A collection of SWITCH-Asia Grant Projects Contributing to the Circular Economy (2022)

The SWITCH-Asia Grants Programme funds pilot projects helping companies adopt cleaner technologies and more sustainable industrial practices, as well as helping consumers to act more responsibly in their daily choices and lifestyles. Since 2007, this programme has funded 143 projects, of which 16 new ones active as of 2022. Projects span across a wide range of sectors and are implemented by over 500 Asian and European partners, about 100 private sector associates, indirectly benefitting up to 80,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The evidence provided by projects is meant to feed into policy and regulatory discussions with national governments in their transition towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy through the improvement of national strategies and action plans with regard to sustainable production and consumption practices.

The circular economy (CE) offers a framework in which the value of materials, parts, and products remains for as long as possible within the production and consumption system. CE is a system driven by interconnected strategies and innovations. It is to be achieved through Circular Strategies that correspond to the goals of sustainable consumption and production. This means relying on renewable and/or less harmful materials (‘resource switch’), striving for perpetual use and re-use of materials, products and their components within production and consumption systems (‘circularity of resources’), as well as minimising waste generation through better design and efficiency of production and use (‘resource efficiency’).

In the context of this brochure, the SWITCH-Asia Grants are portrayed as contributors to different elements of the CE – from practicing CE strategies and innovations along the supply chain to contributions into critical enablers. Presenting the Grants in the CE ecosystem will open up perspectives for further engagement between them and additional critical partners in the ongoing movement towards circular transformation.