# Circularity and other targets
*Activity type: page*

Circularity builds on various other concepts, so it is hardly the first idea trying to capture ways to enable a more sustainable economy. But that also means that it could easily become another buzzword on the list. Sustainability, circularity, carbon intensity, material productivity, SDGs, ESG, the list goes on. So, what is the link between circular economy and some of the other popular concepts we hear about in the sustainability space? How does it fit with other ideas that are seemingly just as important?

In most cases, the transition to a circular economy is complementary with other sustainability-related ideas and concepts. This paper by thehref="https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/circular_economy_14_march.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" (https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/circular_economy_14_march.pdf) goes into more detail.

The following table summarises some of the UN's thinking:

###### NESD Concepts

###### Key contributions

###### Complementary

###### Intersecting

Blue economy
Reduction of dispersion of pollutants to waterways and oceans
x
x

Green economy
Less carbon intensity through higher reuse and recovery of secondary materials.
x
x

Orange/ creative economy
Design-thinking for resource-efficient production and processes, and use of resource-efficient digital technologies.
x
 

Purple/ care economy
 Valuing the innovation and productive capacities of labour and improved living conditions (environmental, health);
x
 

Social & solidarity economy
Opportunity for using human innovation capacities in recycling, recovery and repair activities, including solidarity economy models conducive to upgrade working conditions from informal to formal sectors.
x
x

Yellow/ attention economy
Norms setting to shift from goods-owner-ship to delivery-as-a-service models, highly driven by digital infrastructure and sustainable consumption behaviour. 
x
x

Frugal/ innovation economy
Reduction of inputs and natural resources; higher traditional/ natural material usage; and emphasis on product and systems design to minimise waste. A CE also improves efficiency by aggregating resources through asset sharing business models. 
x
x

Their work also highlights how a circular economy contributes to most, if not all, of the Sustainable Development Goals. This because a circular economy relies on resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and product, which are central concepts to achieve sustainable development. Consider key goals such as SDG 12 on ‘Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns’ and SDG 9 on ‘Build resilient infrastructure’, which show clear overlap with circular objectives. In a similar vein, circularity builds upon and complements concepts such as href="https://mcdonough.com/cradle-to-cradle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" (https://mcdonough.com/cradle-to-cradle/) , href="https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" (https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/), href="https://is4ie.org/about/what-is-industrial-ecology" target="_blank" rel="noopener" (https://is4ie.org/about/what-is-industrial-ecology), and others.

To simplify, achieving a sustainable society requires global economic production and consumption to stay within the limitations of our natural environment. This requires the use of renewable energy and resources, fair and equitable ways of doing business, and the regeneration of that environment. A circular economy provides pathways to achieve these goals. In that sense, circular economy is an overarching framework that encapsulates a lot of other concepts that strive for similar objectives.
