PACE has a new strategy – to help double global circularity in the next ten years, working towards climate-neutral and inclusive economies. The key question is how can we achieve this? At the core of our Global Goal is the belief that together we can move faster and further, which is why PACE prioritizes collaboration and shared knowledge to accelerate ambition.  

This was the theme of PACE’s session ‘Doubling Global Circularity by 2032’ at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting this year. We brought together key public and private leaders to focus on how we can double global circularity in ten years together. Building on the work of two of PACE's existing initiatives, the Capital Equipment Coalition and the Circular Economy Indicators Coalition, the session examined how to catalyze action across sectors, scale impact, and measure progress. 

Opening the session, PACE Co-Chair Stientje van Veldhoven emphasized how doubling circularity will help us meet climate goals, where currently more than 100 billion tons of resources were used in 2021 but just 8.6% was cycled back into the economy. She also identified what we need to make this transition happen and how PACE, as the global leadership collaboration platform, is uniquely positioned to bring together key public and private leaders to overcome challenges together. 

Throughout the session a number of PACE Leaders raised important points. Frans van Houten, PACE Co-Chair, and PACE Leader Aongus Hegarty from Dell, emphasized the role businesses must play in the transition and detailed their own companies' efforts. Hegarty highlighted that: "Circularity must be led from the top, and understood and actioned across the organization." 

Equally as important is the ability to measure progress in doubling circularity. Naoko Ishii, PACE Board Member, described metrics as “one of the most important areas for action in the circular economy... How to measure progress in a scientific, practical, and accountable way.” Without one shared framework to measure circularity, many issues arise, which is why PACE is working to tackle this. We also heard from PACE Board Member, Leslie Johnston, on the action Laudes Foundation is taking in textiles and PACE Leader, Mustan Lalani, about Tetra Pak’s actions in plastics.  

Drawing the session to a close, Ani Dasgupta highlighted the importance of circular actions in meeting climate goals, using the food system as an example, before stressing the need to accelerate our ambition and have more companies leading the way, working towards doubling global circularity by 2032.  
 

Find out how your organization can join the ambition and work towards PACE’s Global Goal.