Circularity Beyond Recycling: Can Cities Put People First?
Across four European cities, many circular economy initiatives fail to engage low-income and marginalised groups, limiting both their social impact and reach. This was one of the main findings from the ECLECTIC project.
In Gothenburg, for example, most repair, reuse, and sharing initiatives are concentrated in central neighbourhoods. Peripheral areas, where people presumably have lower purchasing power and would therefore benefit from sharing, have limited access to these services. This brings us to the fact that when it comes to circular economy policies, a social dimension is still missing in cities. But what does this imply?
To better understand implications from these policies, researchers from ECLECTIC studied circular economy practices in Bolzano, Gothenburg, Coimbra and Jonava. Findings showed that regional policies are failing to make people with low-incomes participate in circular economy activities or sharing initiatives. Instead, policies are somewhat reproducing inequalities rather than addressing them. These findings have now been translated into a new policy brief with nine recommended actions for municipalities and regions, ranked by urgency.
Drawing on examples from Gothenburg and Bolzano, Chiara Pellegrini, ECLECTIC project coordinator, explains some of the recommendations below.
If a municipality officer reads this brief tomorrow, what are the first action they should take?
Municipalities should support financially organisations that can coordinate regional activities and build capacities among associations. There are non-profit associations and grassroots initiatives engaging marginalised groups in repair, reuse, upcycling and recycling. Many are small and sometimes they don't have the capacities to grow.
Gothenburg already offers an example of this approach in practice. Pellegrini recalls the cooperative Vägen ut! and the network of associations Coompanion, which finance and support social cooperatives and enterprises that engage vulnerable groups, such as children with disabilities and women that are at risk of domestic violence, thorugh circular practices. “Vägen ut! and Coompanion are good examples of how this recommendation can be put in practice”, she adds.
Which recommendation is simplest to implement, and what impact would it make?
Increasing visibility and awareness of circular services in cities, and how people can participate. This recommendation draws on a survey to 994 people in South Tyrol, Bolzano, Italy, which showed that many don't know where second-hand shops are (34%), or how to repair goods such as furniture (36%) or electronics (26%). But most were willing to buy second-hand, share products or repair objects.
Municipalities should therefore plan campaigns to increase visibility of already established local circularity-oriented services. A campaign should also address cultural and perception factors, since, in the study, those with a German background declared to engage more in circular practices than those with Italian background.
Which recommendation is politically more difficult and why?
The most challenging recommendation may be asking cities to include the social dimension in circular economy policies or strategies. We know that this does not have immediate effects or is highly profitable. Thus, when political cycles are limited to four years, politicians can find this difficult.
To facilitate cities to act, she adds, we should consider adapting the narrative around circular economy within the EU. Currently it revolves around the production sector, economic gains from reusing waste materials and reducing material dependencies, but it lacks focusing on people.
“Circularity in Europe is framed as strategic and competitive, but I think it should not only be that. Circularity should also be the means of fostering social cohesion across the EU. It should be a way of giving more access to good products and services to all citizens, especially with the high inflation that we are experiencing.”
– Chiara Pellegrini, Senior Researcher at Eurac Research and ECLECTIC project coordinator.
For cities, giving more access to products and services at lower cost to all citizens, and using the circular economy as a strategy also for social cohesion and inclusion should be the priority.
