This highly theoretical research paper aims to map out ways and means to build a body of knowledge on the process of regeneration and the ways in which regenerative circular economies may function.

Ultimately, it finds that if stakeholders are willing to follow a bio-inspired approach for co-investing resources, time and planning while considering specific system characteristics and the underlying contexts, then small changes in governance, behavioural patterns and technology improvement may contribute substantially to the development of regenerative circular economies.

Poly(L-Lactide) (PLA), a fully biobased aliphatic polyester, constitutes around 30% of global production of biobased and/or biodegradable plastics.

It has attracted significant attention in the last decade due to its exceptional properties, such as high tensile strength, biocompatibility, (bio)degradability in various media, easy recyclability and good melt-state processability by the conventional processes of the plastic/textile industry. PLA has a number of applications, such as packaging and controlled release matrices for fertilisers and pesticides. 

This paper looks at how blending PLA with other polymers can improve its shortcomings.

The rise in demand for electronics and programmed obsolescence have increased electronic waste. New sustainable and/or recyclable electronic devices need to be developed.

Devices could be made sustainable by using biobased materials and avoiding those which harm the environment. These materials could be used to develop specific devices, such as resistive temperature sensors attached to flexible materials. The variation in the resistance of the sensor depends on the material of which they are made. In this work, resistive temperature sensors are screen printed using four different pastes: a silver-based commercial paste and three carbon-based pastes. The sensors are printed onto glass fibre substrate to ensure flexibility and infused with a resin to produce a composite.

The Journal on Circular Economy is an initiative by the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE). The journal explores various dimensions of the circular economy, including policy frameworks that support sustainable practices, research initiatives that drive innovation, and collaborative efforts that foster knowledge sharing among stakeholders. 

The January 2025 edition features an article by Freek van Eijk from Holland Circular Hotspot, one of the ECESP Coordination Group co-chairs. The article focuses on the Netherlands: embracing circular economy as a business opportunity and a necessity. It looks at the origin and future of circular economy developments there and what lessons might be learned for India.

The network properties of the global waste trade were assessed using time series data of material and monetary flows between 2000 and 2022 from Chatham House's experimental database. The study focused on the distribution of monetary and material flows, policy recommendations and future research avenues useful for obtaining a more comprehensive understanding of socio-economic systems such as trade networks.

This work is a solid example of the application of network-based methods as an eco-mimicry approach for assessing the sustainability and fragility of socio-economic systems which can be helpful for researchers and policy makers interested in transitions towards regenerative circular economies.

This study assesses the network properties of the global trade in waste metals and the distribution of material and monetary flows across trading countries using a bio-inspired approach.

Due to homogenization, high network redundancy and low network efficiency, the trade remained robust yet outside the "window of vitality" characterising natural ecosystems. A few, mostly high-income countries dominated the market, consolidating imports of high-value metal waste, mostly from low- and middle-income exporters.

Policies should address circularity and trade inequities, accounting for environmental and social ramifications throughout the lifecycle of products and materials.

This report is part of a larger, collaborative four-year research project. It analyses the fashion value chain from a global and local perspective with an emphasis on India, Spain and the Netherlands, using a novel framework to assess social impact for circular economy called the SIAF-CE.

The report concludes that the Dutch circular ambition in policy is high and a solid ecosystem is in place. The most established circular strategies are resale and recycling, while promising ones are resale-platform-based, rental and repair. However, the social impact of most circular strategies seems to emulate linear value chain working conditions, where women workers hold the most vulnerable jobs, with low pay, short-term contracts and lower collective bargaining.

Businesses in Spain and around the world are adopting the circular economy as a new production paradigm. However, while the economic and environmental dimensions of the circular economy have been explored, its social impact (decent pay, gender equality, labour conditions) has been overlooked.

By surveying more than 210 workers in three countries and interviewing 90 stakeholders in Spain, the authors developed an inventory of circular jobs. They found that circular jobs in Spain follow the same pattern as the linear value chain, where women in resale, repair and recycling are the most vulnerable. Startups in resale and rental based on internet platform models have the highest earning quality but also high job insecurity, especially for women workers.

Businesses in India and around the world are adopting the circular economy as a new production paradigm. However, while the economic and environmental dimensions of the circular economy have been explored, its social impact (decent pay, gender equality, labour conditions) has been overlooked.

By surveying 100 workers  and interviewing 40 managers in India, the authors developed an inventory of circular jobs with the respective demographic. They found that circular jobs in India are of low quality due to relatively low wage and job security indicators (especially for female workers). Informal migrant women in resale, repair and recycling are most vulnerable. Resale and rental based on internet platform models have the highest earning quality for men and women. 

The apparel value chain is essential for the livelihood of millions of workers around the globe, but working conditions in this sector are far from satisfactory. The circular economy has been used by businesses as a framework for achieving sustainability but there is a lack of knowledge about its social impact.

This paper explores the social impact of the different circular strategies implemented in the Netherlands, Spain and India. It assesses social impacts related to the quality of jobs, workers’ sustainable livelihood and gender equality and inclusion. 

It finds that the social ambition of the circular economy is low, and that current circular strategies follow the same feminisation and precariousness of working conditions found in the linear apparel value chain.