30.06.2019

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CIRCULAR BALTIC 2030 - Circular economy in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) and beyond is a report produced by the Swedish independent think tank Global Utmaning - initiated and paid for by the BSSSC through Interreg funds. The report is developed as a part of the BSSSC contribution as a co-partner to the 10th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region organised in Gdańsk in Poland in June 2019. It is a collection of best practices of circular economy supporting the implementation of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region for the EU member states Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden and partner countries, Norway and Russia.

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The report showcases 28 examples that can inspire other actors in the region and globally. Together, these illustrate some of the current trends and future needs of a shift towards a circular economy. It concludes that while many of the examples concern practices of industrial symbiosis, waste, resource management, reutilisation of used products and materials, the potential of a truly circular economy goes much further. This encompasses the need to adopt and move towards a proactive approach to a circular economy whereby all services, materials and products, in their core design, are made to support a circular flow of resources. Furthermore, it highlights examples of how regions, countries and cities are adopting legal frameworks, other incentives and new methods to support a broader, society-wide, transition towards a circular economy. A common theme among all practices is the importance of cooperation; multi-sectoral and holistic approaches are necessary in order to facilitate partnerships between public actors, private actors and citizens whereby one person’s waste becomes another person’s resource. This is why the cases conclude that policy coherence and partnerships for a circular economy are key to the necessary advancement.

 

The cases in this report highlight opportunities for a circular economy to accelerate local, regional, national and global sustainable development. Each case is related to the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and Targets; this is to underscore the importance of the transition towards a circular economy for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

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One of the prioritised policy areas of the BSSSC is sustainable development and climate change. We believe that an innovative circular economy can bring us one step closer in reaching several of the key targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We therefore need to raise awareness on how an innovative circular economy can bring us closer in reaching several of the key targets of the SDGs. According to the OECD, 65 percent of the 169 targets of the SDGs will not be reached without the commitment of local and regional governments as they are responsible for almost 60 percent of all public investments in the OECD area (2016) and for almost 40 percent worldwide. This highlights the important role that local and regional authorities have in the work on reaching the SDGs.

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This highlights the necessity of raising awareness on how an innovative circular economy can bring us one step closer in reaching several of the key goals and targets. The important role that local and regional authorities play in this process should not be underestimated.

BSSSC Chairman Roger Ryberg said: "I hope this collection of 28 best practices of circular economy in the BSR and beyond, will be an inspiration for all stakeholders in the region, from politicians to civil servants, for representatives from NGOs and the private sector. Also, that this collection will foster more public-private partnerships within the circular economy".

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Download the full report below: