Buying the Change You Want to See in the World
About Us
Circular Innovation Council – established as Recycling Council of Ontario in 1978 – believes solutions for greater resource efficiency is to advance the circular economy, which decouples economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.
Through circular procurement, public sector organizations can accelerate the transition to the circular economy, and we invite purchasing professionals, vendors, and suppliers from across Canada to collaborate and discover best practices, tools, and resources.
Global Policies
Browse global policies and strategies to formulate circular aspirations, strategies, and action plans.
Case Studies
Review top-spend category case studies to gain insight into how procurement drives circular outcomes.
Business Models
Circular business models strengthen the circular economy and circular procurement can advance them individually and collectively. Learn more about each business model and its benefits.
Tool Kit
Formulating requirements into the procurement process requires a high level of pre-procurement planning. Explore the circular procurement tool kit and European criteria to gain insight.
Resources
Engaging with markets fosters unique partnerships that support circular ambitions and drives economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Browse market engagement resources to learn more about stakeholder engagement, why it is an important step, and how to do it effectively.
Consumption at a Glance
ONly
9%
of plastic waste is recycled in canada
Canada is responsible for
1.6%
of global emissions
400mil
people are projected to live in canada by 2050
5x
the global rate
34%
of canada’s energy is fuelled by non-renewable sources
$200bil
annually spent on public sector procurement
REPRESENTS 15% OF CANADA’S GDP
80%
share of total government spending in Canada made by the local governmentS
$160mil
local governments spending on procurement in Canada every year
Cities consume
75%
of natural resources, produce 50% of global waste, and emit 60-80% of greenhouse gases.
Consumption At A Glance
Government and linear production
Governments at all levels across Canada spend $200 billion annually on goods and services, which makes up 15% of the Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Of that figure 80% – $160 billion – is spent at the municipal level.
The economic model in which government procurement operates is largely based on linear production and consumption cycles that mines virgin resources to produce products that are consumed and ultimately lost to disposal.
With increasingly constrained resources, supply disruptions, volatile commodity prices, and a host of environmental challenges it is imperative that goods and services be produced and consumed in a manner that is resource efficient to minimize their environmental effects and costs.
The circular economy is an advanced economic model of production and consumption taking hold globally. Its approach decouples economic growth from the use of natural resources and environmental impacts by offering prosperous, equitable, and beneficial outcomes for people and planet.
CircularProcurement.ca
CircularProcurement.ca is a resource to support Canada’s collective understanding of circular economy benefits, and how to leverage procurement and purchasing to drive it. Through knowledge exchange and collaboration CircularProcurement.ca is a showcase of insight and experience to put circular economy concepts into action.
Leveraging Buying Power to Advance the Circular Economy
Consuming and producing while prioritizing environmental and social objectives is central to accelerating the shift from a linear to a circular economy. Circular procurement and purchasing can be a direct and effective tool to accelerate the transition from linear to circular economy.
Governments of all sizes and locations have ability to use their procurement and purchasing powers to shift markets toward circularity. Using their buying power governments can also advance their economic, social, and environmental objectives.
Today 80% of Canadians live in cities, which are collectively the biggest buyer of goods and services in the country. Local governments are positioned to lead Canada’s transition to a circular economy starting with what and how they buy, use, and discard goods and services.
Circular procurement also delivers on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Featured Case Studies
Global Initiatives
Click on a location on our map to see Circular Procurement initiatives in that area.
Founding Partner
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
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