National Circularity Gap Metric - Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative

CGR Ireland
CGR Denmark
CGR The United Kingdom
CGR Switzerland

The power of countries to close the Circularity Gap

Why CGR Countries?

Countries are leading change agents for the circular transition. They have the mandate to develop national legislation, can create an enabling environment and incentives to drive the transition, and are the leading actors in supranational and multilateral coordination. As lead investors in infrastructure, government buildings and assets, their procurement strategy can kick-start circularity at scale. This makes countries critical facilitators to help close the global Circularity Gap.

Circularity Gap Report for Countries

More and more countries are recognising the circular economy as a means to make their economies more competitive, improve living conditions for growing populations, help meet emissions targets and avoid deforestation. But how countries reach an ecologically safe and socially just development space for their people varies greatly. The Circularity Gap Report for Countries provides insight into the best interventions to boost circularity on a national level and the tools to monitor progress.

The case of Quebec

Quebec is just 3.5% circular, but circular economy strategies have the potential to halve Quebec’s yearly resource consumption of 271 million tonnes and double its circularity rate.

The first regional Circularity Gap Report published in partnership with RECYC-QUÉBEC presents six scenarios to narrow Quebec's Circularity Gap. While the world’s circularity sits at 8.6%, the Canadian province of Quebec trails behind—cycling just 3.5% of the materials it consumes. This is according to our new Circularity Gap Report Quebec, which deep dives into the intricacies of the province’s economy—pinpointing opportunities to jump start its own circular journey. The report presents circular strategies across six key sectors, and highlights how Quebec's circularity can climb from 3.5% to 9.8%, further outlining the co-benefits this transformational shift could bring. This first regional Circularity Gap Report shines a light on the power of provinces, positioning Quebec as a key agent for change and promising incubator for circularity.

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The case of Austria

The Circularity Gap Report Austria is the first in which the global methodology was applied to an individual country and provides the Austrian political and business arena with an evidence base to explore the path towards circularity. The report identifies which interventions may be best placed to improve circularity and provides suggested measures that could boost Austria's circularity rate from the current 9.7% to an estimated 37.4%.
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The case of Denmark

Denmark is already excelling in many areas of sustainability, positioning itself as an ambitious frontrunner in the race to net-zero. It already boasts mostly-renewable electricity generation, with targets to achieve 100% green electricity by 2027 and entirely renewable energy by 2050.However, Denmark’s material consumption is more than three times higher than the estimated ‘sustainable’ level.

Circular economy strategies can help the country reduce its material use by 39% and cut its carbon footprint by 42%, bringing it back within safe limits of the planet. The Circularity Gap Report Denmark shows possible ways forward.

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The case of India

We are thrilled to announce that Circle Economy and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) are laying the groundwork for the Circularity Gap Report (CGR®) India!

In collaboration with our partners in India, we are delving into circular economy data and developing a robust methodology to shape the future of this report. Our goal is to create reliable insights that will empower decision-makers across governments, industries, and academia. This groundwork is essential in deciding whether to proceed with developing the Circularity Gap Report India.
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The case of Ireland

Widespread adoption of circular economy principles like reuse and recycling could reduce Ireland's carbon emissions by up to 32%, according to the Circularity Gap Report Ireland. The report analyses Ireland’s material consumption and carbon emissions profile and the potential for circular economy strategies to mitigate environmental impacts.

This report provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of Ireland’s current national material flows and level of circularity based on a methodology that allows for international comparisons of Ireland’s performance relative to peer countries. Circularity Gap Reports establish a baseline circularity level for a local, regional or national economy. They provide insights into policy interventions to help boost circularity and provide the tools to monitor progress.

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The case of the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a global frontrunner in the race to circularity with a Circularity Metric of 24.5%. However, the government has ambitious goals: an economy that is 50% circular by 2030 and 100% circular by 2050. The Circularity Gap Report, the Netherlands, recommends wide-ranging ways in which the economy can pivot away from its linear habits across four key sectors: agriculture, construction, manufacturing and energy. The suggested strategies could triple the Dutch metric from 24.5% to 70%.
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The case of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's vision of the circular economy centres on sustainable development: a means for prosperous lives within the ecological limits of our planet, with the workforce an essential lever for achieving this goal. Our Circularity Gap Report Northern Ireland finds that the country has the power to transform its economy: by doubling its circularity, it can halve the resources needed to fulfil its residents' needs and wants, opening up avenues to slash emissions and reach its net-zero goals.
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The case of Norway

At 2.4%, Norway's circularity rate is below global average (8.6%). 97.6% of materials consumed each year are never cycled back into the Norwegian economy.

With the climate emergency and the EU's decision to strive for full circularity looming over Norway, the need for a circular transition is urgent. Our report reveals that the country has the potential to increase its circularity up twenty times and become a pioneer in the circular economy. It dives into six scenarios that could contribute to the necessary changes towards a sustainable, circular economy.
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The case of the Poland

A vision for a circular Poland centres on resilience and sustainable development: self-sufficiency and prosperity within the ecological limits of our planet. Our Circularity Gap Report Poland finds that the country has the power to transform its economy: by nearly doubling its circularity, it can reduce the resources needed to fulfil its residents' needs and wants by 40%—while cutting its emissions in half.
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The case of Scotland

Scotland is hailed as a world leader for environmental action, boasting ambitious goals for net-zero and a well established Circular Economy Strategy.

Its current level of consumption, however, far surpasses our planet's ecological limits. Our Circularity Gap Report Scotland finds that this could change: the country has the power to transform its economy.

By implementing circular strategies, Scotland can increase its circularity by nine-fold, and nearly halve the resources needed to fulfil its residents' needs and wants, while cutting emissions by 43%.
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The case of Sweden

Sweden's emissions reduction goals are the most ambitious worldwide: net-zero by 2045. But the energy transition is only part of the story. Our Circularity Gap Report Sweden finds that Sweden must—and can—do more to become a true climate champion. The key lies in building its circular economy to shrink its large material footprint.
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The case of Switzerland

Switzerland is a trendsetter when it comes to environmental action: it has decarbonised its electricity sector and is among the world’s best recyclers of municipal solid waste. It also boasts ambitious climate targets, while the canton of Zurich has enshrined the circular economy in its constitution.

However, the country’s consumption is too high—surpassing what our planet can sustain. By transitioning to a circular economy, Switzerland can cut its material use by 33% and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 43%, shaping a truly sustainable system. The Circularity Gap Report Switzerland lights the way.
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The case of the The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Transitioning to a resource-light and low-carbon circular economy is a means to this end. Our Circularity Gap Report the United Kingdom, delivered in collaboration with Deloitte, highlights the role and importance of the circular economy and presents opportunities to reduce material consumption in the UK while doubling its circularity.
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The power of countries to close the Circularity Gap

Why CGR Countries?

Circularity Gap Report for Countries

The case of Quebec

The case of Austria

The case of Denmark

The case of India

The case of Ireland

The case of the Netherlands

The case of Northern Ireland

The case of Norway

The case of the Poland

The case of Scotland

The case of Sweden

The case of Switzerland

The case of the The United Kingdom

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