Envisioning just circularity: A scoping review of normative justice claims in circular economy literature

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) is widely believedto have significant potential to achieve environmental, economic, and social sustainability. However, its social sustainability promises remain contested. We conduct a scoping review of literature at the intersection of CE and justice, building upon earlier work on environmental and energy justice to develop a novel framework. Using this framework, we map CE’s justice community (subjects, scale, time, knowledge), stakes (distribution, procedure, recognition), and relevant justice principles. Our analysis reveals multiple tensions, which future research on just CE should address.

First, parameters to the justice community require further scrutiny, especially surrounding agency of subjects; relative importance of place; politicization of time-frames; and the balance between quantitative methods and socially constructed knowledge. Second, the stakes require further consideration, especially as they pertain to the distribution of dwindling resources; political inclusion of essential stakeholders; and recognitionof non-economic contributions. Finally, we call for clear justice principles to arbitrate trade-offs, and visions for social organization in the just CE.