Accelerating the transition to circular, regenerative economies.
Moving towards a circular economy will maximise our chances of avoiding the most dangerous effects of climate change. A quick fix will not be enough. It’s time to change the big picture.
EIT Climate-KIC empowers entire regions, industries and communities to implement a bold transition towards circular economy. To us, this means combining tailored actions across education, entrepreneurship and innovation to change whole systems from linear to circular.
Our offer
How do we do it?
We believe that to truly transform how our societies operate, we need to catalyse entire systems change. The circular economy is a powerful tool to help communities transition to climate-friendly, regenerative and resilient economies.
We contribute to these systems change by:
- Reshaping European policy and public funding
- Supporting the transformation of the private financial sector
- Orchestrating all actors needed for systemic transformation
- Producing thought leadership on Circular Economy transition
- Developing scientific methodologies for participatory engagement
- Transforming industrial value chains
- Building networks of actors to address specific challenges
Initiatives highlights
We need circular economies where waste is feedstock, new materials and products are designed to be reused and re-purposed, cultural norms encourage re-use, maintenance and repair, and fossil carbon stays underground.
Influencing policy and financing for circular economy at EU level
CICERONE
Building a platform to increase joint programming for circular economy transition across Europe.
EU Circular Economy Expert Financing Group
Improving access to finance for circular economy projects.
SCALER
Shifting industry and policy towards a greater uptake of industrial symbiosis in the European process industry.
Transitioning countries, regions and cities from linear to circular
Circular Economy transition in Slovenia
Working with the Government of Slovenia in a deep demonstration of rapid change to a circular and regenerative economy and society.
Circular Economy transition in Cantabria
Buildind a circular economy ecosystem in the region of Cantabria, Spain.
Circular Cities
Exploring how the circular economy can act as an innovation tool in municipalities to strengthen capacity for systemic change.
Closing the loop on high-emitting value chains
eCircular
Catalysing a switch to a circular economy through plastic waste prevention.
Circular Cars
Transforming the automotive industry through the lens of the circular economy and mobility-as-a-service.
Loop Ports
Advancing the transition of the European economy towards closed-loop systems through the creation of a circular economy network of ports.
Kirsten Dunlop, CEO - EIT Climate-KIC
“The global problem of climate change cannot be solved one start-up or one technological breakthrough at a time. Only by changing whole systems and whole economies will we create the low-carbon world we all want to see.”
News & Events
Slovenia adopts EIT Climate-KIC circular economy proposal: Q&A with Kirsten Dunlop
Event: Innovating the plastics value chain
COP 25: Mitigating plastic-related greenhouse gas emissions should be top priority, systemic change is how it could be done
Interview with Dr Leyla Acaroglu
What will it take to change whole systems?
Our reports on the circular economy
Circular Business Models for Systems Innovation
These insights present business models from a multitude of sectors, geographic and political contexts and employ a variety of circular strategies.
Circular procurements in public construction projects
This first white paper on circular procurement within construction provides a unique overview of the benefits of incorporating circular procurement at city and district level.
Improving access to finance for circular economy projects
This report provides key recommendations to drive increased investment in circular economy initiatives.
Digitalisation - unlocking the potential of the circular economy
This study interviewed 14 EIT Climate-KIC start-ups and innovation projects to learn more about the benefits of adopting circularity, and to better understand the challenges that hinder its uptake.
The Circular economy - A powerful force for climate mitigation
This report explores a broad range of opportunities for the four largest materials in terms of emissions (steel, plastics, aluminium, and cement) and two large use segments for these materials (passenger cars and buildings).
Accelerating the Transition to Sustainable Production Systems
This series of ten insight documents, written by renowned climate innovation experts, reveals the strategies, approaches and challenges to developing and adopting circular business models.