Knowledge Brief

This information aims to provide a diagnosis of the current global situation of waste pickers - informal waste workers that provide a waste management service and contribute to public health and sustainability but lack social and health protection. The following information was sourced from our members on the ground, and we hope will help inform and prioritize lines of action aimed at solving the urgent needs of the waste management system’s most vulnerable actors.

This Note by PwC dives into the circular economy, a promising alternative that eliminates waste. In a circular economy,products are designed for multiple lifespans, minimizing resource depletion and environmental impact. This approach stands in stark contrast to the linear economy, where products are used once and discarded. The circular economy's growing popularity is driven by factors like resource scarcity, sustainability concerns, and a rising consumer demand for eco-friendly products.

In this study PWC investigated 7 key sectors where the sharing economy is already substantial or has high growth potential. The report analysed the main forms it takes, some interesting examples, the trends and their impacts, with a special focus on the participants that operate in Hungary.

Considerations of justice and social equity are as important for the circular economy transition as they are in the contexts of low-carbon transitions and digitalization of the economy. This paper sets out the just transition approach, and its relevance in climate change and energy transition debates.

This is an article about leveling up the economy through circular economy jobs. It discusses the benefits of a circular economy, which focuses on reusing and recycling products. The circular economy can create jobs in repair,remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling. These jobs could be spread throughout the UK and could help to address regional unemployment. The government can support the circular economy by setting ambitious targets and providing financial incentives.

This paper includes key recommendations for and considers the role of industry leaders, governments, education and training providers and civil society in closing the skills gap and championing VET for the circular economy. 

What are circular jobs exactly? And how can we ensure the transition to the circular economy is positive for work and workers? This Note gives us circular jobs definition framework defines circular jobs, with examples of jobs that contribute to the circular economy, and explains how this is used in Circle Economy's Circular Jobs Monitor, an online tool that gathers and displays the number and range of jobs that are part of the circular economy.

This publication provides, for the first time, direct measures of informal employment inside and outside informal enterprises for 47 countries. It also presents statistics on the composition and contribution of the informal economy as well as on specific groups of urban informal workers. Non-technical language and clear, simple statistical tables will make the information easy to understand by a large and varied audience.

This Note unveils the underappreciated role of women in small-scale fisheries. Despite rising international recognition, women's catches remain overlooked. The research estimates millions of women participate, catching nearly 11% of the total small-scale haul, valued at billions of dollars. These catches not only feed families but also fuel local economies, highlighting the critical yet invisible role women play in global fisheries.

This discussion paper offers a set of reflections on the key issues related to the intersection of climate change, the green and blue economy, and youth employment. It offers a set of discussion questions related to youth’s participation in the green and blue economy and their leadership in a just transition.