Circularity Gap Report

A cornerstone of our work is the Circularity Gap Report (CGR). Launched by Circle Economy in 2018 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, CGR pioneered the first-ever global measurement of circularity—revealing the world to be only 9.1% circular. Since then, the initiative has delivered authoritative Circularity Gap Reports at the global, national, and regional levels, producing a consistent and replicable methodology to quantify circularity and identify priority levers for action. As the CGR continues to develop and refine its scientific metrics, we are aiming to provide the world’s most credible benchmark on circularity.

We have conducted national circular economy baseline assessments for more than 25 countries, using our in-house scientific methodologies and evidence-based metrics. Our work is grounded in sound systems thinking and industrial ecology, enabling governments to measure material use, identify intervention points, and craft high-impact circular policies. We bring deep expertise in generating national circularity indicators that align with global standards such as ISO 59020, the EU Circular Economy Monitoring Framework, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

For example, CGR Austria was presented to the Austrian Ministry of Environment in 2019. The report set the basis for a wider discussion, which contributed to policy making. In 2022, the Austrian Cabinet of Ministers adopted a comprehensive  National Circular Economy Strategy, which sets the goal of boosting circularity from 9.7% to 18% by 2030. This baseline was made possible thanks to Circle Economy’s robust methodology. CGR Austria provided the Austrian government with the data-driven insights and systems perspective needed to shape a clear national vision for circularity.