The Circularity Gap Report 2025: Why the World Must Accelerate the Circular Economy

The Circularity Gap Report 2025 delivers a powerful message: our global economy is consuming more resources than ever, pushing the planet beyond safe limits. Despite growing awareness, the world has become less circular—with the share of recycled materials (the Circularity Metric) dropping from 7.2% in 2018 to just 6.9% in 2021.

Key Findings from the 2025 Report

• Resource Extraction at Record Highs: Global material use has more than tripled in the past 50 years, surpassing 100 billion tonnes annually, and is expected to grow another 60% by 2060.

• Circularity Declining: Although recycling rates are slowly rising, virgin material consumption is growing faster. Without deep systemic changes, the gap will continue to widen.

• The Triple Planetary Crisis: Over-extraction is driving climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. More than 90% of biodiversity loss and two-thirds of global emissions are linked to how we extract and use materials.

• Unequal Consumption: High-income countries consume six times more materials per person than low-income countries, while generating ten times the climate impact.

• Untapped Opportunities: If all currently unrecycled waste were cycled back into use, circularity could increase to 25%—showing the massive potential of better waste and material management.

Why Circularity Matters

A circular economy reduces waste and pollution by reusing, repairing, and recycling materials instead of relying on endless virgin extraction. This approach not only protects ecosystems but also creates economic resilience, new jobs, and innovation opportunities for governments and businesses.

Calls to Action

• Governments must introduce strong, science-based targets, shift subsidies away from fossil fuels, and support circular industries.

• Businesses should redesign products for durability, adopt closed-loop systems, and localize supply chains to reduce risk and costs.

• Consumers play a role too, by supporting sustainable products and lifestyles that reduce unnecessary consumption.

Final Takeaway

The CGR 2025 is a wake-up call: without urgent action, we risk exhausting the planet’s resources. But with bold leadership, innovation, and collaboration, we can close the gap and build a resilient, circular economy that delivers prosperity while staying within Earth’s limits.