Given the limits of the linear production and consumption model, **the transition to a circular econom**y has become a necessity. It requires **significant behavioral changes** from all actors (companies, communities, consumers/citizens), backed by ambitious public policies. In particular, **industrial players** must change their practices right from the product design phase. The Veolia Institute is dedicating an issue of its review to this topic, resulting from work carried out with a team of researchers from **Mines ParisTech Scientific Management Center** (Franck Aggeri, Helen Micheaux and Joël Ntsondé). ### Discover : - [The foreword by Amy Luers](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/00%20Circular%20economy%20-%20Waste%20is%20a%20human%20invention.pdf), Member of the Foresight Committee of the Veolia Institute - [Introduction by Nicolas Renard](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/00%20Circular%20economy%20-%20Introduction%20by%20Nicolas%20Renard.pdf), Executive Director, Veolia Institute - [The circular economy: strategies and policies](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/00%20Circular%20economy%2C%20strategies%20and%20policies.pdf), key data on the subject [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/default/public/image/2021/11/00%20Circular%20Economy%20COUV.jpg.webp?itok=_1468O1B) ](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/FACTS_INDUSTRIES_ET_DECHETS-EN_BAT.pdf) [DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF OF THE ISSUE](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/FACTS_INDUSTRIES_ET_DECHETS-EN_BAT.pdf) ### 1. The need for a new waste management model The amount of waste generated has risen ceaselessly since the dawn of the consumer society. This growth is expected to continue with the urbanization of developing countries. The environmental and social impacts are increasingly visible. There is a solution at hand: the circular economy, defined in opposition to the linear take-make-waste model. A number of initiatives exist, but many challenges remain ahead if we are to make the circular transition. > [Read the introduction by Helen Micheaux](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/Circular%20Economy%201.%20The%20need%20for%20a%20new%20waste%20management%20model.pdf) [ ![Crédits © Avigator Photographer](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/iStock-1208359069.jpg.webp?itok=GrQ6y0Pp) ](/en/waste-urban-mines-historical-perspective-circular-economy "From waste to urban mines: a historical perspective on the circular economy") A new model [From waste to urban mines: a historical perspective on the circular economy](/en/waste-urban-mines-historical-perspective-circular-economy "From waste to urban mines: a historical perspective on the circular economy") Franck Aggeri MINES ParisTech [Read](/en/waste-urban-mines-historical-perspective-circular-economy "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/05/AdobeStock_308756808.jpeg.webp?itok=48t8nEwB) ](/en/resource-reuse-and-recycling-limitations-and-potential-opportunities "Resource reuse and recycling: limitations and potential opportunities") A new model [Resource reuse and recycling: limitations and potential opportunities](/en/resource-reuse-and-recycling-limitations-and-potential-opportunities "Resource reuse and recycling: limitations and potential opportunities") Thomas Graedel Yale University [Read](/en/resource-reuse-and-recycling-limitations-and-potential-opportunities "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/AdobeStock_23141047_0.jpeg.webp?itok=Ceu889Qr) ](/en/enhanced-landfill-mining-concept-and-challenges "Enhanced landfill mining, concept and challenges") A new model [Enhanced landfill mining, concept and challenges](/en/enhanced-landfill-mining-concept-and-challenges "Enhanced landfill mining, concept and challenges") Joakim Krook Université de Linköping [Read](/en/enhanced-landfill-mining-concept-and-challenges "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/AdobeStock_312786136.jpeg.webp?itok=NePA90ne) ](/en/extended-producer-responsibility-epr-france "Extended producer responsibility (EPR) in France") A new model [Extended producer responsibility (EPR) in France](/en/extended-producer-responsibility-epr-france "Extended producer responsibility (EPR) in France") Jacques Vernier French Extended Producer Responsibility Waste Schemes Commission [Read](/en/extended-producer-responsibility-epr-france "Read") [ ![Démantèlement de navires sur une plage du Bangladesh en 2014 © ONG Shipbreaking Platform 2014](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/Beached%20vessel%20high%20tide.JPG.webp?itok=u020m_V8) ](/en/illegal-waste-shipment-overview "Illegal waste shipment: an overview") A new model [Illegal waste shipment: an overview](/en/illegal-waste-shipment-overview "Illegal waste shipment: an overview") Katie Olley Scottish Environment Protection Agency [Read](/en/illegal-waste-shipment-overview "Read") [ ![L’Afrique circulaire : un modèle pour tous ? Photo © Wayne Visser- Barloworld Caterpillar](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/Caterpillar.png.webp?itok=96i7b5zw) ](/en/circular-africa-model-us-all "Circular Africa: a model for us all?") A new model [Circular Africa: a model for us all?](/en/circular-africa-model-us-all "Circular Africa: a model for us all?") Alexandre Lemille ACEN, the African Circular Economy Network [Read](/en/circular-africa-model-us-all "Read") ### 2. Shifting how the various actors behave Helping our models transition toward a circular economy requires efforts by the private sector actors involved in producing goods and services, public sector actors regulating the economic and social spheres, and consumers, whose purchasing choices influence businesses’ current and future strategies. So, how can we nurture the emergence of new ways of consuming and producing? > [Read the introduction by Joël Ntsondé](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/Circular%20Economy%202.%20Shifting%20how%20the%20various%20actors%20behave.pdf) [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/05/AdobeStock_280735647_0.jpeg.webp?itok=U1lPaXDw) ](/en/towards-society-sobriety-conditions-change-consumer-behavior "Towards a society of sobriety: conditions for a change in consumer behavior") Challenges [Towards a society of sobriety: conditions for a change in consumer behavior](/en/towards-society-sobriety-conditions-change-consumer-behavior "Towards a society of sobriety: conditions for a change in consumer behavior") Valérie Guillard Paris-Dauphine University [Read](/en/towards-society-sobriety-conditions-change-consumer-behavior "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/AdobeStock_150699145.jpeg.webp?itok=mL-TwTR8) ](/en/accelerating-transition-circular-consumption-models-example-agec-law-france "Accelerating the transition to circular consumption models: the example of the AGEC law in France") Challenges [Accelerating the transition to circular consumption models: the example of the AGEC law in France](/en/accelerating-transition-circular-consumption-models-example-agec-law-france "Accelerating the transition to circular consumption models: the example of the AGEC law in France") Adèle Chasson, Laetitia Vasseur HOP - Halte à l’Obsolescence Programmée (Stop Planned Obsolescence) [Read](/en/accelerating-transition-circular-consumption-models-example-agec-law-france "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/AdobeStock_332758609.jpeg.webp?itok=GBabEaKI) ](/en/power-public-procurement-transition-circular-economy "The power of public procurement in the transition to a circular economy") Challenges [The power of public procurement in the transition to a circular economy](/en/power-public-procurement-transition-circular-economy "The power of public procurement in the transition to a circular economy") Ashleigh McLennan, ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Birgitte Krebs Schleemann, DGE [Read](/en/power-public-procurement-transition-circular-economy "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/04/AdobeStock_167596498.jpeg.webp?itok=5e0QuEBf) ](/en/questioning-digital-reflex "Questioning the digital reflex") Challenges [Questioning the digital reflex](/en/questioning-digital-reflex "Questioning the digital reflex") Xavier Verne Shift Project [Read](/en/questioning-digital-reflex "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/Image%201.jpg.webp?itok=kApetYSO) ](/en/industrial-symbiosis-practices-chinas-industrial-parks "Industrial symbiosis: practices in China’s industrial parks") Challenges [Industrial symbiosis: practices in China’s industrial parks](/en/industrial-symbiosis-practices-chinas-industrial-parks "Industrial symbiosis: practices in China’s industrial parks") Zhao Kai China Association of Circular Economy [Read](/en/industrial-symbiosis-practices-chinas-industrial-parks "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2022/02/Symbiose%20urbaine-industrielle%20dans%20le%20parc%20%C3%A9co-industriel%20d%E2%80%99Ulsan_0.jpg.webp?itok=6XTItAR3) ](/en/industrial-eco-parks-drivers-circular-economy "Industrial eco-parks as drivers of the circular economy") Challenges [Industrial eco-parks as drivers of the circular economy](/en/industrial-eco-parks-drivers-circular-economy "Industrial eco-parks as drivers of the circular economy") Franck Aggeri MINES ParisTech [Read](/en/industrial-eco-parks-drivers-circular-economy "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/AdobeStock_131312727.jpeg.webp?itok=PVUyRFVv) ](/en/measuring-circularity-corporate-level "Measuring circularity at the corporate level") Challenges [Measuring circularity at the corporate level](/en/measuring-circularity-corporate-level "Measuring circularity at the corporate level") Irene Martinetti, World Business Council for Sustainable Development Jarkko Havas, Ellen MacArthur Foundation [Read](/en/measuring-circularity-corporate-level "Read") [ ![Photo © Veolia](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/granule%CC%81s.jpg.webp?itok=2vmVaCK4) ](/en/co-development-industrial-quality-postconsumer-recycled-plastic-example-groupe-seb-and-veolia "Co-development of industrial-quality postconsumer recycled plastic: the example of Groupe SEB and Veolia") Challenges [Co-development of industrial-quality postconsumer recycled plastic: the example of Groupe SEB and Veolia](/en/co-development-industrial-quality-postconsumer-recycled-plastic-example-groupe-seb-and-veolia "Co-development of industrial-quality postconsumer recycled plastic: the example of Groupe SEB and Veolia") Ingrid Tams, Jacques Tanquerel (Groupe SEB) Françoise Weber, François Guéneron (Veolia) [Read](/en/co-development-industrial-quality-postconsumer-recycled-plastic-example-groupe-seb-and-veolia "Read") ### 3. Pathways to an innovative circular economy Innovation has a crucial role to play in turning the circular economy’s promises into reality. The concept is currently generating countless innovative projects, but assessing their potential and long-term durability is not easy. What do circular innovations look like? What potential do they have to go beyond local experiments to create economic and ecological value as well as jobs? What partnerships and actors are emerging in relation to this topic? How are these innovative processes put in place and what are the obstacles to their success? > [Read the introduction by Franck Aggeri](https://www.institut.veolia.org/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/document/2021/11/Circular%20Economy%203.%20Pathways%20to%20an%20innovative%20circular%20economy.pdf) [ ![Démantèlement d’une batterie - Photo © Veolia](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/2021_-_electric_battery_dismantling.jpg.webp?itok=2sZfp72p) ](/en/recycling-electric-vehicle-batteries-ecological-transformation-and-preserving-resources "Recycling electric vehicle batteries: ecological transformation and preserving resources") Innovations [Recycling electric vehicle batteries: ecological transformation and preserving resources](/en/recycling-electric-vehicle-batteries-ecological-transformation-and-preserving-resources "Recycling electric vehicle batteries: ecological transformation and preserving resources") Pascal Muller, Romain Duboc, Emeric Malefant Veolia [Read](/en/recycling-electric-vehicle-batteries-ecological-transformation-and-preserving-resources "Read") [ ![Envie Orleans © Alain Goulard](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/Envie_Orleans_%C2%A9_Alain_Goulard.jpg.webp?itok=KSmbGwGA) ](/en/repair-reuse-and-jobcreation "Repair, reuse and jobcreation") Innovations [Repair, reuse and jobcreation](/en/repair-reuse-and-jobcreation "Repair, reuse and jobcreation") Jean-Paul Raillard Fédération Envie [Read](/en/repair-reuse-and-jobcreation "Read") [ ![Bâtiment Photo (c) Calado](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/B%C3%A2timent%20chantier%20%C2%A9%20Calado.jpg.webp?itok=PLiJ3MsP) ](/en/introducing-materials-circular-economy-construction-industry "IIntroducing materials from the circular economy into the construction industry") Innovations [IIntroducing materials from the circular economy into the construction industry](/en/introducing-materials-circular-economy-construction-industry "IIntroducing materials from the circular economy into the construction industry") Arnaud Bousquet Matériaupôle [Read](/en/introducing-materials-circular-economy-construction-industry "Read") [ ![Campagne de publicité de Back Market dans le métro parisien](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/11/878929%20%281%29.JPG.webp?itok=lsvNTA71) ](/en/using-digital-develop-market-refurbished-products "Using digital to develop the market for refurbished products") Innovations [Using digital to develop the market for refurbished products](/en/using-digital-develop-market-refurbished-products "Using digital to develop the market for refurbished products") Camille Richard Back Market [Read](/en/using-digital-develop-market-refurbished-products "Read") [ ![La rénovation de l’éclairage permet de mieux éclairer mais de baisser les consommation d’énergie de 50 % à 90 % - ©Signify](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/05/signify-gran-canaria-autopista-1.jpg.webp?itok=cXvR96_e) ](/en/signify-circular-lighting-protect-value "Signify: circular lighting to protect value") Innovations [Signify: circular lighting to protect value](/en/signify-circular-lighting-protect-value "Signify: circular lighting to protect value") François Darsy Signify France [Read](/en/signify-circular-lighting-protect-value "Read") [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2021/05/5_Geisha-Gather_Jet_Coal_Ash_Ashlar_Walk-of-Life_CoolAsh.interface.presentation..jpg.webp?h=e74953a9&itok=FIDs2aHs) ](/en/leading-corporate-ecological-transition-example-interface-inc "Leading a corporate ecological transition: the example of Interface, Inc.") Innovations [Leading a corporate ecological transition: the example of Interface, Inc.](/en/leading-corporate-ecological-transition-example-interface-inc "Leading a corporate ecological transition: the example of Interface, Inc.") Eric Rampelberg Interface, Inc. [Read](/en/leading-corporate-ecological-transition-example-interface-inc "Read") This issue of *The Veolia Institute Review - Facts Reports* has been produced in partnership with the [Scientific Management Center of Mines ParisTech](https://www.cgs.minesparis.psl.eu/). [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/default/public/image/2021/11/7494-Logo-MPT-I-PSL-bleu.jpg.webp?itok=df4qr4QP) ](https://www.cgs.minesparis.psl.eu/) The coordinators of the issue : Franck Aggeri, Helen Micheaux and Joël Ntsondé, during the colloquium "Imaginaires et pratiques de l'économie circulaire", in Cerisy, 2021. ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2551/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/image/2021/11/2021-A-15%20-%20Franck%20Helen%20Joel.jpg.webp?h=83ee0647&itok=nLhkb46q) Photo © Archives Pontigny-Cerisy