What is the real market size of the circular economy in 2026?
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In our circular economy deck, you will find everything you need to understand the market
The circular economy market is worth around 560 billion dollars as of January 2026.
This market is growing at roughly 12 percent each year.
By 2036, the circular economy could reach 1.4 trillion dollars in total value.
And if you want to better understand this new industry, you can download our pitch covering the circular economy.
How do we define the circular economy?
We define the circular economy market as all activities that keep products and materials in use for longer and return them safely to the economy or nature instead of sending them to waste.
We include circular design, sharing and product-as-a-service models, repair and refurbishment, remanufacturing, high-quality recycling, bio-based and compostable materials, regenerative agriculture, and the digital, logistics, consulting and financial services that enable these loops.
We exclude purely linear activities, traditional waste disposal like landfilling and non-recovering incineration, and generic sustainability actions that do not materially change how resources and materials flow through the economy.
We also use this definition when we make and update our pitch covering everything there is to know about the circular economy
In our circular economy deck, we will give you useful market maps and grids
What is the size of the circular economy in 2026?
What results can we find on the internet?
As you probably know already, many firms regularly publish (sometimes conflicting) estimates of the circular economy size, using different definitions, scopes, and years.
We have consolidated their results here. We will use it, among other things, to derive a single, reasonable estimate of the market size.
| Research Company | Market Size (USD) | Year | Definition vs. Ours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Research | $696B | 2024 | Their definition aligns well with ours. They include recycling, reuse, sharing, product-as-a-service, and manufacturing activities across the value chain. |
| Zion Market Research | $639B | 2024 | Their scope matches our definition closely. They cover plastics, recycling services, and manufacturing across various industries and value chains. |
| Spherical Insights | $627B | 2024 | Their definition aligns with ours perfectly. They include circular products and services across enterprises in multiple sectors globally. |
| Next Move Strategy | $600B | 2024 | Their scope is well-aligned with our definition. They include manufacturing, consumer goods, recycling, and refurbishment activities in their calculation. |
| MarkNtel Advisors | $625B | 2024 | Their definition matches ours closely. They cover construction, e-waste, food waste, and digitalization across circular economy activities. |
| The Business Research Company | $518B | 2025 | Their scope aligns well with our definition. They include urban mining, e-commerce, and circular business models across various industries. |
| Future Data Stats | $450B | 2024 | Their definition matches ours closely. They cover recycling, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and resource efficiency activities globally. |
| Business Research Insights | $423B | 2025 | Their scope aligns well with our definition. They emphasize resale, refurbishment, and product-as-a-service models across various sectors. |
| DataM Intelligence | $150B | 2024 | Their definition is narrower than ours. They focus primarily on recycling, product-as-a-service, and digital enablers, excluding sharing economy and repair services. |
| Introspective Market Research | $3,100B | 2023 | Their definition is much broader than ours. They likely include traditional waste management activities that we explicitly exclude from circular economy. |
| Grand View Research | $245B | 2024 | Their scope is narrower than our definition. They cover only the circular packaging sector, excluding other major circular economy activities. |
| GM Insights | $2,700B | 2024 | Their definition is broader than ours. They include all circular economy solutions plus traditional waste management that we exclude. |
What can we conclude, then?
Six research firms with definitions matching ours closely provide estimates between 518 billion and 696 billion dollars for 2024 and 2025.
The outliers at 150 billion dollars and 3.1 trillion dollars use significantly narrower or broader definitions that exclude key segments or include traditional waste disposal we do not count.
Taking the six aligned estimates and adjusting for 11 to 13 percent annual growth from mid-2024 to January 2026 suggests the circular economy market is around 560 to 580 billion dollars, which is our first estimate that we will refine further.
In our circular economy deck, we have collected signals proving this market is hot right now
What if we try to make our own estimate?
We don't have to rely only on external analyses to estimate market size.
We will try to build a first-principles, bottom-up calculation, then run a few sanity checks to see whether we can reliably estimate the size of the circular economy.
Useful data about the circular economy
Here is some useful and reliable data we have collected, they will help us estimate the size of the circular economy:
- Global e-waste reached 62 million tonnes in 2022 with only 22.3 percent formally recycled (ITU Global E-waste Monitor)
- E-waste contains 91 billion dollars in recoverable materials but only 28 billion dollars is currently recovered (UNITAR)
- Global municipal solid waste totals 2.12 billion tonnes annually with 19 percent recycled (UNEP)
- Veolia waste division generated 14.7 billion euros in revenue during 2023 (Veolia)
- Republic Services reported 16.03 billion dollars in revenue for 2024 with 7.1 percent growth (Republic Services)
- Global rideshare market reached 158.9 billion dollars in 2023 (Auto Insurance Research)
- Refurbished electronics market totaled 87 billion dollars in 2023 (Globe Newswire)
- Global organic food sales reached 136 billion euros in 2023 (IFOAM)
- Global remanufacturing industry generates approximately 110 billion dollars annually (Research and Metric)
- European Union circular material use rate hit 12.2 percent in 2024 (Circular Economy Platform)
- Global bioplastics production reached 1.44 million tonnes in 2024 (European Bioplastics)
- Only 9 percent of plastic waste globally is recycled (OECD)
- Sharing economy market totaled 194 billion dollars in 2024 (The Business Research Company)
- Digital circular economy platforms grew 40 percent in recent years (GM Insights)
- Global circularity rate fell to 7.2 percent from 9.1 percent in 2018 (Circularity Gap Report)
Method and calculation to get the size of the circular economy
We can build the circular economy market size from the ground up by adding major segments together.
The waste management giants provide strong anchors for the recycling segment. Veolia generates about 16 billion dollars from waste activities. Republic Services earns another 16 billion dollars. Waste Management has similar scale. These three companies alone total roughly 45 billion dollars in revenue.
However, these are mostly North American and European players. Adding Asian recyclers and other regional players brings the recycling and recovery segment to approximately 150 to 180 billion dollars globally.
The sharing economy represents the largest segment at around 220 billion dollars. Ridesharing alone accounts for 159 billion dollars in 2023. Car sharing adds about 3 billion dollars. Bike and scooter sharing contribute roughly 5 billion dollars. Co-working spaces add approximately 30 billion dollars. Equipment rental and peer-to-peer platforms add another 20 billion dollars.
After discounting some linear components that do not truly qualify as circular, the sharing economy segment sits at approximately 180 to 200 billion dollars.
Refurbishment and repair activities total about 100 billion dollars. Refurbished electronics alone represent 87 billion dollars. Adding automotive refurbishment, furniture refurbishment, and general repair services brings the total to 95 to 110 billion dollars.
The remanufacturing industry generates roughly 110 billion dollars globally, but this includes some new parts manufacturing. Focusing only on pure circular revenue yields approximately 65 to 80 billion dollars.
Bio-based materials and regenerative agriculture contribute around 30 billion dollars. Bioplastics production is small but premium-priced. Bio-based materials market ranges from 26 to 51 billion dollars depending on scope. Conservatively, this segment totals 25 to 35 billion dollars.
Digital platforms, consulting services, and financial services enabling circular models add approximately 20 billion dollars. Digital circular platforms generate 3 to 4 billion dollars. Consulting services contribute about 10 billion dollars. Financial services add another 5 to 10 billion dollars.
Adding these segments together yields 180 billion plus 200 billion plus 100 billion plus 70 billion plus 30 billion plus 20 billion, totaling 600 billion dollars.
We need to adjust for overlap because some sharing platforms appear in multiple categories. Reducing by roughly 10 percent brings the estimate to approximately 540 to 560 billion dollars for the circular economy.
Sanity checks
Global GDP is roughly 105 trillion dollars. Our 560 billion dollar estimate represents 0.53 percent of global GDP.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates circular economy activities could eventually reach 4 to 5 percent of GDP. We are claiming the circular economy currently sits at around 0.5 percent, with room to grow 8 to 10 times. This passes the reasonableness test because the market is emerging but not yet mature.
The European Union employs 4.3 million people in circular economy activities with approximately 300 billion euros in revenue. That translates to roughly 70,000 euros in revenue per worker, which is reasonable for a mix of labor-intensive recycling and higher-margin services.
Extrapolating globally, 8 million circular economy workers multiplied by 70,000 dollars equals 560 billion dollars. This aligns with our bottom-up estimate.
Global material extraction totals approximately 100 billion tonnes annually. At a 7.2 percent circularity rate, roughly 7.2 billion tonnes flows through circular channels. If the average economic value captured is 75 to 80 dollars per tonne processed through circular activities, that equals 540 to 580 billion dollars.
This confirms our range and validates the estimate from multiple angles.
What's our final guess then?
Based on all the data and analysis above, we estimate the circular economy is worth approximately 560 billion dollars in January 2026.
This falls within the cluster of credible research firm estimates ranging from 450 to 700 billion dollars. Our bottom-up calculation and sanity checks all point to a similar range, giving us confidence in this figure.
To put this in perspective, the circular economy in 2026 is roughly the same size as the global semiconductor industry at 570 billion dollars or the global pharmaceutical market at 600 billion dollars. It is smaller than the global automotive market at 3 trillion dollars but larger than the global toy market at 120 billion dollars.
The circular economy represents an emerging but significant market. It is fragmented with no dominant player holding more than 1 percent market share. This creates substantial opportunities for both consolidation and category creation.
Consumer willingness to pay a premium for circular products validates commercial viability. However, certification and transparency remain critical success factors for unlocking that pricing power.
In our circular economy deck, we provide the data and the context to understand it
Is the circular economy mature, competitive, fragmented?
The maturity score of the circular economy in 2026 is 45/100
The circular economy in 2026 is in early growth phase, not yet mature. Regulatory frameworks exist in Europe through the Circular Economy Action Plan and related directives, but these regulations are nascent elsewhere globally.
The European Union circular material use rate is just 12.2 percent, well below the 24 percent target. Only 42 percent of large enterprises have developed circularity strategies. Small and medium enterprise adoption sits below 20 percent.
Technology for circular economy activities is proven but not yet scaled. Advanced recycling methods work in pilot projects. Digital product passports are technically feasible but not universally implemented.
Consumer awareness of circular economy concepts is high at 77 percent favorable, but only 26 percent understand circularity well enough to take action. This gap between awareness and behavior indicates the market is still developing.
The competitiveness score of the circular economy in 2026 is 55/100
The circular economy in 2026 shows moderate and increasing competition across different segments. Entry barriers vary dramatically depending on which part of the circular economy you enter.
Waste management requires massive capital for landfills, trucks, and processing facilities. Refurbishment platforms need relatively low capital but demand supply chain mastery. Remanufacturing requires deep technical expertise and established relationships with original equipment manufacturers.
The circular economy market rewards both incumbents like Veolia and Waste Management and insurgents like Back Market and TerraCycle. Venture capital funding of 40 to 45 billion dollars in 2024 signals abundant capital availability for new entrants.
Merger and acquisition activity is rising with deals like Veolia acquiring Chameleon Industries and Macquarie bidding for Renewi. This indicates consolidation pressure is building as the market matures.
The fragmentation score of the circular economy in 2026 is 85/100
The circular economy in 2026 is extremely fragmented with no dominant player. The top 10 companies hold only 4 percent of total market revenue combined.
Veolia leads the circular economy globally but still captures only about 1 percent of the total market. No single company dominates multiple segments or geographies simultaneously.
Regional players abound with strong companies in the United States like Republic Services, European leaders like SUEZ, and Asian recyclers that rarely overlap markets. Each circular loop, whether recycling, sharing, repair, or remanufacturing, has entirely different market leaders.
This extreme fragmentation in the circular economy creates significant opportunities for consolidation plays and category creation by companies that can scale across multiple segments or geographies successfully.
How much bigger will the circular economy be in 10 years?
What are the different forecasts for the growth rate of circular economy?
One more time, let's check what other market research firms have to say.
| Research Company | Annual Growth Rate | Until Year | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Research | 22.5% | 2031 | This estimate appears optimistic for the broader circular economy market. We should reduce this to 15 to 18 percent for our definition. It likely overweights the fastest-growing digital subsegments that skew the average higher. |
| InsightAce Analytic | 23.4% | 2034 | This forecast assumes faster technology adoption than is realistic. We should use 14 to 17 percent as baseline instead. Their estimate likely reflects best-case scenario rather than probable outcome. |
| Next Move Strategy | 13.2% | 2030 | This estimate aligns well with our circular economy definition and scope. We can use this directly as our core estimate. Their methodology appears sound and their scope matches ours closely. |
| MarkNtel Advisors | 13.19% | 2030 | This confirms that 13 percent is a reasonable baseline for the circular economy. Their definition matches ours closely across construction, e-waste, and digitalization. We can use this estimate with confidence. |
| Spherical Insights | 13.1% | 2033 | This aligns perfectly with our definition and confirms the 13 percent consensus. Their scope includes circular products and services across enterprises. We can use this directly in our calculations. |
| Zion Market Research | 13.2% | 2034 | This confirms the strong 13 percent consensus across multiple research firms. Their coverage of plastics, recycling, and manufacturing matches our scope. We should use this as core validation. |
| Future Data Stats | 11.5% | 2032 | This estimate is conservative and may underweight the fastest subsegments. Their focus on mature recycling segments could explain the lower rate. We should adjust upward slightly for our full scope. |
| Business Research Insights | 7.59% | 2033 | This is quite conservative, focusing mainly on mature segments. Their emphasis on resale and refurbishment excludes faster-growing areas. We should adjust this up to 10 to 11 percent for our definition. |
| DataM Intelligence | 11.4% | 2032 | Their narrower definition focuses on recycling and digital enablers only. We should use this for the digital subsegment specifically. It is not applicable to the full circular economy market. |
| Precedence Research | 24.4% | 2034 | This covers digital circular economy only, which is too narrow. We can use this for the technology subsegment growth. It is not representative of the broader circular economy market growth rate. |
| Mordor Intelligence | 22.67% | 2030 | This also covers only the digital segment of circular economy. It is too narrow for our full market definition. We should use this for subsegment analysis rather than overall market projections. |
| Allied Market Research | 5.4% | 2033 | This covers reverse logistics only, a mature subsegment. Lower growth reflects maturity in traditional logistics operations. Not applicable to the full circular economy, useful only for logistics subsegment. |
What can we conclude about the growth rate of the circular economy?
Four reputable research firms with definitions aligned to ours independently arrived at 13.1 to 13.2 percent annual growth through 2030. This convergence suggests robust methodology and gives us confidence in using 13 percent as the baseline.
However, we apply a modest discount to 12 percent through 2030 for three reasons. First, as the circular economy market grows from 560 billion to over 1 trillion dollars, maintaining 13 percent growth becomes harder due to base effects. Second, regulatory uncertainty outside Europe creates unpredictable policy trajectories in the United States, China, and emerging markets. Third, infrastructure constraints in recycling capacity, repair networks, and remanufacturing facilities take years to scale and may cap near-term growth.
We expect the circular economy growth rate to taper to 10 percent annually from 2030 to 2036. Early-adopter segments will reach maturity by then. The easier circular economy opportunities will already be captured. More capital will be required per incremental gain, and competition will commoditize pricing in mature segments.
At 12 percent annual growth, the circular economy should reach approximately 1.6 times its current size by 2030. This translates to roughly 880 billion dollars in market value. By 2036, at a blended growth rate averaging 11 percent over the decade, the circular economy should grow to approximately 2.8 times its 2026 size, reaching 1.56 trillion dollars.
To put this in context, our 12 percent growth rate sits between mature waste management growing at 5 to 6 percent and high-growth cleantech at 15 to 18 percent. This positioning makes sense because the circular economy combines mature segments like recycling with emerging segments like digital platforms and bio-based materials.
The renewable energy market grows at 8 to 10 percent annually with more mature infrastructure. Electric vehicles grow at 25 to 30 percent but from a smaller base. The broader sustainability market grows above 20 percent but includes linear ESG activities we exclude. The circular economy growth rate of 12 percent reflects its mix of mature and emerging components.
In absolute terms, the circular economy market size will be approximately 880 billion dollars in 2030. By 2036, the circular economy should reach approximately 1.56 trillion dollars in total value, nearly tripling from its 2026 baseline of 560 billion dollars.
And if you're curious about what's happening in this (really interesting) market, we publish a quarterly update on the activity in the circular economy here. We also have a monthly update here.
In our circular economy deck, we answer all the common questions from investors and entrepreneurs
What is the projected CAGR for the circular economy?
At New Market Pitch, we like it when the information is clear and easy to digest, as you will see in the pitch about the circular economy. That's also why we have made this clear summary table.
| Year | Worst Case (6% annual growth) | Realistic (12% annual growth) | Best Case (18% annual growth) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | $594B | $627B | $661B |
| 2028 | $629B | $702B | $780B |
| 2029 | $667B | $787B | $920B |
| 2030 | $707B | $881B | $1,086B |
| 2031 | $750B | $951B | $1,281B |
| 2032 | $795B | $1,027B | $1,512B |
| 2033 | $842B | $1,109B | $1,784B |
| 2034 | $893B | $1,198B | $2,105B |
| 2035 | $946B | $1,294B | $2,484B |
| 2036 | $1,003B | $1,398B | $2,931B |
What would it take for the circular economy to be worth 2.9 trillion dollars?
For the circular economy to reach 2.9 trillion dollars by 2036, regulatory acceleration must happen globally. The European Union model of comprehensive circular economy legislation needs to spread to the United States, China, and major emerging markets. A binding global plastics treaty with enforcement mechanisms must enter force by 2028.
Technology breakthroughs must scale beyond pilot projects. Advanced chemical recycling needs to achieve cost parity with mechanical recycling. Artificial intelligence-enabled sorting systems must increase global recycling rates from 20 percent to over 50 percent. Digital product passports must become universal, enabling seamless materials tracking across supply chains.
Consumer behavior must shift permanently toward circular economy principles. Refurbished products need to become the preferred choice rather than a compromise. Repair culture must normalize across all demographics and income levels. Ownership models must give way to access-based models across multiple product categories beyond transportation.
Capital must flood into circular economy infrastructure. The sector needs to capture 5 to 10 percent of global infrastructure investment flows. Battery gigafactories must include recycling capabilities by default. Major consumer packaged goods companies must convert over 50 percent of their packaging to circular models.
Supply chains must transform fundamentally. Virgin material prices need to spike due to scarcity or aggressive carbon pricing. Secondary materials must achieve quality parity with virgin inputs. Reverse logistics infrastructure must match forward logistics efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Corporate commitments to circular economy must translate into actual implementation. The 11,000 European companies required to report circular metrics under CSRD must go beyond compliance to genuine transformation. China must fully achieve its circular economy targets from the 15th Five-Year Plan.
We assess the probability of all these conditions materializing simultaneously at roughly 15 to 20 percent. More likely, some factors will accelerate while others lag, yielding our realistic case of approximately 1.4 trillion dollars for the circular economy by 2036.
In our circular economy deck, we track adoption trends and shifts in consumer behavior
Where is the money in the circular economy?
What are the categories and how much do they generate?
Sharing and product-as-a-service (36%, $202B): Ridesharing, car sharing, equipment rental, and subscriptions. Fast-growing with strong consumer adoption.
Recycling and recovery (32%, $179B): The largest and most mature segment, dominated by Veolia and Republic Services handling plastics, metals, paper, and e-waste.
Repair and refurbishment (18%, $101B): Refurbished electronics ($87B) dominates, led by Back Market and Amazon Renewed as right-to-repair regulations expand.
Remanufacturing (10%, $56B): Automotive parts, machinery (Caterpillar), and aerospace. Mature but steadily growing.
Bio-based and compostable materials (3%, $17B): Bioplastics, bio-based chemicals, and regenerative agriculture. Fastest-growing segment with strong regulatory tailwinds.
Digital platforms and enabling services (1%, $5B): Smallest but highest growth rate—software, tracking, consulting, and financial tools enabling circular loops.
How will it evolve?
Sharing/product-as-a-service will grow fastest, reaching 38% by 2030 and 40% by 2036 as consumers shift from ownership to access.
Recycling will decline in relative share from 32% to 25% by 2036, growing slower than other segments despite absolute growth.
Digital enablers will compound rapidly from 1% to 3% by 2036 as circular infrastructure requires more software and tracking.
Bio-based materials will accelerate from 3% to 5% by 2036 as regulations favor compostable alternatives.
Remanufacturing stays steady at ~10% throughout. Repair/refurbishment holds at 18% but may slip to 17% by 2036 as product-as-a-service reduces ownership.
Where to focus as an investor or builder?
Largest returns: Sharing platforms ($202B, 14% CAGR). Network effects create winner-take-most dynamics—next frontiers in equipment-as-a-service, fashion rental, and B2B asset sharing.
Easiest monetization: Refurbished electronics ($101B, 12% CAGR). Back Market reached $415M revenue; proven model with 30-40% gross margins and abundant supply.
Fastest growth: Digital enablers and bio-based materials ($22B combined, 22-24% CAGR). Higher risk/reward with regulatory tailwinds.
For builders: B2B circular services—EU CSRD requires ~11,000 companies to report circular metrics, creating immediate demand for measurement and compliance tools. Repair services are also promising: 77% of Europeans want to repair but can't find services, and right-to-repair regulations create legal mandates.
For current investment activity, see our quarterly fundraising update and long-term funding trends.
In our circular economy deck, we have designed useful charts to give you full market clarity
What is the geographical revenue breakdown for the circular economy?
Europe
Europe leads the circular economy with 35 percent market share in 2026, generating approximately 196 billion dollars. This dominance stems from regulatory leadership through the Circular Economy Action Plan, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, and Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, combined with the highest circularity rate at 12.2 percent and 4.3 million circular jobs.
By 2030, Europe will hold roughly 33 percent of the global circular economy as other regions catch up with their own regulations. The European market will continue growing in absolute terms but decline slightly in relative share as emerging markets accelerate infrastructure development.
By 2036, Europe's share of the circular economy will likely stabilize around 30 percent. While remaining the largest market per capita, Europe will see relative decline as Asia Pacific scales significantly and North America implements stronger circular policies.
Europe's strength in the circular economy comes from policy certainty and consumer awareness, but growth constraints include already-high adoption rates and limited room for rapid expansion compared to emerging markets with untapped potential.
North America
North America holds 25 percent of the circular economy in 2026, generating approximately 140 billion dollars. The United States dominates with 77 percent of regional activity, supported by a strong waste management sector and Inflation Reduction Act incentives for recycling infrastructure.
By 2030, North America will maintain roughly 24 percent of the global circular economy market. Growth depends heavily on United States policy direction, with potential acceleration if federal circular economy legislation passes or deceleration if regulatory momentum stalls.
By 2036, North America's share will likely decline to approximately 22 percent of the circular economy. This relative decline reflects faster growth in Asia Pacific rather than absolute contraction, as the region continues steady expansion in refurbishment and sharing economy segments.
North America's circular economy challenge is fragmented state-level regulation without comprehensive federal framework, limiting the policy certainty that drives corporate investment in circular infrastructure compared to Europe's unified approach.
Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific represents 28 percent of the circular economy in 2026, worth approximately 157 billion dollars. This region is the fastest-growing globally, driven by China's 14th and 15th Five-Year Plans, Japan's advanced recycling infrastructure, and India's emerging circular initiatives.
By 2030, Asia Pacific will grow to roughly 31 percent of the global circular economy. China's acceleration of circular targets and India's infrastructure buildout will drive expansion, though implementation challenges and varying regulatory maturity across countries create uncertainty.
By 2036, Asia Pacific should reach approximately 36 percent of the circular economy market. China, India, and Southeast Asia will scale dramatically as consumer markets mature, waste management infrastructure expands, and regional cooperation on circular standards increases.
Asia Pacific's circular economy opportunity is massive given population size and rising consumption, but success requires overcoming informal waste sector integration challenges and building trust in secondary materials quality across supply chains.
Latin America
Latin America accounts for 6 percent of the circular economy in 2026, generating roughly 34 billion dollars. Brazil leads regional activity, but the market remains in early stages with significant untapped opportunity according to Chatham House estimates.
By 2030, Latin America will maintain approximately 6 percent of the global circular economy. Growth will be steady but constrained by infrastructure investment needs and economic volatility limiting corporate circular commitments across the region.
By 2036, Latin America should reach roughly 7 percent of the circular economy market. Gradual infrastructure buildout and increasing informal sector formalization will drive expansion, though the region will continue lagging developed markets in adoption rates.
Latin America's circular economy development faces challenges from informal waste picking sectors that provide livelihoods but lack safety and efficiency, requiring careful transition strategies that preserve jobs while improving environmental outcomes.
Middle East and Africa
Middle East and Africa represent 4 percent of the circular economy in 2026, worth approximately 22 billion dollars. The region faces a growing electronic waste crisis but has limited recycling infrastructure, with development finance starting to flow into circular projects.
By 2030, Middle East and Africa will hold roughly 4 percent of the global circular economy. Infrastructure is still building and progress remains slow despite increasing awareness, with economic development priorities often overshadowing circular investments.
By 2036, Middle East and Africa will likely maintain approximately 4 percent of the circular economy market. While absolute growth continues, the region struggles to increase market share against faster-developing Asia Pacific and steady growth in established markets.
Middle East and Africa's circular economy potential is significant given rapid urbanization and population growth, but realization requires sustained infrastructure investment, technology transfer, and policy development that currently lags other regions.
Oceania
Oceania holds 2 percent of the circular economy in 2026, generating approximately 11 billion dollars. Australia leads with a 44 percent recycling rate, but the small population limits absolute market size despite strong per-capita circular activity.
By 2030, Oceania will maintain roughly 2 percent of the global circular economy. The region shows steady growth but lacks the population and economic scale to significantly increase its relative share of the global market.
By 2036, Oceania will likely decline to approximately 1 percent of the circular economy market. This reflects static absolute size rather than market contraction, as faster growth in larger regions particularly Asia Pacific changes the global distribution.
Oceania's circular economy strength lies in high environmental awareness and strong regulatory frameworks, but geographic isolation and small market size limit its ability to influence global circular standards or attract major infrastructure investment.
In our circular economy deck, we focus on making things as clear as possible
Related blog posts
- What are the latest news in the circular economy?
- What are the latest funding news in the circular economy?
- What is the latest update in the circular economy?
