Achieving a circular economy requires the decoupling of economic growth from resource use. Policies to reduce the pressure on natural resources, to minimise and if possible, eliminate waste, help to create new business opportunities and deliver an environment that is built on sustainability.

It requires creative thinking in areas such as product design, supporting changes to value chains and new business models, better enforcement including the use of taxation and charges and combining waste management strategy with broader industrial and clean growth strategy. IEEP has carried out work in a number of circular economy themes.