Zero Waste Publications

“This toolkit is a how-to guide for businesses of all sizes, and sectors, to explore the opportunities of circular modes of design, production and service. It updates an earlier toolkit published in 2015.

The guide draws on a wide range of existing resources and research to define key terms, outline how businesses can benefit, and present case studies from around the world. References adapted for each chapter of the toolkit are listed at the back; additional resources are provided in each chapter. The toolkit covers three key areas:

• BUSINESS STRATEGY: how to develop a circular business strategy;
• DESIGN INNOVATION: steps to include circular concepts in the design process; and
• STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: how to engage top stakeholders in the circular initiative.”

“BRITISH COLUMBIA IS AHEAD OF MOST NORTH AMERICAN jurisdictions in implementing composting and recycling programs. And yet, our lives are systemically burdened by endless amounts of packaging, with the mass proliferation of plastic, in particular, an environmental tragedy of our times. The core problem is not unique to BC: a culture of consumption and an extraction-oriented economic system that contributes to solid waste, pollution and climate change.

This study looks at the possibilities for upstream, proactive solutions to dramatically reduce the volume of materials that flow through the economy, and therefore also reduce the associated energy consumption and carbon emissions…”

“The National Zero Waste Council (NZWC)’s Circular Economy Working Group commissioned this scan of concepts and European best practices related to circular cities to help inform and promote the adoption of circular city approaches in Canada.

The scan involved desktop research and key informant interviews. Interview subjects included representatives from within Canada to ground-truth the research in a Canadian context, and representatives of Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Circle Economy to obtain input on leading European examples. Abundant desktop research sources were available to compile ‘snapshot’ overviews of leading circular city examples; as such, no interviews were conducted with European city representatives. Subsequent work may include further refinement of this summary report, development of a primer, and development of a webinar or knowledge platform to support Canadian cities in transitioning to a circular economy…”