Inclusive Circular Economy
Inclusive Circular Economy
Our Objective
This project explores how a truly inclusive circular economy can integrate social and environmental justice into circularity debates and policies. It combines co-creation, global dialogue, and policy outreach to connect diverse local practices with international processes.
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The project was launched on August 2, 2021 and has been concluded.
Summary
The Wyss Academy’s work on Inclusive Circular Economy explores how principles of justice, equity, and sustainability can be embedded into circularity debates and policies. Our aim is to include diverse perspectives, particularly those often left out of global conversations, and to co-create solutions that work across regions, sectors, and scales.
Through co-creation workshops, we brought together Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, and youth to shape shared principles for an inclusive transformation. These ideas evolved into practical action: in 2023, selected proposals for circular food systems and alternatives to extractive livelihoods were presented at the 2291 Festival.
In 2024, we co-developed the policy paper How the Circular Economy Can Revive the Sustainable Development Goals in collaboration with Chatham House. To ground the paper in lived experience, we organized roundtables in cities across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe, gathering insights from local workers and entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and policymakers.
The journey is ongoing, as we continue to translate dialogue into principles, and principles into action.
Project Connections
Timeline
Bringing the Topic to Global Fora
Project Update September 12, 2024
In collaboration with our partners Chatham House and WBCSD, we organized events during Climate Week NYC in September 2024 to present the findings of the co-designed policy paper on Inclusive Circular Economy. To ensure that the voices from the roundtable discussions were heard on the global stage, we produced a video that gives insight into their perspectives and contributions. Looking ahead, we will continue to share our insights and approach to an Inclusive Circular Economy by participating in the Solution Stage on Circular Economy that is part of Action Days at the Building Bridges Conference in Geneva on10th December 2024.
From Knowledge to Action
Project Update April 4, 2023
The co-creation workshops led to the development of principles for a just and sustainable transformation toward a Circular Society. With these principles in place, we shifted our focus to action. In April 2023, we organized two workshops where participants from around the world collaborated to generate practical ideas for implementing a Circular Society. The call for proposals resulted in 27 submissions from 10 countries across four continents, focusing on circular food systems and alternatives to resource-extractive livelihoods. After a pre-selection process, seven video pitches were created and presented at the 2291 Festival. The jury and the audience then selected three winners to receive funding.
Co-Creation of Principles for a Circular Society
Project Update January 1, 2023
Initial Reflections on Inclusive Circular Economy
Project Update May 1, 2021
Team
- Project contact
Project contact
Dr. Fiona Stappmanns
Synthesis Lead
