Trade and Economic Cooperation for Circular Economy

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”, UNECE is pooling efforts to help harness the power of trade and economic cooperation for the circular transition.

Mandate

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

waste management;
sustainable and innovation-enhancing procurement;
traceability of value chains;
standards and regulatory frameworks; and
efficiency of trade and logistics chains.

In focus

ECTD is leading the implementation of a project “Accelerating the transition towards a more circular economy in the UNECE region” (multi-agency UNDA project, 2021-2024).
To mobilise public and private investment for the transition to a more circular economy, ECTD is supporting UNECE’s Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the advancement of Guidelines on Promoting People-first PPP Waste-to-Energy Projects for the Circular Economy, and the development of Guidelines to Catalyse the Circular Economy Agenda throughout the PPP process.
ECTD is also supporting the work of the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) to create a Sustainable Development and Circular Economy Reference Data Model Support (SDCERDM). The Reference Data Model will ensure data compatibility and enable data interoperability among stakeholders in global value chains ensuring their compliance with sustainability requirements.
ECTD is serving the recently established Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy, which is developing ESG traceability approaches and systems for the exchange of data and information along global value chains in priority industries for the circular transition.

News

Meetings & Events

IISD's Trade and Sustainability Hub 2021, on occasion of the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference, Session 20 “Trade in Circularity: Perspectives of developing and transition economies”
2 December 2021, Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland >>>>Recording
The virtual discussion explored the interconnections between trade policies and circular economy concepts by providing insights on specific sectors, opportunities, and challenges for developing and transition economies through concrete examples.
Fifth session of the Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships
29 November - 30 November 2021, Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 1, Switzerland >>>>Presentations
The session explored ways for the Working Party to contribute to more high-quality projects in the sphere of circular economy through its People-first PPP approach for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thirty-first Session of the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6)
24 November - 26 November 2021, Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 1, Switzerland >>>>Presentations
The special panel “Circular economy and regulatory cooperation and standardization” (Item 9) explored alignment of standards with the circular economy approaches with special focus on market surveillance, risk management, quality infrastructure, gender-responsive standardization and standardization in education.
Future-proofing Supply of Critical Minerals for Net-Zero: Cross-sectoral Perspectives
23 November 2021, Virtual and Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 1, Switzerland >>>>Recording
The discussion explored how minerals are mined, distributed, tracked through supply chains, re-used and recycled effectively and ethically for a circular economy.
SPECA Economic Forum “Sustainable Transport and Trade for a Green and Inclusive Economy after the pandemic”
17 November 2021, Tashkent, Uzbekistan >>>>Presentations and Statements
Special sessions discussed the principles of circular economy in sustainable transport, trade and tourism in the SPECA countries.
Sixteenth session of the SPECA Working Group on Trade
16 November 2021, Tashkent Uzbekistan >>>>Documentation and Presentations
The session reflected on the progress in SPECA region in applying best practices, measures, and procedures, focusing on the cross-cutting nature of energy and water resources management and the progress towards the circular economy.
Roundtable “Circular Economy – Fostering Circularity in Food Trade”
16 November 2021, Online, Palais des Nations, Switzerland >>>>Recording
The virtual discussion explored the links between circular economy and agri-food production, trade and standards, including in relation to food loss and waste.
First meeting of the Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy
10 November 2021, Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland >>>>Presentations
Experts discussed perspectives, available solutions and priorities for advancing ESG traceability and transparency of value chains in priority industries for the circular transition, including agri-food and fishery, garment and footwear, minerals, transport and waste management.
Thirteenth session of the Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies
1- 2 November 2021, On-line and Palais des Nations, Room Tempus 2, Switzerland >>>>Documentation and Presentations
Policy seminar “Leveraging innovation for the circular economy”, organized on the sidelines of the session, discussed how UNECE countries can further encourage innovative entrepreneurship for a circular economy.
Regional Policy Dialogue "Harnessing trade and economic cooperation for the transition to a circular economy in UNECE region"
28 October 2021, Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland >>>>Recording (will be available soon)
The event launched the project “Accelerating the transition towards a more circular economy in the UNECE region” charting the way forward to in-depth discussions on the gaps, potentials and member States’ experience in the transition to a circular economy.
High-level Political Forum 2021 “Making the circular transition work for a transformative and prosperous post-COVID recovery”
12 July 2021, Virtual, Geneva, Switzerland and New York, United States >>>>Recording
The session brought together leaders from government, business, campaign groups and international organizations to contribute to an accelerated shift towards more circular and resilient economic models.
Sixth session of the Steering Committee on Trade Capacity and Standards
21 June - 22 June 2021, Palais des Nations, room Tempus 2, Switzerland >>>>Presentations and Statements
The session featured discussion on circular economy. The secretariat stressed how UNECE, through its trade-related work, could contribute to addressing the pressing challenge of transitioning to a circular economy. Committee endorsed programmes of work of the Trade Subprogramme, Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies as well Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards, which reflects future work on the sphere of circular economy.
Fourteenth session of the Committee on Innovation, Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships
2 June - 4 June 2021, Online and Palais des Nations, room Tempus 2, Switzerland >>>>Documentation and Presentations
The Committee endorsed policy recommendations related to the circular economy and discussed how innovation policy and public private partnerships can build a more productive, sustainable, inclusive and circular economy.
Sixty-ninth session of the Commission “Promoting Circular Economy and Sustainable Use on Natural Resources in the UNECE Region”
20 April - 21 April 2021, Palais des Nations, Room XVII, Switzerland >>>>Statements and Presentations, Recording
At the session governments announced commitments for bold action to strengthen measures for circularity and sustainable resource use. Two roundtables “Circular Energy, Mobility and Digital Transformation Towards Cradle -to-Cradle Models” and “Supply Chain Traceability and Sustainability” provided an opportunity for experience-sharing on better management of natural resources and improved supply chain traceability for transition to circular economy business models.
27th Session - UN/CEFACT Plenary
19 April - 20 April 2021, Palais des Nations, room Tempus 2, Switzerland >>>>Documentation
The session adopted a far-reaching package of solutions in support of a circular economy.
Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
18 March - 19 March 2021, Virtual meeting, Geneva, Switzerland
Recording
Special sessions of the forum were dedicated to the unlocking the potential of advanced technologies for circular and sustainable value chains in the garment and footwear sectors as well as to sustainable production and consumption for the circular economy.