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In a circular economy, the products that we manufacture or extract from nature should never become waste. This is not simply a matter of rethinking the way we produce, says Mario Pansera, coordinator of the EU-funded JUST2CE project, on behalf of the UAB in Barcelona, Spain. The conversation around circular economies should also focus on what is produced, who produces it, and where: “It must address the fundamentally unjust relations that underpin most of the goods and services we consume, especially in the global North.”
The project has exposed deep-seated inequalities in global supply chains. The approach culminated in a tool called Supply Chain Explorer, which sheds light on exploitative practices related to labour, ecological footprints and gender justice. “The explorer allows organisations, activists, and even common citizens to understand how basic consumption goods are made, where raw materials come from, and the social and environmental conditions shaped by those global chains,” Pansera explains.
Identifying policies for an equitable transition
In three years of research, JUST2CE has identified significant barriers to a socially just circular economy, ranging from lingering colonial legacies to the geopolitical impacts of resource extraction. For instance, Pansera highlights the race to secure critical minerals for green technologies as a new form of resource colonialism. “More than 60 % of EU e-waste ends up in Africa every year,” he says. “The rhetoric of a green transition risks increasing these exploitative practices unless addressed through equitable policies.”
The project also challenges the conventional economic policy of limitless economic growth, arguing that it is both physically unsustainable and socially inequitable. “JUST2CE envisions a post-growth circularity,” Pansera adds, “in which our productive systems are scaled –sometimes descaled – to a level that is sustainable and compatible with resource consumption while providing well-being for all.”
Key to this vision is the democratisation of workplaces, empowering workers to influence what is produced and how. The project recommends integrating care work into economic indicators, reducing working hours and exploring monetary compensations for unpaid labour.
To address North-South inequalities, the project calls for redistributive measures and democratic economic planning at a global level. These include coordinated trade policies, technology transfers and support for economic diversification in the Global South. “Free market mechanisms alone are not sufficient to implement such a transition,” Pansera notes.
Creating sustainable and inclusive jobs
JUST2CE’s vision is one of quality jobs that foster inclusion. The project’s findings highlight how the circularity transition should prioritise low-material, low-energy industries and green infrastructure investments. This shift would not only create new jobs but also ensure fair wages, labour protection, and support for marginalised and vulnerable groups, such as women and migrant workers. “Strong public support will be crucial to mitigate the impacts of scaling down unsustainable industries,” Pansera explains.
Policy briefs developed by JUST2CE offer practical guidance on achieving these goals, advocating wage protection, fair trade policies and female employment programmes.
Additionally, the project highlights the role of civil society in demanding democratic, participatory governance in circular economy transitions. “Civil society should organise around the values identified by the project to demand immediate and concrete political actions,” Pansera notes.
By redefining the concept of a circular economy to encompass social justice and environmental sustainability, JUST2CE provides a framework for systemic change. Its tools, such as the Supply Chain Explorer, and its policy recommendations serve as valuable resources for policymakers, industries and communities seeking to navigate this complex transition. As Pansera puts it, “A just circular economy is not a luxury – it is a necessity for a sustainable and equitable future.”