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CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Trade and Economic Cooperation for Circular Economy

circular step logo
 

The circular economy is a new and inclusive economic paradigm that aims to minimize pollution and waste, extend product lifecycles, and enable broad sharing of physical and natural assets. It strives for a competitive economy that creates green and decent jobs and keeps resource use within planetary boundaries. Following Member States’ decisions at the 69th Commission session on “Circular economy and the sustainable use of natural resources” and thriving during implementation of decisions of 70th Commission Session on "Digital and Green Transformations for Sustainable Development" UNECE is pooling efforts to help harness the power of trade and economic cooperation for the circular transition.

Approach

UNECE’s Economic Cooperation and Trade Division (ECTD) identified five entry points, within its mandate, for promoting circularity in the UNECE region:

  • waste management (e.g. in agri-food sector);
  • sustainable and innovation-enhancing public procurement;
  • traceability of value chains;
  • standards and regulatory frameworks; and
  • efficiency of trade and logistics chains.
In focus

Register for the first in-person Circular STEP Regional Policy Dialogue in Belgrade, Serbia on 18-19 October 2023 - Circular STEP - Regional Policy Dialogue | UNECE. Register here. The meeting if jointly organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia and UNECE. 

Highlights

Circular Economy related highlights of ECTD serviced normative processes

Media presence (news)
2023 Meetings and events 
2022 Meetings and events
2021 Meetings and events
Extra-budgetary projects

ECTD extra-budgetary projects of relevance to Circular Economy

Reinforcing the Innovation Ecosystem in the UNECE Region to Promote Innovation and Digital Technologies for Sustainable Development and for the Circular Economy Transition (2022-2025)

2022-2025: Reinforcing the Innovation Ecosystem in the UNECE Region to Promote Innovation and Digital Technologies for Sustainable Development and for the Circular Economy Transition

 

 

 

Building Cross-border Cooperation for Sustainable Trade in the SPECA Subregion (2021-2024)

2021-2024: Building Cross-border Cooperation for Sustainable Trade in the SPECA Subregion

 

 

 

Accelerating the Transition Towards a More Circular Economy in the UNECE Region  (2021-2024)

2021-2024: Accelerating the Transition Towards a More Circular Economy in the UNECE Region

 

 

 

Fostering Resilient, Diversified and Sustainable Value Chains in the Eurasian Region after COVID-19 (2021-2023)

2021-2023: Fostering Resilient, Diversified and Sustainable Value Chains in the Eurasian Region after COVID-19

 

 

 

ECTD extra-budgetary Projects of relevance to Circular Economy

2019-2022: Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector

 

 

 

Global Initiative Towards post-Covid-19 MSME Sector – MSME Surge Project (2021)

2021: Global Initiative Towards post-Covid-19 MSME Sector – MSME Surge Project

 

 

 

ECTD solutions in support of the Circular Economy
SustainabilityPledge

Sustainability Pledge

 

 

FeedUP

FeedUP@UN

 

 

 

 

Standards for the SDGs

Standards for the SDGs - UNECE Portal

 

 

Briefs

Featured publications and briefs in support of Circular Economy

Circular Economy - Trade - Policy Brief
Policy tools

ECTD policy tools in support of the Circular Economy

Circular STEP: UNECE multi-stakeholder knowledge sharing network

Circular STEP was launched in April 2022 to “step-up” the circular economy transition, filling gaps and creating synergies among the many practical and value-creating initiatives in the sphere of the circular economy. Its objective is to develop and disseminate evidence-based international good policy practices and unite experts from national, regional, and local governments, business and academic community, civil society from the UNECE region. The circular economy is a very wide topic, Circular STEP has started by zooming into eight areas: Trade, Innovation-Enhancing Procurement, Waste Management, Small and Medium Enterprises, Traceability of Value Chains, Financing, Digital Solutions, Institutional Arrangements. The activities of the network are demand driven, to address the priorities and needs of UNECE Member States. The network is maintained within a projectAccelerating the transition towards a more circular economy in the UNECE region” (multi-agency UNDA project, 2021-2024). ECTD regularly sends out newsletters, updating members about ongoing activities. More information about Circular Step is available in the brochure here.

Join the Circular STEP by submitting the questionnaire (Circular STEP: Membership Questionnaire (office.com).

Should you have any questions - please contact us at [email protected].  

Circular STEP

 

Last update date: October 17, 2023