PACE Partner the International Labour Organization (ILO) is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda: 

• Integrate and advance decent work in the transition to a circular economy for electronics (Electronics, CTA 10; Textiles, CTA 9; Plastics, CTA 9)

Ambition 

The report ‘Greening with Jobs - World Employment and Social Outlook 2018’ examines environmental sustainability in the world of work to support a strengthening of the global and regional partnerships in the area of skills development for a green transition. It aims to promote cross-border knowledge-sharing with regional and international approaches to skills development for the green transition, which can in turn address the competitiveness concerns of individual countries.  

Objectives for 2021  

This edition of the World Employment and Social Outlook focuses on how climate change and environmental degradation will impact the labour markets, affecting both the volume and quality of employment, and quantifies the shifts expected to take place within and between sectors. It shows that there is scope for policies in the world of work to advance environmental sustainability, and for environmental policies to ensure decent work. It acknowledges a coherent and integrated legal framework is a step in this direction and provides policy recommendations that combine decent work issues with environmental regulations, and provide workers with the right set of skills to transition to sectors with employment growth, and also to better jobs. Moreover, it underlines the urgent need to improve the understanding of the mechanisms through which a country-specific policy mix can have an impact on skills development for the green transition. In recognition of this need, the ILO is following up on the analysis with a view to developing detailed policy recommendations for each country that could lead to technical assistance to the countries surveyed. 

Partners 

ILO 

PACE Partners World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Procter & Gamble, the Coca-Cola Company and Unilver are contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

1. Agree which plastics can be eliminated and prepare the market to phase them out 

Ambition 

The Business Call for a UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution is open call from leading businesses across the world encouraging UN member states to agree to start negotiating a binding global agreement on plastic pollution at the UNEA 5.2. By harmonising regulatory standards, mandating the development of national targets and action plans, defining common metrics and methodologies, and supporting innovation and infrastructure development, a UN treaty on plastic pollution would be able to help drive the transition to a circular economy for plastic at speed and scale. WWF, the Boston Consulting Group and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation played a founding role in setting up the Business Call through their publication of the Business Case for a UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution report. 

Objectives for 2021 

In 2021, the focus will be on increasing signatories to the business call by including leading businesses across the plastics value chain. 

Partners 

World Wide Fund for Nature, Ellen MacArthur Foundation (PACE Partners) - for the Business Case Report 

Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company and Unilever (PACE Partners) - for the Business Call 

See the full list of the Business Call signatories here  

PACE Partner World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

2. Incentivize and support product design for reuse and recycling of plastics

Ambition 

With a no plastic in nature agenda, Plastic Smart Cities is supporting cities and coastal centers in taking bold action to stop plastic pollution, with the goal to reduce plastics leakage into nature by 30% in the next years and achieve zero leakage by 2050. The program is focusing on six collections: financial instruments, prevention, collection, reuse, recycling and disposal. 

Objectives for 2021 

In 2021, Plastic Smart Cities will complete the baseline waste assessment studies for the 25 pilot cities in South East Asia. 

Partners 

World Wide Fund for Nature (PACE Partner) 

PACE Partner TerraCycle is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

7. Strategically plan sorting and recycling facilities in compliance with trade regulations 

6. Set-up functioning collection systems

Ambition 

Through the Zero Waste Box Program, TerraCycle aims to support consumers and companies to recycle hard-to-recycle products by providing an all-inclusive recycling solution. The system consists of boxes and other solutions to collect specific waste that are convenient and easy to use, making it the perfect option for households, schools, businesses, manufacturing facilities, and events looking to offset their impacts and lighten their footprint. The items are then collected by TerraCycle, sorted, cleaned, separated by material and processed. 

Objectives 

By the end of 2021, TerraCycle will have more than 15 million people using and benefitting from TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box service worldwide. In 2021, TerraCycle launched the Zero Waste Box service in two additional countries - New Zealand and The Netherlands - making it now available in 8 markets globally. 

Partners 

TerraCycle (PACE Partner) 

PACE Partner TerraCycle is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

6. Set-up functioning collection systems

3. Address hygiene and safety concerns to promote plastics reuse

4. Stimulate consumer adoption of plastic reuse 

Ambition 

Loop Store aims to create a zero-waste system by replacing single-use plastics. It is enabling consumer goods companies to deliver their products in durable packaging that is collected at end-of-use, cleaned, refilled, and reused. 

Objectives 

Global in-store launches: In 2021 Loop began its transition from pilot to scale-up by launching Loop’s reuse system in physical stores with the leading grocery retailer in the markets where Loop is live. Loop will have launched in 100+ physical stores across 4 continents by the end of 2021. 

First QSR launch: in July 2021, Loop launched a pilot with McDonald’s in the UK. By end of 2021, Loop will expand its Quick service restaurant (QSR) footprint with McDonald's and also plans to launch pilots with Burger King for reusable beverage cup and take-away food packaging. 

Partners 

TerraCycle (PACE Partner) 

PACE Partners Closed Loop Partners, the Coca-Cola Company, Procter & Gamble and Unilever are contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda 

• Support Manufacturers to Increase Sourcing of Secondary Components (Capital Equipment, CTA 8)

• Strategically Plan Sorting and Recycling Facilities, in Compliance with Trade Regulations (Plastics, CTA 7) 

Ambition 

The Closed Loop Infrastructure Group (CLIG) aims to build a circular economy supported by strong infrastructure that ensures all valuable materials – from plastics to paper, glass and aluminium – are recovered after use, kept in circulation and never go to waste. CLIG funds replicable, scalable and sustainable recycling and circular economy infrastructure projects across collection, sortation, processing and new technologies in recycling. Each of the funds in the Infrastructure Group invest alongside one another to bridge existing financing gaps, scale solutions and build on synergies across the funds’ networks to scale circular economy infrastructure across North America. 

Objectives for 2021 

In 2021, the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group will undergo third-party verification of impact processes and performances and continue to support investees in its Closed Loop Beverage Fund and Closed Loop Infrastructure Fund. The Group also launched the Closed Loop Circular Plastics Fund as an industry-led investment fund that provides catalytic financing to build circular economy infrastructure, upgrade recycling facilities and spur technological innovations to source, process and return post-consumer and post-industrial polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plastic into manufacturing supply chains in the U.S. & Canada for use as feedstock for future products and packaging. 

Partners 

Closed Loop Partners, the Coca-Cola Company, Procter & Gamble and Unilever (PACE Partners) 

3M, Colgate Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, Keurig Dr. Pepper, PepsiCo, The Walmart Foundation, Amazon, Danone North America, Danone Waters of America, Nestlé Waters North America, Starbucks, DOW, Lyondellbasell and Nova Chemicals 

PACE Partner Closed Loop Partners and Ocean Conservancy are contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

2. Incentivize and support product design for reuse and recycling of plastics 

10. Investigate environmental and socio-economic impacts of renewable material inputs for plastics 

Ambition 

The Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag has committed more than $15 million to launch the Beyond the Bag Initiative that aims  to reinvent the single-use plastic retail bag by identifying, testing and implementing viable design solutions and models that more  sustainably serve the purpose of the current retail bag. The consortium members support the research in exploring reusable systems, altogether bagless solutions and innovative materials for a less wasteful future.

Objectives for 2021 

In 2021, the Consortium has analysed a pool of over 450 sustainable bag submissions from more than 60 countries and selected nine winners to the Beyond the Bag Challenge based on their ability to maintain the convenience of the single-use plastic bag, delight the customer, complement existing retail environments, reach a broad range of consumers and create long-term value. In August, the Consortium launched a series of tests and first-of-a-kind multi-retailer pilots to advance sustainable alternatives to the single-use plastic bag and accelerate their potential to scale.

Partners 

Closed Loop Partners, Ocean Conservancy (PACE Partners) 

CVS Health, Target, Walmart, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Dollar General, Kroger, The TJX Companies, Inc., Ulta Beauty, Ahold  Delhaize USA Brands, Albertsons Companies, Hy-Vee, Meijer, Wakefern Food Corp., Walgreens, Conservation International and Ideo 

PACE Partner Novo Nordisk is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

2. Incentivize and support product design for reuse and recycling of plastics 

3. Address hygiene and safety concerns to promote plastics reuse 

Ambition 

In response to the issues such as growing consumption, industrialisation and urbanisation which threaten both the environment and the health of people around the world, Novo Nordisk has adopted a new environmental strategy – Circular for Zero – the aspiration to have zero environmental impact. Through this strategy, among other goals, Novo Nordisk aims to find new ways to design products that can be recycled or re-used, reshape our business to minimise consumption and waste, and work with suppliers who share Novo Nordisk’s goals.  

Objectives for 2021 

A key focus area in the Circular for Zero strategy is Circular Products. Novo Nordisk has developed a framework for circular product design that defines product circularity for devices and secondary packaging and sets direction towards zero environmental impact. Circularity is achieved through four levers that span the entire product flow: (1) Design for expected lifetime, (2) Design for sustainable materials, (3) Design for no waste in production, and (4) Design for recycling after use. 

CO2, resource consumption and waste are the key environmental challenges, and Novo Nordisk measures how well their products perform on circularity measured as the CO2 impact per patient per year, the share of sustainable plastic as well as the recyclability of the product at the end-of-life. All device development projects use these three indicators to guide decisions on how to make products more circular. 

Partners 

Novo Nordisk (PACE Partner) 

PACE Partner Novo Nordisk is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

6. Set-up functioning collection systems

3. Address hygiene and safety concerns to promote plastics reuse 

Ambition 

Novo Nordisk has a clear ambition to become a fully circular company and, in this spirit, is initiating the Insulin Pen Take-back Programme with the aim to target an urgency that the pharmaceutical industry can unite on. For people living with diabetes, their insulin pen is an essential daily companion. Even if an insulin pen consists of around 77% plastic, it cannot be thrown into the plastic recycling bin along with empty juice bottles and food packaging. The Insulin Pen Take-back Programme will launch a take-back pilot from users and scale up the recycle process used to dismantle the pens and reuse the plastic and glass parts in new products. 

Objectives 

The programme pilot in Denmark has resulted in the creation of a 15-partners cross public and private partnership, Returpen. In order to recycle the plastic parts, Novo Nordisk was able to work with a Danish design firm to create office chairs from the discarded plastic and lamps made from the glass from the discarded insulin vials. The upcoming objectives of this programme are to conclude the pilot programme in Denmark, to scale up the programme - specifically by designing pilot solutions for the UK, France, Brazil, China and the US - and to develop a take-back strategy roadmap.

Partners 

Novo Nordisk (PACE Partner) 

See the full list of partners of the Denmark pilot Returnpen here 

PACE Partner TNO is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda 

• Guide and Support New Business Models for Environmental, Financial, and Social Triple-Win (Electronics, CTA 4; Textiles, CTA 4; Plastics, CTA 5)

Ambition 

The Sustainable Business Model Innovation Framework aims to support organizations to make a systemic shift to sustainable business. It assists the steps of the business model innovation process to support decision-making and attitudes towards circular and sustainable innovations. It combines multi-actor and multi-value business model design with multi-level analysis from the national, regional, sector and value chain economic structures, as well as impact and lifecycle analysis and material flow models and approaches. 

Objectives for 2021 

TNO has expanded its work on Sustainable Business Model Innovation. Currently, a portfolio of several projects on ‘collaborative business modelling’ has been set up and a broader team is working on several national and international applications in circularization of, among others, Smart Industry (Industry 4.0, Materials Passports and a circular business model typology), flooring industry, small food supply chains and food waste. In 2021, the focus lies on the expansion of the portfolio on Collaborative Business Modelling, on the concept for governance of the Materials Passports and on the community of practice in circularity and servitization in Smart Industry.   

Partners 

TNO (PACE Partner) 

BoP Inc, Nyenrode Business University, The Next Organization, University of Twente