PACE Partners Circle Economy, Goldschmeding Foundation, UNEP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation are 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 (Electronics, CTA 10; Textiles, CTA 9; Plastics, CTA 9) 

• Investigate the Socio-Economic Impacts of a Circular Economy for Textiles (Textiles, CTA 10) 

• Investigate Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Renewable Material Inputs for Plastics (Plastics, CTA 10) 

Ambition 

The Circular Jobs monitor is an online tool to provide policymakers, economists, and labour organisations with insights into the relationship between the circular economy and the labour market. These insights facilitate the design of evidence-based strategies for promoting the circular economy, required education pathways, and a benchmark of current circular activity against which to monitor future progress. 

Objectives for 2021  

The objective is to scale through digital tools by extending and increasing the functionality of the Circular Jobs Monitor, including linking data on the trends and evolutions in the labour market over time and monitor practical examples of how circular strategies impact jobs and skills on the Knowledge Hub. 

Partners 

Circle Economy, Goldschmeding Foundation, UNEP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (PACE partners) 

TU Dortmund, University of Sussex Business School, HIVA at KU Leuven 

PACE Partner the Government of Canada is contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda 

• Incentivize and Support Product Design for Reuse and Recycling of Plastics (Plastics, CTA 2)  

• Incentivize and Support Design for Longevity and Recyclability (Textiles, CTA 1) 

Ambition 

The Government of Canada, through the Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenge, is financing Singular Solutions project to develop a BioSustainable™ Additive that could help plastic textile waste to biodegrade in long-term composting landfill facilities, creating topsoil-quality humus without generating harmful microplastics. Through this action, Canada is funding the development of this additive that will contribute to circularity requirements for plastic and textile waste. 

Objectives for 2021 

The Singular Solutions Inc. BioSustainable™ Additive Project is currently at the proof of concept stage, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2021. If chosen, the next steps could consist of developing the pilot production for (1) the recycling of synthetic textile and agricultural films into lumber-like structural materials, (2) the converting of non-usable plastic waste into digestible matter and (3) completing the lab scale development to capture CO2, collect organic waste and use digestible matter to produce bioplastics. 

Partners 

The Government of Canada (Funder, PACE Partner) 

Singular Solutions Inc., Devonshire Group Inc. 

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

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

Ambition 

The Healthy Oceans and Clean Cities Initiative (HOCCI) seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity to support the operationalization and localization of the Philippines’ upcoming National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter (NPOA-ML) and the development of improved data collection and waste management systems. HOCCI aims to enable local governments and communities in the Philippines to reduce marine plastic pollution. Its approach is based on three action levels: 

• Community level: where pilot initiatives are developed and tested. 

• National level: to develop proofs of concept and local implementation mechanisms.  

• Regional and global level: with the aim to contribute to Regional (ASEAN) and global practices and policies (such as the SDGs and UN-Habitat Waste Wise Cities Assessment Tool) 

Objectives for 2021 

In 2021, HOCCI’s main objective is to localize the national plan of action for marine litter in six partnering cities in the Philippines. For this purpose, many activities will be conducted, among which: waste surveys using WaCT (Waste Wise Cities Tool); city stakeholder workshops on 3Rs; developing a marine litter action plan; implementation of the pilots; development of knowledge products, capacity building and/or information, education, and communication; development of three policy papers; monitoring and evaluation of progress in implementing the city marine litter action plan; sharing good practices, lessons learned and future actions. 

Partners 

IGES (PACE Partner) 

UN-Habitat

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

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

5. Guide and support news business models for environmental, financial, and social triple-win  

Ambition 

To be considered sustainable, plastics must be managed within a sustainable materials management system (a Circular Economy) to avoid the creation of waste, toxics and pollution. Sustainable plastics must be part of a holistic and principle-based approach to sustainable material flows.  

RIVM is working with the OECD working group "Considerations and Criteria for Sustainable Plastics from a Chemical Perspective" to develop sustainable criteria from the chemical perspective for plastics.

Objectives

The objective of the OECD working document is to inform designers who select plastics for use in products, as well as policy makers and those who procure products, on considerations and criteria for plastics based on principles of sustainable product design for which there is considerable consensus. 

Partners 

RIVM (PACE Partner) 

OECD working group "Considerations and Criteria for Sustainable Plastics from a Chemical Perspective" joint collaboration of OECD Chemicals Committee and the OECD Working Party on Resource Productivity and Waste. 

PACE Partner the Government of Canada, the Netherlands, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru & Rwanda, the European Union, Coca-Cola Company and Unilever 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 

6. Set-up functioning collection systems 

Ambition 

Canada spearheaded the Ocean Plastics Charter during its 2018 G7 Presidency. The Charter takes a comprehensive lifecycle approach to address plastic pollution and waste, and lays the groundwork to ensure that plastics are designed for reuse and recycling, in order to protect the environment and keep a valuable resource in the economy. To date, 26 governments and over 70 businesses and other organizations have endorsed the Charter. In support of broader international efforts, the Charter is aligned with the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and specifically commitments to achieve sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12) and the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources (SDG 14).  

Objectives for 2021 

The signatories of the Charter commit to take action toward a resource-efficient lifecycle management approach to plastics in the economy by: 

• Sustainable design, production and after-use markets 
• Collection, management and other systems and infrastructure 
• Sustainable lifestyles and education 
• Research, innovation and new technologies 
• Coastal and shoreline action 

To advance the goals of the Charter, the Government of Canada is investing $100 million to support improved waste management in developing countries. Moreover, in order to foster collaboration between all Charter endorsees, share best practices and help turn commitments to action, it is exploring hosting high-level events for Charter endorsees at major international events in 2021. 

Partners 

The Government of Canada, the Netherlands, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru & Rwanda, the European Union, Coca-Cola Company and Unilever (PACE Partners)  

See the full list of partners here 

PACE Partner the Government of the Netherlands 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 

In order to end pollution and reduce CO2 emissions, and to strengthen the demand for recycled materials, the Netherlands commits to working together with partners to internationally promote and realize, a mandatory use of a minimum percentage of recycled material in products, as now stipulated by the European Circular Economy Action Plan. In line with this, the Netherlands is working with partners worldwide, including the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and the Plastic Pacts Network, to ensure, to the extent possible, that we work towards the inclusion of 30% recycled contents on average in new plastic products and packaging by 2030. The Netherlands is conducting a research to identify policy options to contribute to a stronger demand and more resilient market for recycled plastic content. This research will help in steering the discussions, offering research-based policy options and may help speed up the market for secondary materials and applications of recycled content. 

Objectives for 2021  

The Netherlands wants to take steps to promote and realize a mandatory use of a minimum percentage of 30% recycled content in new plastic products and packaging by 2030, starting in an EU context.

Partners 

The Government of the Netherlands (PACE Partner) 

PACE Partner IGES 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 

5. Guide and support news business models for environmental, financial, and social triple-win 

Ambition  

Rethinking Plastics aims to reduce plastic waste leakage into the sea. Its activities and pilot projects cover the management of plastic waste, sustainable consumption and production of plastic as well as the reduction of litter from sea-based sources. More than 20 pilot projects in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will test new approaches or up-scale best practices. Knowledge exchange is fostered through policy dialogues, workshops and conferences, webinars and communication campaigns.

Objectives for 2021  

In 2021, the goal is to accelerate the EU/Japan policy and business dialogue on possible collaboration to create circularity in the market of plastics. For this purpose, Rethinking Plastics is working on a Policy Report on comparative analysis of the EU and Japan policy approaches to circular economy, plastics, and green public procurement. Currently, there are two ongoing policy and business dialogues on these topics. 

Partners 

IGES (PACE Partner) 

European Union (EU), German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ and Expertise France  
 

PACE Partners IGES and the Japan Ministry of Environment are contributing to the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics 

6. Set-up functioning collection systems 

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

Ambition  

Closing the Loop seeks to reduce the environmental impact of cities in ASEAN countries by addressing plastic waste pollution and leakages into the maritime environment. This project aims to make municipal plastic waste management processes more circular, to increase the rate of recovery and reduce the leakage of plastics into the marine environment. 

Objectives for 2021  

To support the achievement of this goal, this project has (1) developed an innovative digital tool to assist local governments in ASEAN countries to monitor and visualize plastic waste leakage and (2) engaged a cluster of ASEAN cities across a coastal basin or watershed area to develop joint actions plans, policies and bankable strategies to address marine plastic litter. Closing the Loop is accelerating action on plastic waste in ASEAN countries and sharing these commitments through relevant regional intergovernmental fora. 

The project ran until April 2021 and built a foundation for future collaboration. From April 2021 onwards, the knowledge gained in the pilot cities is helping to generate funding opportunities to expand the approach in the region and research plastic waste streams and their impacts. 

Partners 

IGES and the Japan Ministry of Environment (PACE Partners) 

UN ESCAP, Local governments in South East Asia, ASEAN and other partners, UOL, NGOs, universities and academic institutions 

PACE Partners the Government of the Netherlands, WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation 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 

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

Ambition 

The European Plastic Pact is a public-private coalition – initiated by the Netherlands and France – that brings together governments and frontrunners from across the whole plastics value chain. They work together towards four goals aimed at (1) design for reusability and recyclability, (2) responsible use of plastics, (3) recycling capacity and (4) the use of recycled content. The Pact supports this work by offering a unique platform to exchange ideas, display good practices and discuss challenges, needed to build a new circular default for all to follow. The Pact runs till 2025. 

This regional Plastic Pact is a part of the New Plastics Economy Initiative from the Ellen McArthur Foundation, of which the Plastics Pact Network is one of the elements to its approach. 

Objectives for 2021  

The pact has released the results of the first projects in the working groups and the first monitoring exercise. In the next months, its structural governance, including the finance mechanism, will be defined and it will achieve the roadmap outcome of identifying an agreed list of prioritized problematic and unnecessary items to be eliminated by Pact members. 

Partners 

The Government of the Netherlands, WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (PACE Partners)

See the full list of signatories here 

See the other Global Plastics Pacts here 

PACE Partner the Government of Canada and Unilever 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 

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

5. Guide and support news business models for environmental, financial, and social triple-win 

Ambition  

The Cananda Plastics Pact (CPP) is creating a circular economy in Canada in which plastic waste is kept in the economy and out of the environment. It is a unique multi-stakeholder, industry-led, cross-value chain collaboration platform which aims to tackle plastic packaging waste and pollution by bringing together businesses, government, non-governmental organizations and other key actors in the local plastics value chain. Canada Plastics Pact Partners are united, working together on achieving clear, actionable targets by the year 2025. 

This national Plastic Pact is a part of the New Plastics Economy Initiative from the Ellen McArthur Foundation, of which the Plastics Pact Network is one of the elements to its approach. 

Objectives for 2021  

The Canada Plastics Pact seeks to define a list of plastic packaging that is to be designated as problematic or unnecessary and take measures to eliminate them. The overall aim is to have 100% of plastic packaging being designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable. The necessary steps to reach this require taking ambitious actions to ensure that at least 50% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled or composted and an average of at least 30% recycled content is used across all plastic packaging. Upon its launch in January 2021, CPP is developing a roadmap to lay out the direction, strategies, and tactics for taking action to 2025. 

Partners 

The Government of Canada and Unilever (PACE Partners) 

See the full list of signatories here 

See the other Global Plastics Pacts here