Library | ESG issues

Recycling

Recycling is the process of converting waste into new products or materials, reducing waste sent to landfills and minimising environmental impact. Companies increasingly design products with recyclability in mind, promoting a circular economy and bolstering the market for recycled materials. Investors can engage with polluting companies to encourage improved recycling practices, adoption of sustainable designs, and transparent reporting on waste management to drive accountability and reduction efforts.

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Life cycle assessment for cotton (country averages, organic, regenerative, recycled)

This research provides regional life cycle assessment data for cotton cultivation and recycling across key global regions. It identifies environmental hotspots, such as nitrogen fertiliser emissions and electricity consumption, while integrating additional sustainability criteria like soil health, biodiversity, and human rights through an LCA+ approach.
Research
24 March 2026

Battery circularity: Innovation trends for a future source of critical materials

International Energy Agency (IEA)
This report examines global innovation trends in battery circularity and critical metal refining. It highlights a surge in patenting activity since 2017, led by Asian companies. The analysis covers policy drivers, recycling technologies, and the role of secondary supplies in enhancing supply chain resilience and environmental sustainability.
Research
1 April 2026

Advancing responsible recycled plastics value chains through traceability and transparency: Learnings from the Responsible Sourcing Initiative

The Circulate Initiative
This report explores implementing traceability in recycled plastics value chains. Drawing on pilots in Viet Nam and Indonesia, it identifies misaligned incentives and data governance as primary barriers. It recommends integrating traceability into existing business processes and provides a decision framework to support organisations at different maturity stages.
Research
1 September 2026

Unlocking textile circularity in the EU: From challenges to opportunities

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
This report examines barriers and enablers for scaling up textile recycling in the EU. Combining literature reviews with 20 stakeholder interviews, it identifies technological, financial, and regulatory constraints. Recommendations include supporting demand-side measures, funding sorting technology research, and strengthening value chain collaboration to achieve circularity targets.
Research
1 September 2026

Breaking the bottleneck: How advance market commitments can bridge the supply-demand gap in recycled materials

The Circulate Initiative
This research evaluates advance market commitments to bridge the supply-demand imbalance for recycled materials. It identifies opportunities in mixed plastic, textile waste, and paper-based alternatives, advocating for binding financial agreements to incentivise investment in recycling capacity and support global sustainability targets.
Research
1 September 2026

DERA Preismonitor

Deutsche Rohstoffagentur (DERA)
Published by the German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA), the Preismonitor provides monthly price tracking for over 80 mineral raw materials and 15 recycling materials. It serves as a vital tool for monitoring commodity market trends and assessing supply chain risks.
Online tool/database

Mobilising capital for India’s critical minerals sector

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
This report examines financing challenges in India's critical minerals sector across upstream, midstream, and recycling segments. It evaluates the National Critical Mineral Mission's role in addressing capital gaps and suggests de-risking projects to ensure commercial viability and support India’s energy transition goals through strategic policy and international partnerships.
Research
8 May 2026

Plastic promises scorecard series

As You Sow
The Corporate Plastic Pollution Scorecard is a benchmark series that assesses how large consumer-facing companies address plastic packaging responsibility. It reviews corporate policies, commitments, disclosures, and practices across key areas of packaging design, reuse, recycled content, transparency, recycling support, and producer responsibility, enabling consistent comparison over time.
Benchmark/series
12 June 2024

Solutions from the One Planet network to curb plastic pollution

One Planet Network
The report outlines solutions to curb plastic pollution by improving sustainability information, driving behaviour change, advancing sustainable procurement, and promoting circular economy measures, particularly for plastic packaging. It presents coordinated actions across sectors, including tourism, to reduce plastic use and support systemic, upstream interventions aligned with SDG 12.
Research
16 May 2023

Value chain collaboration: Unlocking circular markets in Australia

Circular Australia
This report by Circular Australia and Arup identifies opportunities to build circular markets across five key Australian value chains—lithium batteries, PET bottles, green steel, low-carbon concrete, and textiles. It outlines current barriers, future pathways, and policy recommendations to improve resource efficiency, reduce emissions, and strengthen national economic resilience.
Research
1 November 2024

Cost and financing for a future free from plastic leakage: Policy highlights

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The report summarises the costs and financing required to eliminate global plastic leakage by 2060. It finds that coordinated global action could nearly eradicate leakage, with modest global GDP impacts but higher costs for developing economies. Increased development finance and private-sector mobilisation are essential to achieving this goal.
Research
22 December 2022

Circular Australia

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Circular Australia is an independent not-for-profit organisation accelerating the shift to a circular economy across Australia by 2035. It supports businesses, government and researchers through data-driven reports, education programmes, taskforces and pilot projects to design out waste, keep materials in use and regenerate natural systems.
Organisation
3 research items

NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
NYU Stern’s Center for Sustainable Business (CSB) conducts applied research, education and engagement to embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into core business strategy. It helps leaders quantify sustainability’s financial value, offers executive certificates, and develops tools to assess materiality and carbon impact.
Organisation
2 research items

Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)

Government Organisations & Departments
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) is a German government body responsible for economic policy, industrial strategy, energy transition, digitalisation, and climate action. It develops regulations, promotes innovation, supports businesses, and coordinates international cooperation to strengthen Germany’s economic growth while advancing sustainability and climate neutrality goals.
Organisation

Product life cycle accounting and reporting standard

World Resources Institute
The GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard provides a globally consistent framework for companies to quantify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with individual products across their life cycle. It enables informed emissions reduction strategies and supports performance tracking, supplier engagement, and product differentiation.
Research
16 April 2013

Starting up: Responsible investment in venture capital

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
This report examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are being adopted in venture capital. It outlines current practices, challenges, and industry-specific considerations, and highlights the need for tailored guidance, collaboration, and early-stage engagement to advance responsible investment across the venture capital ecosystem.
Research
19 January 2022
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