Global Circularity Initiative Set to Deliver 100 Billion Tons of Material Savings by 2050, Slashing Annual CO2 Emissions by 6%

In a significant step towards accelerating the global transition to a circular economy, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the One Planet Network (OPN), hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), announce the release of the “Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP) – Impact Analysis on Climate, Nature, Equity and Business Performance“. This pivotal analysis reveals the significant potential of the GCP to help businesses worldwide revolutionize their operations by accelerating the implementation of circular business practices. 

Key findings from the report indicate that the GCP has the potential to drive some of the following impact: 

• Circular business practices: Adoption of the GCP is expected to be a catalyst for rapid advancement in circular maturity, with the potential to double the pace at which business circularity matures. 
• Material consumption: The GCP has the potential to reduce global material consumption by 4% to 5% between 2026 to 2050. Additional cumulative material savings in this period are 100 to 120 billion tons and are equivalent to the amount of material consumed currently per year. 
• Climate impact: The adoption of the GCP could lead to an additional reduction of GHG emissions between 6% to 7% per year over the period 2026-2050, equivalent to 67 to 76 gigatons of cumulative CO2eq savings. In comparison, this is between 1.3 and 1.5 times current annual global emissions, and equal to 12 times the current annual emissions of the US or 5 times the annual emissions of China. 
• Nature conservation: Significant environmental benefits include an additional decrease of air pollution (PM2.5), on average by 11% to 12% per year, between 2026 and 2050. 

The Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP) is a comprehensive framework to guide businesses measuring, setting targets, disclosing and reporting on resource efficiency and circularity performance, with the overarching goal of accelerating the circular transition and in turn reducing global material consumption and environmental impacts. The analysis reveals that high adoption rates of the GCP across four high impact sectors—manufacturing, construction, transportation, and agriculture—would lead to substantial reductions in material use, carbon emissions, and other environmental indicators. 

The GCP is an essential tool for business, delivering a standardized approach that businesses worldwide can adopt to accelerate their transition to a circular economy. With the Protocol, businesses will be able to measure, report, and improve their circular practices, thereby contributing to global sustainability goals.  - Peter Bakker, President & CEO, WBCSD

As the global community continues to face unprecedented environmental challenges, the GCP offers a timely and actionable solution to help businesses contribute to a more sustainable and regenerative economy. - Jorge Laguna-Celis, Head of One Planet Network

GCP success hinges on its widespread adoption, supported by clear policy guidance and a commitment to data transparency.  

The GCP aims to deliver the first Protocol version by 2025 at COP30 and has four strategic workstreams; (1) Circular Impact Analysis, (2) Corporate Performance and Accountability System (CPAS) for Circularity, (3) Policy Framework for Circularity, and (4) Science-informed targets for Circularity. The workstreams receive strategic and technical guidance from Policy, Business, and Independent Scientific Advisory Committees, and Technical Working Groups. Deloitte Consulting AG and Circle Economy Consulting are providing ongoing technical support to WBCSD and OPN for Workstream 1, in consultation over 60 members of the Technical Working Group and the validation from the Independent Scientific, the Policy and the Business Advisory Committees.  

As we approach COP30 in 2025, the future of the circular economy will be defined by those who act now. Based on the findings from this impact analysis, we invite the business, financial, scientific communities, and civil society to come together and help shape the Global Circularity Protocol into a framework that drives real-world impact. Your insights, expertise, and collaboration are crucial in ensuring this protocol addresses the complexities and challenges of your industry. 

For more information about this work, please reach out to filipe.garcia@wbcsd.org.