What are the circular economy best practices beyond the UK? Examples from the automotive and construction industries

The transition to a circular economy (CE) is a growing priority for the UK automotive and construction sectors due to their significant environmental impacts and resource demands. As the UK develops a national CE strategy and sector-specific roadmaps through the Growth Plan, this report reviews CE approaches in ten leading countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, China and Japan. It identifies successful policies, best practices and remaining gaps in the implementation of circular economy principles across both sectors. The report draws out key lessons and provides recommendations to support effective UK policy, industrial competitiveness and emissions reduction.