Redefining value : the manufacturing revolution. Summary for policy makers

There is growing international interest in the concept of circular economy as a framework for pursuing sustainable economic growth and human prosperity. A key aspect of circular economy is the concept of value-retention within economic production-consumption systems. Processes such as remanufacturing, refurbishment, repair and arranging direct reuse enable the retention of value, and in some cases the creation of new value for both the producer and customer, at a reduced environmental impact. The report also highlights the systematic barriers that many inhibit progressive scale-up including regulatory, market, technology and infrastructure barriers, and how they could be overcome.