The social dimensions of the circular economy: understanding how social value and community well-being are generated within circular economy hubs.
Lead Research Organisation:
BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON
Department Name: Life Sciences
Abstract
Circular Economy (CE) practice is based on the promotion of a more environmentally conscious use of the planet's finite resources by maintaining materials and products in circulation (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2023). Faced with the impending threat of global resource scarcity, CE as a generative system which promises economic, social and environmental benefits in which 'waste becomes wealth' (Kosir et al., 2021) has grown increasingly more present within the worldwide urban policy context (Fitch-Roy et al., 2021).
Research has indicated that CE policy focuses predominantly on its economic and environmental aspects, while social dimensions and targets are often comparatively vague and intangible (Winslow & Coenen, 2023). This aspect of CE implementation is also reflected in the literature, where a significant research gap can be found regarding the social dimension of CE (Valencia et al. 2023; Mies & Gold, 2021).
Despite their relevance and interconnection to environmental and economic dimensions of CE, the policy concept's contributions to community well-being and social value, such as providing economic opportunities and resources for low-income groups, revaluing the skills of community members, and fostering local community cohesion have rarely been explored as central research foci (Bradley & Persson, 2022; Mies & Gold, 2021).
While spaces of longstanding circular economy practices (such as second-hand shops) have been analysed for their contributions to social value and community well-being (Podkalicka & Meese, 2012; Osterley and Williams, 2019), only few studies have tackled these concepts in the context of CE hubs as an outcome of specifically CE policymaking. Bradley & Persson (2022), for instance, investigated Swedish CE hubs focused on repair, and concluded that these localised practices contribute to 'building social relations, empowering people and creating space for non-consumerist forms of citizenship to develop' (p. 1334).
Research has indicated that CE policy focuses predominantly on its economic and environmental aspects, while social dimensions and targets are often comparatively vague and intangible (Winslow & Coenen, 2023). This aspect of CE implementation is also reflected in the literature, where a significant research gap can be found regarding the social dimension of CE (Valencia et al. 2023; Mies & Gold, 2021).
Despite their relevance and interconnection to environmental and economic dimensions of CE, the policy concept's contributions to community well-being and social value, such as providing economic opportunities and resources for low-income groups, revaluing the skills of community members, and fostering local community cohesion have rarely been explored as central research foci (Bradley & Persson, 2022; Mies & Gold, 2021).
While spaces of longstanding circular economy practices (such as second-hand shops) have been analysed for their contributions to social value and community well-being (Podkalicka & Meese, 2012; Osterley and Williams, 2019), only few studies have tackled these concepts in the context of CE hubs as an outcome of specifically CE policymaking. Bradley & Persson (2022), for instance, investigated Swedish CE hubs focused on repair, and concluded that these localised practices contribute to 'building social relations, empowering people and creating space for non-consumerist forms of citizenship to develop' (p. 1334).
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