A pivotal moment for the circular economy
On 11 November 2025, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched the first version of the Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) at COP 30.
What is the Global Circularity Protocol (GCP)?
The GCP is a science-based, voluntary framework designed to help companies measure, manage, and communicate circularity across their operations and value chains. Developed in collaboration with over 80 organisations and 150 experts, the protocol provides a standardised approach to assessing circular performance, setting targets, and aligning with global sustainability goals and corporate ESG reporting standards.
How does the GCP fit into the existing regulatory landscape?
This new protocol comes almost 25 years after the WBCSD and World Resources Institute (WRI) launched the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, which has been widely adopted around the world and is a key tool for estimating Greenhouse Gas emissions, setting baselines, and reduction strategies.
If the new GCP has a similar impact, it will represent a major milestone for the development of a global circular economy and for curbing resource use worldwide.
However, the regulatory landscape of today looks very different to the world in which the GHG protocol came to be. With resource scarcity a real threat to supply chains and waste impacting our health and environment, circular economy policies, standards and regulations are increasing. With the ISO 59000 circularity standards recently launched, the ESRS E5 standard, and regulations such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the Critical Raw Materials Act, the Right to Repair Directive, the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act and more, there is increased complexity that requires careful navigation to prevent the implementation of circularity being hindered and muddying of purpose.
The good news is that the GCP has been developed with these obstacles in mind and incorporates interoperability with existing standards.
Intended benefits of the GCP
Analysis suggests widespread adoption of the GCP could save up to 100–120 billion tonnes of materials and avoid 67–76 gigatons of CO₂ (more than 1.5 times the current yearly global emissions) by 2050 as well as supporting green job creation and sustainable economic growth.
For businesses, the GCP will enable the creation of consistent, decision-ready information that enhances accountability, builds investor confidence, and channels capital toward circular solutions. The protocol aims to support companies in unlocking new opportunities in products, services, and business models that boost efficiency and strengthen competitiveness. It will also support the monitoring and managing of material flows across global supply chains to minimise risks and support reliable circularity reporting. And it provides tools to assess circularity at material, product, and corporate levels, linking circular strategies directly to climate, nature, and equity outcomes for credible, verifiable sustainability claims.
Further information and support
Ricardo’s Circular Economy experts welcome the introduction of the protocol and will be helping organisations to understand the impacts and opportunities the framework brings and will support them to align and optimise their circular economy journey.
