A circular economy is one in which products do not end up as waste but are instead repaired, reused, or transformed into new materials. This stands in contrast to the linear economy currently dominant worldwide—one built on extraction, production, use, and disposal. Despite the growing recognition of circularity as a sustainability necessity and the implementation of many circular economy initiatives worldwide, very few systems are truly circular in practice.

In late 2025, major global food and consumer goods producers—including PepsiCo, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever —met in Europe to discuss the future of packaging[1]. The summit focused on new ideas to make packaging more sustainable and reduce waste. However, one important issue remains unclear: did the event incorporate the voices and concerns of countries in the Global South?

Recycling your old phone should be getting cheaper. After all, electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, having almost doubled in the last decade, and recycling technologies have advanced rapidly. With this kind of scale, many industries, from solar panels to batteries, have seen sharp cost declines.

New research shows electricity price hikes in Malawi increase firewood use and women's and girls’ domestic burden. To balance the burden for households, parts of the tax revenue could be recycled. Economists usually propose lump-sum transfers, while people often prefer green investments or targeted transfers. This study - taking household bargaining power into account - emphasizes the possibility of handing out transfers to women, which would also increase their intra-household bargaining power and reduce firewood consumption.

In the face of climate change and its disproportionate impact on agriculture, finding sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers is more critical than ever. With agriculture being the backbone of many Sub-Saharan African economies, adopting low-carbon technologies in this sector offers immense potential to drive inclusive economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability.

A key reason for women’s low labour force participation in developing countries is the burden of unpaid domestic work. Analysing data from rural Bangladesh, this article assesses whether electrification can make a difference by increasing access to time-saving technologies. It finds that women in electrified homes are able to divert some time away from housework to farm work and leisure, and have a greater say in decision-making.

This is the third post of a five-part series to mark International Women’s Day 2025.

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower are essential for reducing global carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuel-based energy generation. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency ((IRENA), 2020), the large-scale deployment of renewable energy, combined with energy efficiency improvements, has the potential to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions by 70% by 2050.

Typhoon Yagi hit Vietnam in September 2024, becoming the most powerful storm to strike the country in 70 years. It caused widespread destruction in the northern regions, resulting in extensive humanitarian efforts and demonstrating the nation’s spirit of unity. This wave of generosity caught my attention particularly because it aligns with fascinating findings from a recent study by EfD researcher Ho Quoc Thong and his team, which looked at how awareness of donations influences people’s willingness to help during crises, particularly examining how this varies between men and women.

India’s newly formed government aims to make the country Vixit (developed) by 2047. This calls for improving India’s gender parity in socio-economic outcomes, according to Farzana Afridi (Professor of Economics at Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi). She pens key policies that can propel the country in this direction in an op-ed article in the India Express.

In the heart of Arusha, Tanzania, something transformative was brewing. Minds from Eastern African governmental agencies and researchers converged for a week-long workshop on the practicalities of clean cooking. The air was filled with anticipation, for it was not just about discussing solutions; it was about catalyzing change.