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Global Circularity Protocol Launches Science-Based Framework to Drive Circular Business Practices

November 2025 — The Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) launches a full 236‐page guide. It comes from experts, they worked together for three years. Groups like Apple, Google, IKEA, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation join in. They made a science‐based circularity guide for all companies. At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, this new standard stands ready.

Why the GCP Matters

Businesses now feel pressure from law and urgent emissions cuts. The GCP shows a single way to add circular practices in day-to-day work and reporting. Like the GHG Protocol sets rules for emissions, the GCP becomes a clear guide for energy and resource loops. It helps slash waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling.

Peter Bakker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), sees strong impact:

• Save 120 billion tons of material by 2050.
• Stop one year of current global CO₂ emissions.

Regulatory Environment & Market Relevance

The GCP meets new laws and rules. It ties to the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), growing producer responsibility in Europe and the U.S., and soon the EU Circular Economy Act. New digital product passports help track waste, set for mid-2026. —

Key Components of the GCP Framework

The playbook lists clear steps. It guides businesses to plan for circular change:

1. Define Scope and Purpose:
   Choose a business case. Decide if the plan serves internal use or reports to outsiders. List key people. Build data systems.

2. Map Circularity Hotspots:
   Follow how materials move. Notice where risks and wins lie. Mark steps for reuse, repair, or recycling.

3. Quantify Circular Performance:
   Count in and out flows of reused materials. Track renewable materials and compare them to new ones. Use global numbers as a measure.

4. Manage and Strategize:
   Find where waste occurs. Pick fast wins. Set clear targets that match ESG ideas and money plans. Name who will lead.

5. Disclose and Engage:
   Write clear circularity reports. Share them with investors, regulators, and clients. Get third parties to check details.

Next Steps & Outlook

The GCP is built to grow over time. It works to:

• Bring pilot projects into large-scale changes.
• Create science-based targets for each sector.
• Link business, financial flows, and policies to build lasting change.

Tove Andersen, CEO of TOMRA, says, "The GCP turns plans into clear action. It drives change and guides future policies."

Conclusion

The Global Circularity Protocol is a key tool. It helps companies add circular practices, reduce waste, and meet new rules and goals. As the first science-based standard for corporate circularity, it builds trust, clear tracking, and growth for a sustainable, net-zero future.

Sources: Trellis Group, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, One Planet Network
Author: Elsa Wenzel, Special Projects Editor, GreenBiz Group

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