Progressing the circular economy through the power of data
- Kiana Klassen
- Mar 13
- 5 min read
The circular economy is all about creating a system where resources are used efficiently, waste is minimized, and materials are reused or recycled back into the economy. And data plays a crucial role in this transition.
We spoke with Brad Wright, Executive Vice President of RLG Americas, about how data is driving progress in the circular economy. With over 30 years of experience in environmental services, Brad shares how data is helping businesses navigate sustainability challenges and go beyond compliance.
Tell us how RLG Canada and Reconomy are working to advance a circular economy in Canada and globally?
Reconomy is an international business that operates in 80 countries, supported by 26 local offices. We are a tech-enabled, asset-light business that relies on advanced technology and flexible operations to deliver our services. Our focus is to help customers fulfill their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations, optimize their supply chains, and transition toward a circular economy. Essentially, our mission is to help businesses move toward a more sustainable and resource-efficient model through our three key service offerings, or “loops”: Recycle, comply, and reuse.
In Canada, we have a significant role to play. For example, RLG is the Operator of Ontario’s Blue Box Common Collection System. We also serve as a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in Ontario for information technology, telecommunications and, audio-visual equipment (ITT/AV) under electronics and offer consulting services to guide companies in environmental compliance and enhance their sustainability practices.
We recognize that transitioning to a circular economy isn’t something we can achieve alone — it requires partnerships with businesses, governments, and communities. Working together, we aim to create a more sustainable future and ensure resources are used efficiently.
From your experience, what are the untapped opportunities where data can play a transformative role in advancing circular economy practices globally?
Having the right data helps us make informed decisions that bring us closer to a circular economy. A great example of this is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting. PFAS are a class of human-made substances called “forever chemicals” because of their propensity not to break down in the environment. Their persistence, combined with growing evidence of their adverse effects on the environment and human health, has governments looking for solutions.
However, before governments can propose new regulations, they need an abundance of high-quality data to help inform their decision-making. We use digital tools and data-driven insights to quickly adapt to customer needs for PFAS reporting requirements. Accurate data provides quantifiable evidence that can drive legislative change against substances harmful to our health and the environment around the globe.
How does data empower organizations like RLG/Reconomy to support the optimization of circular economy supply chains and practices?
Data is a key driver in optimizing circular economy supply chains. Our Supplier Data Hub is instrumental in collecting and managing data from various suppliers within the supply chain. It allows us to make informed recommendations on supplier performance, material sourcing, and composition, ensuring that every partner in the supply chain is aligned with circular economy goals.
Our Data Insight Platform allows us to gather and analyze data related to packaging and its contents. One of its most powerful features, enabled by our 50+ million SKU product database, is its ability to benchmark our customers against their peers. This helps our customers understand how they stack up in the industry, which then allows them to identify respective areas for improvement.
On the financial side, we assist clients with forecasting fees and anticipating compliance costs by analyzing historical data and market trends. Additionally, we analyze end-of-life disposition data to recommend best practices for managing products at the end of their lifecycle, including recycling and recovery options. Our goal is to guide companies in their environmental compliance journey and maximize resource recovery, which are fundamental aspects of the circular economy.
How do you collaborate with governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to standardize and share data in ways that benefit all stakeholders?
Good data is critical to any decision-making process. Canada’s Federal Plastics Registry, for example, will require large amounts of data that not every business is equipped to collect. This is further exacerbated by the diversity of sectors that are obligated to report. Its scale is too large for any one entity, necessitating industry associates to begin collaborating to manage it efficiently and effectively.
RLG plays a large role in these kinds of collaborative efforts. Working closely with both government officials and obligated producers, we have a deep understanding of the concerns of producers and the opportunities where both producers and the government can meet in the middle. We help facilitate conversations between the right people, know where we can iterate, and understand when new solutions need to be created.
In this way, our global expertise and years of experience support progress toward a more circular economy.
What insights have you gained from working with data that challenge common assumptions about waste, materials, or resource use globally?
A common assumption is that high recycling rates equate to effective material recovery. However, data often reveals significant losses in the recycling process due to contamination, inefficient sorting, or lack of processing infrastructure for certain materials. This highlights the need to design products with end-of-life recovery in mind and promote circular economy principles.
Another key insight is the importance of assessing the full lifecycle of materials when making design choices. It’s often assumed that materials like bioplastics are inherently more sustainable than conventional options. However, data reveals that their production can involve significant environmental impacts, such as high land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, without proper industrial composting facilities, bioplastics may not break down as intended, which can lead to pollution challenges similar to those of conventional plastics.
This challenges the assumption that alternative materials are always better and highlights the need to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of materials across their entire lifecycle — from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. It also emphasizes the critical role lifecycle assessment plays in making informed and truly sustainable material choices.
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Did you enjoy this blog? Keep an eye out for the full version being released soon in Circular Economy Magazine Vol. 1 by Sparx Publishing Group.