Study
Global Circular Economy
Reflections for a Just Transition
For free (plus shipping costs)
A circular economy could help prevent the severe impacts of our resource consumption and can be a solution to the massive dependence on raw materials from other countries. The EU has proposed several circular economy measures since the launch of its Circular Economy Action Plan in 2015, including a Sustainable Products Initiative, addressing the product design, and a 'Right to Repair'.
With this study, we would like to take a closer look at the various facets of a circular economy and to raise awareness of potential pitfalls in terms of equity and increasing inequalities, identify different solutions and initiate a debate on how we can collectively create a fair and effective global circular economy.
Product details
Date of Publication
März 2025
Publisher
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung in cooperation with Germanwatch
Number of Pages
52
Licence
Language of publication
English
ISBN / DOI
978-3-86928-273-2
Table of contents
Preface
Abbreviations
- Introduction 9
A Just Transition to a Circular Economy is not a sure-fire guarantee
Electronic and electric equipment in focus
- The future of global value creation and capture and the global division of labour
Opportunity 1: The circular advantage
Opportunity 2: The growing global market for secondary raw materials
Opportunity 3: Ecodesign
Risk 1: Resource (in)justice
Risk 2: Primacy of European industry and consumers
Risk 3: Job inequality
- Global environmental and health effects of European Circular Economy policies
Opportunity 4: Circular legislations reduce environmental damage and health risks
Opportunity 5: Environmental externalisation of waste problem decreases
Risk 4: Undermining of the waste hierarchy due to purely national approaches
Risk 5: Material demand leakages
- Considerations for distributive and procedural justice
- Outlook
Use inclusive international dialogue, conferences, agreements and resolutions to shape the transition
Mainstream spill-over analysis of Circular Economy policies in the EU
Align development cooperation with a Just Transition to a Circular Economy
Introduce compensation schemes to ensure long-term financing of circular infrastructure in the L(M)ICs to which UEEE and e-waste are exported
Fund research to better understand the dimensions of a global Just Transition to a Circular Economy and include researchers in L(M)ICs
Adapt international raw materials diplomacy and trade policies to circularity
Work towards reducing raw materials demand to a consumption level within planetary boundaries
References