This European Environment Agency briefing shows how integrating justice into circular economy policies strengthens environmental and social outcomes.

It draws on three reports from the European Topic Centre on Circular Economy and Resource Use on a just circular economy; on operational frameworks and indicators; and on jobs, skills, and workforce inclusion.

Key messages

• Circular economy policies are most effective when fairness, inclusion and broad participation are integrated throughout their design and implementation. 
• A successful sustainability transition does not automatically produce fair social outcomes. To avoid exacerbating existing inequalities, policymakers must deliberately embed justice into every stage of the policy process.
• Between 2014 and 2023, the number of jobs linked to the circular economy in the EU-27 grew by 10% to around 4.4 million. While the circular economy creates new jobs, some are low-paid or insecure, and higher-skilled roles often benefit already advantaged groups.
• Recognising, supporting and meaningfully engaging SMEs, as well as informal and community-based actors — such as informal waste collectors and grassroots repair networks — can strengthen the circular transition. 
• Focusing on justice in specific sectors and value chains allows policymakers to address key challenges such as job quality, skills requirements, health and safety risks, transparency of data, and the fair distribution of benefits and burdens.

See the briefing here!