First circular economy roadmap (country)

In 2016, Finland became the first country to publish a national action plan towards achieving a circular economy, which set out how its society might minimize waste and move away from a linear economy by the year 2025. A concept that is rapidly gaining ground and has been taken up by the European Union and several leading companies, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation defines a "circular economy" as consisting of a system based on minimal waste and pollution, maximizing the life of products and materials, and the regeneration of natural systems.

The roadmap includes more than 60 different projects and administrative changes that work towards building a circular economy, including innovative approaches to recycling municipal waste, sustainable food systems and rehabilitating contaminated land.

While no international metrics currently exist to assess circular economies, in Europe, Politico's Circular Economy Index has Germany out in front given its high levels of recycling, rates of re-use, and investment in circular-economy initiatives.