A “Paris Agreement” for recycling the Earth’s resources

This report developed by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) makes the case for a “Paris Agreement” for recycling the Earth’s resources. It outlines a set of recycling and collection objectives for eight materials that yield high levels of waste in terms of volume, value and/or environmental impact: cement and concrete, metals, biowaste, wood, paper, plastic, electronic waste (e-waste) and electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The objective of this report is to create a starting point for global communities to develop a plan for materials use in the next decades. By doing so, we can contribute to a global economy that will use the Earth’s materials responsibly, staying within the resource limits and preserving its resources for future generations. 

What you will find in this report: 

• A starting point for global communities to establish guidelines for the use and recycling of materials in the coming decades.  
• A set of proposed recycling and collection objectives for eight materials that yield high levels of waste in terms of volume, value and/or environmental impact. 
• Highlights of some of the key challenges to circularity on a global, regional and industry level.  
• A technology-focused and ambitious lens on what the future of recycling could look like if key actors come together to overcome challenges.  
• A breakdown of the costs of innovation and equipment that will be needed to meet sustainable recycling objectives and the impact of these objectives on the climate, nature and society.