Circular Economy: A Catalyst for a Just and Green Transformation

The report positions the circular economy (CE) as a cornerstone of the green economy, emphasizing that a 'just transition' must balance environmental sustainability with social justice. It identifies systemic barriers to CE adoption, such as reliance on linear models and a growing 'circularity divide' between advanced and developing economies. The document advocates for integrated frameworks, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and specific policy instruments—including green procurement and financial incentives—to drive a regenerative economic system that protects marginalized communities and restores natural ecosystems.

• The circular economy is defined by three core principles: designing for longevity to create durable products, maintaining resource value through reuse and recycling, and regenerating natural systems to restore ecological balance.
• Resource extraction and processing are primary drivers of environmental degradation, with 90% of biodiversity loss linked to these activities and up to 80% of impacts determined during the design phase.
• A 'circularity divide' is emerging globally, where insufficient collaboration and misaligned value chains allow advanced economies to gain competitive advantages, thereby exacerbating global inequalities.
• In the European Union, the circular economy has the potential to unlock €1 trillion in investments and create 700,000 jobs by 2030, although progress has plateaued with circularity changes standing at 11.5% in 2022.
• Social enterprises are critical to an inclusive transition; for instance, the RREUSE network reports that social enterprises generate an average of 70 jobs per 1,000 tonnes of materials collected for reuse, with 45–80% of employees from disadvantaged groups.
• The transition to a circular economy faces diverse barriers, including the growing demand for critical raw materials, lack of technology transfer to low- and middle-income countries, and the presence of economic activity in the informal sector.

APA

Martínez, S. (2024). Circular Economy: A Catalyst for a Just and Green Transformation. Green Economy Coalition. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/2024-Sofia-GEC-circular-economy-just-transition-4-FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Martínez, Sofía. Circular Economy: A Catalyst for a Just and Green Transformation. Green Economy Coalition, 2024. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/2024-Sofia-GEC-circular-economy-just-transition-4-FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Martínez |first1=Sofía |title=Circular Economy: A Catalyst for a Just and Green Transformation |publisher=Green Economy Coalition |date=December 2024 |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/2024-Sofia-GEC-circular-economy-just-transition-4-FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{martnez2024circular, author = {Martínez, Sofía}, title = {{Circular Economy: A Catalyst for a Just and Green Transformation}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/2024-Sofia-GEC-circular-economy-just-transition-4-FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }