The Future of Materials Systems 2026

National circular economy calls to action, roadmaps and strategies FIGURE 8 Source: Chatham House, 2026.17Calls to action: These aim to kick-start national dialogue and coor dinated action on the cir cular economy and can serve as a critical precursor to a r oadmap or strategy . Roadmaps: These of fer a qualitative long-term vision, outlining high-level focus and priority ar eas and actions. They contain sufficient detail on policy actions and priority ar eas to subsequently pr oduce mor e specific operational plans. Operational strategies: These outline time-dependent actions, specified action owners, and a gover nance strategy that includes monitoring and evaluation; they also consider financing whenever possible. Operational strategies have usually been adopted within an official gover nment pr ogramme. National circular economy strategies are being shaped to a greater extent by resource security considerations than by international cooperation. For example, of the roughly 4,300 circular economy policy commitments contained in the 49 national strategies, fewer than 10% address international coordination, while only 9% explicitly consider trade-related aspects.18 Yet, for circular activities – such as repair, refurbishing or remanufacturing – to be economically viable, it is often necessary to aggregate end-of-life products, components and secondary raw materials from multiple jurisdictions into regional economic hubs with sufficient economies of scale, technological development and market demand.19 At the same time, firms commonly require access to advanced overseas technologies, spare parts and expertise with which to perform circular activities.20 The unilateral approach, independent of any international coordination principles or mechanisms, therefore risks regulatory fragmentation across the likes of technical standards, reporting and disclosure requirements, and market access demands. A growing number of plurilateral, regional and multi- stakeholder initiatives are emerging, reflecting the need for cross-border cooperation on the circular economy. Examples include the following: –Global Circularity Protocol for Business. –Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency. –ASEAN Framework for Circular Economy. –African Circular Economy Alliance. While these initiatives represent important steps, delivering circularity at scale will require targeted and coordinated cooperation, cutting across regions, sectors, value chains and policy domains. The Future of Materials Systems: Cooperation Opportunities in a Multipolar World 16