The global economy is consuming 100 billion tonnes of materials a year for the first time ever, but the cycling rate of resources has gone into reverse.
On 21 January 2020, Circle Economy launched the Circularity Gap Report 2020 in Davos.
Our world is now only 8.6% circular. Of all the minerals, fossil fuels, metals and biomass that enter it each year just 8.6% are cycled back. This has fallen from 9.1% in the two years since our annual report was first launched in 2018. Today, for the first time ever, our global economy is consuming 100 billion tonnes of materials each year and circularity is stuck in reverse.
Closing the circularity gap serves the higher objective of preventing further environmental degradation and social inequality. The end goal is to establish an ecologically safe and socially just operating space for mankind, in which countries have a pivotal role to play.
Some countries operate well within the ecological boundaries of our planet, but without satisfying basic social needs. Other countries do fulfil societal needs but do so by overshooting the sustainable means of the planet. Therefore, all countries are developing.
All countries are unique when it comes to their ecological footprint and ability to provide for their people. Some face similar barriers and many are confronted with the same global trends. This year's Circularity Gap Report examines and extrapolates common challenges and opportunities experienced by distinct country groups and provides action pathways for each.
Visit the Circularity Gap World 2020 site.
