GCP launches at COP30 as the world\u2019s first\u00a0global voluntary framework\u00a0for\u00a0measuring, managing, and communicating circularity\u00a0impacts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Developed by WBCSD and One Planet Network\u00a0(hosted by UNEP)\u00a0with 150+ experts\u00a0and\u00a080+ organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Empowers companies to cut waste, reduce emissions, boost\u00a0accountability\u00a0and\u00a0improve business performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Impact analysis: up to 120 billion\u00a0tonnes\u00a0of material savings and 76 gigatons CO\u2082\u00a0can be\u00a0avoided by 2050.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Piloted by industry leaders, the GCP sets a new benchmark for credible, comparable circularity reporting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bel\u00e9m, 11\u00a0November 2025:\u00a0The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and One Planet Network\u00a0(hosted by UNEP)\u00a0have announced\u00a0the official launch of the Global Circularity Protocol for\u00a0business (GCP) at COP30, marking a major milestone in the global transition to a circular economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Developed in partnership with over 150 experts from more than 80 organizations\u00a0\u2013 including\u00a0leading businesses, policymakers, and scientific advisors\u00a0\u2013 the\u00a0GCP is the world\u2019s first\u00a0voluntary\u00a0science-based, globally harmonized framework designed to help companies of all sizes measure, manage, and communicate their circular performance and impacts across value chains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0new\u00a0era for\u00a0corporate\u00a0performance and\u00a0accountability\u00a0<\/p>\n
The GCP empowers businesses to move beyond linear, wasteful models by providing practical, standardized steps and metrics for reducing waste, cutting emissions, and creating value for people and planet while delivering business value for all. By aligning with leading global standards, the Protocol enables credible, comparable reporting and supports companies in meeting rising regulatory and stakeholder expectations.<\/p>\n
The Global Circularity Protocol for Business sets a new benchmark for corporate performance and accountability. Circularity is no longer optional\u00a0\u2013\u00a0it is a strategic necessity for the resilience of business and the health of our planet.\u00a0The GCP provides companies with standardized, science-based metrics and a clear roadmap for\u00a0measurable\u00a0action, enabling\u00a0leaders\u00a0to drive\u00a0tangible\u00a0progress, build resilience, and\u00a0deliver\u00a0long-term value\u00a0to\u00a0both business and\u00a0planet. The\u00a0scale of the opportunity is significant.\u00a0Our analysis\u00a0has revealed that\u00a0by 2050,\u00a0widespread adoption of the\u00a0GCP could\u00a0save\u00a0up to\u00a0120 billion\u00a0tonnes\u00a0of materials\u00a0\u2013 equivalent to one year\u2019s current global consumption\u00a0\u2013 and avoid up to\u202f76 gigatons of CO\u2082\u00a0emissions\u00a0\u2013\u00a0equivalent\u00a0to\u00a0one and\u00a0a\u00a0half times current global annual emissions.\u00a0I encourage\u00a0business leaders and policymakers\u00a0alike to\u00a0adopt\u00a0the GCP as a practical foundation for accelerating the shift to a just, circular, and regenerative economy.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Peter Bakker, President and CEO, WBCSD<\/p>\n
Real-world\u00a0impact and\u00a0global\u00a0collaboration\u00a0<\/p>\n
Piloted by industry leaders and\u00a0a cohort of GCP Front Runners, the GCP is\u00a0already\u00a0delivering results\u00a0\u2013 helping\u00a0companies\u00a0identify\u00a0circularity\u00a0hotspots\u00a0and opportunities to\u00a0drive innovation, and build resilient, future-fit\u00a0value\u00a0chains. The Protocol\u2019s collaborative development process ensures it is robust, practical, and adaptable for diverse sectors and geographies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The GCP is a powerful catalyst for value chain transformation. It enables companies to map material flows, identify circularity hotspots, and collaborate with partners at every stage \u2013 unlocking efficiencies, reducing risk, and scaling impact beyond individual operations. Launching the GCP at COP30 is no coincidence. We\u2019re here on the international stage because the GCP is a truly global solution \u2013 it responds to some of the most pressing global risks, including resource scarcity, supply chain volatility, and climate change.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Diane Holdorf, Executive Vice President, WBCSD<\/p>\n
A game changer for credible circularity\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sustainability professionals,\u00a0policy makers, and academics\u00a0that contributed to develop\u00a0the GCP are calling it\u00a0\u201ca game-changer for credible circularity,\u201d\u00a0\u201cthe missing link between ambition and action,\u201d and \u201ca roadmap for business value and accountability.\u201d Their feedback continues to shape the Protocol as it evolves to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The GCP delivers what the circular economy has long lacked: a globally harmonized framework to help companies measure, manage, and disclose\u00a0circularity impacts. This collaborative effort reflects the multilateral ambitions of the Stockholm+50 Action Agenda and of the Global Strategy for Sustainable Consumption and Production launched by the United Nations in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Jorge Laguna-Celis, Head, One Planet Network\u00a0(hosted by\u00a0UNEP)<\/p>\n
At Philips, circularity is a powerful lever to reduce material use and our overall impact on climate and nature, while driving customer value and business success. Healthcare is a material-intensive industry. Embedding circular practices and innovations can help hospitals with reducing their environmental footprint while improving healthcare resilience and patient outcomes.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why we collaborated and co-championed the Global Circularity Protocol. GCP1.0 offers a clear and unified approach to set ambitious and adequate goals for circularity \u2013 a\u00a0much-needed\u00a0step towards a sustainable and healthy future.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Harald Tepper, Global Lead Circularity, Philips<\/p>\n
The GCP is important to TOMRA because it provides a common framework for businesses to measure progress on circularity initiatives. This is vital for ensuring that change can occur at scale, supporting circularity targets and\u00a0policymaking\u00a0going forward.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Tove Andersen, President and CEO, Tomra<\/p>\n
The Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) is a strategic enabler for resource-intensive sectors like mining to contribute meaningfully to global sustainability and energy transition goals.\u00a0At Vale, advancing circularity means transforming extraction and processing systems to maximize material recovery, reduce environmental impact, and accelerate the shift toward low-carbon, circular production models that will deliver the \u2018mining of the future\u2019 we are aiming at.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u00a0Bruno Pelli, Global Director in Mining Technical Services, Vale\u00a0<\/p>\n
Time to turn circular ambition into measurable business impact\u00a0<\/p>\n
The launch of the GCP at COP30 is a call to action for business leaders, sustainability professionals and policy makers to adopt the GCP and join the growing community of leading businesses that are accelerating the transition to a circular economy.<\/p>\n
We invite all\u00a0stakeholders\u00a0\u2013 from pioneering organizations and policymakers,\u00a0to researchers and financial experts\u00a0\u2013 to contribute ideas, pilot methodologies and share lessons learned, as this first version of the GCP is just the starting point of a dynamic, multi-year journey working for a resilient, regenerative economy that benefits people and planet.\u00a0<\/p>\n