The launch of the Global Circularity Protocol provides businesses worldwide with a shared framework to measure, manage and transparently communicate circular performance. Developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the UNEP-hosted One Planet Network, the Protocol offers a structured method to assess material flows, identify risks and opportunities, and connect circular strategies directly to climate, nature and financial outcomes. For an industry preparing for the Digital Product Passport, the timing could not be more relevant. And, if this protocol is widely adopted and recognised, the secondary market can, for the first time, start to really compare environmental impact amongst the different players.
Growing urgency for circular action
Resource extraction accounts for 55% of global emissions and 90% of biodiversity loss. The Global Circularity Protocol positions circularity not as a voluntary ambition but as a practical requirement to reach net zero. By enabling businesses to map how materials move through their operations, the framework highlights where efficiencies can be improved and where regenerative strategies can reduce environmental impact while supporting long term competitiveness.
A consistent global framework
The Protocol introduces standardized scopes, indicators and methodologies that enable comparable reporting across products, business units and entire organizations. Built on existing Circular Transition Indicators and aligned with GRI, ISO 59020, ESRS, IFRS S1 and S2, and the GHG Protocol, it ensures consistency with major sustainability standards. This alignment helps organizations integrate circular reporting into their existing ESG processes rather than adding another layer of complexity.
Designed for all organizations
The Global Circularity Protocol can be applied at the level of a material, product or business operation. This level of flexibility enables companies at different stages of maturity to adopt the framework and progress through three levels of circular performance and impact assessment. Whether reducing material waste in logistics, improving device take-back strategies or preparing products such as an Apple iPhone for extended lifecycles, the Protocol offers a structured path forward.
A collaborative effort with broad expertise
More than 150 experts from 80 organizations contributed to shaping version 1.0. The combined input from business, science and policy helps ensure that the framework is technically rigorous while remaining practical and globally applicable. This collective development approach strengthens the Protocol’s credibility and reflects the growing international consensus around circular measures.
Foundation for future integration
Version 1.0 marks the start of an expanding journey. Future iterations are expected to deepen integration with financial reporting and potentially play a central role in assessing circularity within regulatory structures. As adoption increases, the Protocol may become a cornerstone of global circular economy implementation, aligning industries around a shared language and accelerating progress toward a regenerative economic system.
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