Beyond closing the loop – integrating social considerations into circular economy transitions in cities

This research paper presents preliminary findings from a social impact assessment in Umeå, Sweden, examining how stakeholders perceive the transition to a circular economy (CE). The authors argue that current circular city strategies are overly technocentric and neglect social dimensions, recommending a broader approach that considers job quality, accessibility, and personal and property rights to ensure a socially inclusive transition.

• Stakeholder perceptions of the circular economy in Umeå are currently narrow and often conflated with general sustainability or the sharing economy. Most participants associate CE primarily with the waste management and energy sectors, focusing on strategies such as reusing, recycling, and rethinking to prolong product lifespans.
• Employment is the most frequently discussed social impact, with stakeholders identifying a complex shift in the labour market. While new local jobs may be created in repairing, refurbishing, and recycling, significant job losses are feared in the retail market, construction sector, and car industry. There is also concern regarding the quality of new circular jobs, such as those for Uber services and bike couriers.
• Circular economy initiatives are perceived to have mixed effects on community cohesion and accessibility. While many believe these initiatives create new social ties and increase trust, others warn that sharing services like Uber may not be socially sustainable. Accessibility barriers include physical distance to recycling centres, time intensity of CE activities, and digital exclusion for elderly people and migrants.
• There is a perceived gap in political participation and involvement in Umeå's CE vision. Many stakeholders, particularly from civil society, feel that current collaborations are insufficient and that grassroots involvement is limited to those already supportive of the vision, risking a social divide between included and excluded groups.
• Digital transformation within the circular economy poses a risk to vulnerable groups. Elderly people and migrants are specifically identified as being at risk of marginalization due to a lack of access to technology and the necessary skills for digital empowerment.
• The authors identify a critical lack of attention given to personal and property rights in circular city literature and stakeholder discussions. They argue that the transition to sharing services and leasing requires a deeper investigation into intellectual property and property laws to avoid disadvantaging rights holders.

APA

S., R., F., V., & K., A. (2022). Beyond closing the loop – integrating social considerations into circular economy transitions in cities. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/rezaie-et-al.-2022-beyond-closing-the-loop.pdf

Chicago

S., Rezaie,, Vanhuyse, F., and André, K. Beyond closing the loop – integrating social considerations into circular economy transitions in cities. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/rezaie-et-al.-2022-beyond-closing-the-loop.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=S. |first1=Rezaie, |last2=F. |first2=Vanhuyse, |last3=K. |first3=André, |title=Beyond closing the loop – integrating social considerations into circular economy transitions in cities |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/rezaie-et-al.-2022-beyond-closing-the-loop.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{s2022beyond, author = {S., Rezaie, and F., Vanhuyse, and K., André,}, title = {{Beyond closing the loop – integrating social considerations into circular economy transitions in cities}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/rezaie-et-al.-2022-beyond-closing-the-loop.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }