At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and One Planet Network announced the official launch of the Global Circularity Protocol for business (GCP).

Developed in partnership with over 150 experts from more than 80 organisations – including leading businesses, policymakers and scientific advisors – the GCP is the world’s first voluntary science-based, globally harmonised framework designed to help companies of all sizes measure, manage and communicate their circular performance and impacts across value chains.

“The GCP provides companies with standardised, science-based metrics and a clear roadmap for measurable action, enabling leaders to drive tangible progress, build resilience, and deliver long-term value to both business and planet,” said WBCSD president and CEO Peter Bakker. “The scale of the opportunity is significant. Our analysis has revealed that by 2050, widespread adoption of the GCP could save up to 120 billion tons of materials – equivalent to one year’s current global consumption – and avoid up to 76 gigatons of CO2 emissions – equivalent to one and a half times current global annual emissions. I encourage business leaders and policymakers alike to adopt the GCP as a practical foundation for accelerating the shift to a just, circular and regenerative economy.”

Piloted by industry leaders and a cohort of GCP front runners, the GCP is already delivering results – helping companies identify circularity hotspots and opportunities to drive innovation and build resilient, future-fit value chains. The protocol’s collaborative development process ensures it is robust, practical and adaptable for diverse sectors and geographies.

www.wbcsd.org