recycling: Response to China’s Ban on Imports of Plastic Scrap

Relevant Projects

Associated Events

Past Event
COP29 Japan Pavilion Side Event

Shaping Global Standards through Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP) and Global Circularity Protocol (GCP)

As included in the outcome of the first Global Stocktake at COP28, circular economy approaches are recognized as an indispensable tool for climate solutions. The essential role of businesses in promoting global circularity, thereby meeting...
Location:
Hybrid
Languages:
English / Japanese
(Simultaneous interpretation)
Past Event
Climate Security Webinar Series

IGES Perspective on the G7 Hiroshima Summit Outcomes

While re-confirming their commitment towards the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement, the G7 Hiroshima Leaders' Communiqué did not include new and specific targets or actions to achieve that goal. On the other hand, it emphasised the need for "various
Location:
Online
Languages:
Japanese / English (Simultaneous interpretation)
(Simultaneous interpretation)
Past Event
International Online Conference

Innovations in citizen engagement toward advancing the decarbonisation of cities and lifestyles

The need to decarbonise our lifestyles to help limit global warming to 1.5°C is now widely recognized, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group III titled Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate
Location:
Online
Languages:
Japanese / English (Simultaneous interpretation)
(Simultaneous interpretation)

Associated News

Research Unit:
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Topic:
Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy
SDGs:
Goal 12. Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 14. Life Below Water