Let’s explore five examples of the circular economy that showcase the innovation happening around the world right now.

The circular economy is an economic model that focuses on minimising waste and maximising resource use by keeping products, materials, and resources in circulation for as long as possible.

Instead of the traditional linear approach of ‘take, make, dispose’, the circular economy emphasises designing out waste, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products.

This system aims to create a closed-loop where the environmental impact of consumption is reduced, and economic value is maintained throughout a product’s life cycle.

In 2025, the circular economy is no longer a theory, there are tangible examples of the circular economy in action around the world.

The Festival of Circular Economy is a showcase of circularity across the globe. The three-day hybrid event – virtual on 20–21 May and live in London on 22 May – is all about transforming systems, rethinking materials, and designing waste out from the very beginning.

We spoke to five of the 60 speakers at the Festival about the inspiring real-world examples of the circular economy they’re working on.

1. Circular Threads – A Community-Driven Fashion Loop

By Youma Wally Ndong – Founder and Creative Designer at Gamplus Fashion House in The Gambia, West Africa

By closing the loop at every stage from design to disposal, Circular Threads reduces textile waste and pollution and fosters local employment, skill sharing, and sustainable consumption habits.

Circular Threads reimagines fashion as an evolving ecosystem in a vibrant urban neighbourhood. It’s more than just fashion; it’s a movement reshaping clothing culture through circularity.

This innovative initiative transforms local textile waste into a continuous resource loop, creating a circular economy model rooted in community, technology, and creativity.

Residents can drop off unwanted clothing and textiles at smart collection hubs across the city. The hubs are home to trained staff and volunteers who manually sort items based on fibre type and condition using simple tools and visual guides to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

High-quality garments are cleaned and resold in curated second-hand boutiques, while worn-out textiles are sent to a local micro-factory.

At the micro-factory, a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern recycling technology is used. Natural fibre items are shredded and respun into new yarns, while synthetic materials are chemically recycled into raw polymers for reuse.

Local designers collaborate with artisans to create limited-edition clothing lines using these regenerated materials, which are sold through pop-up events and an online platform.

Consumers are incentivised to participate by receiving credits for every item returned, which can be redeemed for future purchases or creative workshops on upcycling and repair. RFID tags on garments track their lifecycle, encouraging transparency and accountability.

Youma is speaking on Day 2 of the Festival during the Valuing Materials: Unlocking Potential in a Circular Economy virtual panel.

2. SUEZ – Return to Recycle

By Dr Adam Read MBE – Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer at Suez

At SUEZ, we’re collaborating with a diverse range of customers to support them on their journey from linear to more circular, keeping resources in use for longer and reducing the demand on finite natural resources.

In autumn 2024, SUEZ partnered with Cofresco Foodservice to launch a solution for end-of-life food wrap dispensers used in the catering and hospitality sectors, as well as in some domestic kitchens.

Under the Return to Recycle programme, customers are invited to send their end-of-life food wrap dispensers to Cofresco and in return receive a voucher for a free Wrapmaster dispenser.

When the old dispensers are collected, SUEZ sends them to a plastics reprocessor where the dispensers will be shredded, washed and separated into polymers and metals, which are reprocessed and made ready for recycling into new products.

Elsewhere, SUEZ is running a pioneering repair, reuse and recycling project for wet suits and other neoprene items with the Wave Project, a charity working to improve young people’s mental health and well-being through surf therapy.

SUEZ has installed dedicated wetsuit recycling bins at Cornwall Council’s household waste recycling centres. Collected wetsuits are sent to The Wave Project’s Newquay store, where they are sorted and quality inspected, ready to be reused. Items that can’t be reused are sent for reprocessing.

By working together, this initiative is shifting materials up the hierarchy at the same time as supporting the Wave Project’s work to improve mental health amongst young people and make surfing a more accessible and inclusive sport.

Adam is speaking on day 2 of the Festival as part of the There Aren’t “Bad Materials”, Just “Bad Systems” Changemaker Session.

3. Eco-Wise – Delivering Circular Value Networks as a Company Strategy

By Rembrandt Koppelaar – Research & Innovation Lead at Eco-Wise

Circularity is often limited by companies’ ability to offer options to consumers when products are no longer wanted. Many organisations aim to provide opportunities for repair, refurbishment, or improved recycling but are held back by a lack of visibility and connection to consumers, as well as to collection, repair, reuse, and recycling companies.

EcoWise has developed and tested a software solution over the past two years to make the invisible visible – measuring circular economy impact and enabling collaboration at each life cycle stage.

We have worked with major appliance manufacturers, including BSH and Gorenje-Hisense Europe, as well as collectors, repairers, and recyclers, to create their circular value network.

Already tested with dishwashers and washing machines, EcoWise’s solution will be rolled out at scale for Gorenje-Hisense tumble dryers in 2025. It is now also available for other sectors, including textiles, construction products and fast-moving consumer goods.

Our starting point is to provide a product identity and a digital portal where all parties can collaborate within a circular value network, accessible via a simple smartphone scan of a QR code tagged to the product.

Life cycle events can be logged, and specific circularity offerings can be made at each stage through a unique web page for each product.

Digital wallets with decentralised identities are provided to enhance security and trust in managing data access and provisioning. Supply chain information can be integrated and linked cost-effectively to the product life cycle, for continuous feedback for circularity-focused product design.

Rembrandt is speaking on day 1 of the Festival as part of the Building the Built Environment: Circular Business Models in Action Circular Insights panel.

4. ACS (Advanced Clothing Solutions) – Extending the Life of Clothing Through Circular Innovation

By Michael Cusack – Chief Sustainability Officer at ACS

At ACS, our mission is clear: to extend the life of garments and maximise their use. As Europe’s largest circular fashion hub, we help brands and retailers move away from the traditional linear model of take-make-dispose and embrace a truly circular approach – focused on reuse, durability, and delivering measurable environmental and social impact.

From our purpose-built headquarters in Scotland, we process garments for rental, resale, repair, refurbishment, and recycling. Each item is professionally cleaned, ozone-sanitised, pressed, and repaired where needed before being returned to circulation – ready for its next life. Research by WRAP shows that extending the life of clothing by just nine months can reduce carbon, water, and waste footprints by up to 20%.

We have more than halved our carbon emissions since 2019 while reducing our water consumption by over 60% – a commitment to sustainability that was recognised with the King’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development.

Circular fashion models are projected to represent 23% of the global fashion market by 2030, with rental and resale leading this shift.

We’re already delivering this future through our 7Rs – rental, resale, repair, refurbishment, rebranding, repurposing, and recycling – ensuring garments stay in use for as long as possible.

By embedding circularity across the product lifecycle, we help brands unlock new revenue streams that complement traditional sales, while significantly reducing environmental impact.

But for us, circularity isn’t just technical – it’s transformational. As a certified B Corporation, we believe the circular economy must work for people as well as the planet.

Our inclusive workforce programmes support individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds – including people with disabilities, refugees, and ex-offenders – into meaningful, long-term green careers.

Circular business models are no longer a future ambition – they’re a proven solution to fashion’s footprint. We’re proud to be driving this change, one garment – and one reuse cycle – at a time.

Michael is speaking on day 1 of the Festival as part of the Textile Futures: Circular Business Models in Action Circular Insights panel.

5. Veolia – Innovative Reuse Pop-Up Events Drive Circular Economy Success in Telford and Wrekin

By Melody Carraro, Senior Policy Manager – Ecological Transformation – Veolia

A groundbreaking initiative in Telford and Wrekin is demonstrating how pop-up reuse events can successfully drive the circular economy while delivering significant social value. The project, launched as a joint venture between Veolia and Telford & Wrekin Council, has already diverted 60 tonnes of materials from waste streams while generating over £160,000 in social value.

Instead of committing to a permanent retail space, which often carries a significant financial burden, the partners opted for a semi-permanent approach through pop-up events. This innovative model has proven highly successful, attracting 3,317 visitors since its launch in April 2024.

The initiative has forged strong partnerships with prominent local charities including The British Red Cross, Maninplace Homeless Charity, Newport Canal Trust, FNKN, and Shropshire Youth Association. Through these collaborations, the project has raised £7,987 for charitable causes while providing a sustainable solution for reusing materials from household recycling centres and bulk waste services.

The project’s success lies in its multifaceted approach to value creation. Beyond the environmental benefits of waste diversion, it generates social value by providing access to low-cost household furnishings for the community as well as team expertise, investment, financial contributions to charities, and the donation of reusable items to both charity partners and council departments.

This case study demonstrates how innovative thinking in the circular economy can create multiple benefits: reducing waste, supporting local charities and building community engagement. It provides a replicable model for other local authorities looking to enhance their sustainability initiatives while delivering tangible social benefits.

Melody is speaking on day 1 of the Festival as part of the Waste Not: Building End-of-Life into Business Models panel.

In summary

These examples of the circular economy show that real change is happening around the world right now. Don’t miss out on discovering more about these innovations, book your place at the Festival of Circular Economy 2025.

Join changemakers and thought leaders from around the globe for three dynamic days of virtual live streams and in-person connections.

Find out more about the event here.

The post 5 examples of the circular economy appeared first on Circular Online.