The document discusses how the circular economy can help shape an economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that is prosperous, low-carbon, and mitigates future crises. It identifies 10 investment opportunities across sectors like built environment, mobility, plastics, and food that offer circular solutions to challenges created by the pandemic, meet recovery priorities, and reduce long-term risks. The document calls on policymakers to set common goals for a resilient recovery through the circular economy and shape incentives to enable a low-carbon transition.

2. PAPER:
● Builds on the past ten years of research carried out on the circular economy by the
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to illustrate how the circular economy is key in
shaping a post pandemic future that is prosperous, low-carbon, and that mitigates
the risk of future crises
KEY MESSAGES:
● The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerabilities of our economies
● The circular economy is key for achieving a resilient recovery
● Policymakers have a fundamental role to play
● Trillions in economic stimulus are being unveiled by governments all around the
world: But, where to start? 10 attractive circular investment opportunities for a
resilient economy
○ Offer solutions to key challenges created by the pandemic
○ Meet key priorities for economic recovery
○ Offer circular economy growth potential
○ Reduce the risk of future shocks
Circular economy and the Covid-19 recovery
How policymakers can pave the way to a low-carbon and prosperous future

3. To deliver more jobs and equitable growth in the short-term, while reducing long-term risks
linked to climate change and biodiversity loss, it is critical that policymakers:
● Set a common direction of travel for a resilient recovery with the circular economy
● Foster collaboration to obtain system-level solutions
● Shape incentives to enable a low carbon economic recovery
● Unlock circular investment opportunities to meet key public priorities
Policymakers have a fundamental role to play

4. 10 attractive circular investment opportunities to build a more
resilient recovery
Sector Opportunities
Built environment Renovation and upgrade of buildings Building materials reuse and recycling
infrastructure
Mobility Multimodal mobility
infrastructure
Automotive refurbishment,
remanufacturing, and repair infrastructure
Plastic packaging Innovative reuse business models for
plastic packaging
Plastic collection, sorting, and recycling
infrastructure
Fashion Rental and resale business models for
clothing
Clothing collection, sorting and recycling
infrastructure
Food Tools enabling farmers to shift to
regenerative agricultural production
Food surplus and by-product collection,
redistribution, and valorisation
infrastructure

6. Good examples do exist… but the CE contribution isn’t clear

7. We need to talk about business models (not just mention them)