The SWITCH to Green experience promoting circular business models in key value chains

This SWITCH to Green experience promoting circular business models in key value chains summit took place in Belgium between 15 - 16 June 2021. Re-use, recycling and recovery are at the heart of a circular economy – as envisioned by the new Circular Economy Action Plan of the EU. The transition to such an economy poses challenges to raw materials supply, manufacturing and recycling in Europe as well as in partner countries. SMEs – essential players in slowing or closing resource cycles – need support to make the radical shift from a linear economy to circular business models and circular value chains. In the presented session, three SMEs supported under the EU funded SWITCH programme share their journey towards circular practices and greener employment.

Tackling the largest global waste streams, the highlighted SMEs cover different sectors such as construction, electronics and plastics, and plastics, to demonstrate how circular economy practices can benefit people and the planet. A case from Mongolia shows what it takes to develop, verify and approve a commercial product from construction and demolition waste. An intervention from Ghana demonstrates recycling of e-Waste, and a start-up project from Morocco transforming plastic waste into eco-friendly construction material. 

Increasing raw materials consumption and a significant shortage of natural resource stress that the current linear economic model is no longer viable. Stories of circular business models become even more relevant.