Abstract
Since the publication of the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan in 2015, this new sustainability paradigm has become a guiding force behind the environmental and economic policies of the Junker Commission. The European Union (EU) has taken a particular approach to circularity, with high expectations to increase competitiveness, promote economic growth and create jobs while reducing environmental impacts and resource dependency. However, the circular economy (CE) is a contested paradigm, for which many competing interpretations exist, each seeking varying degrees of social, ecological and political transformation. Considering the emerging and contested state of the academic literature on CE, the EU's embrace of the concept is a remarkable phenomenon, which remains poorly researched. The aim of this paper is thus to address this research gap by analysing the CE discourse and policies of the Junker Commission (2014-2019) in order to critically discuss their sustainability implications and develop key policy recommendations. To do so, this research uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The paper first critically analyses the EU's discourse based on a typology of circularity discourses. It then reviews the complex set of concrete CE policies and actions adopted by the EU and compares them to its discourse. Results show a dichotomy between words and actions, with a discourse that is rather holistic, while policies focus on “end of pipe” solutions and do not address the many socio-ecological implications of a circularity transition. Several actions are thus recommended to tackle the systemic challenges of a circular future from a plural perspective.
Highlights
From a little-known concept coined in the late 20th century, the circular economy (CE) is recognized by the European Union (EU) as an “irreversible, global mega trend” (COM 2019/190, p10)
It shows that the EU has taken an optimist approach to circularity, evidenced by a large number of keywords in the area of technology, growth and innovation (1477 in total), as opposed to planetary boundaries and collapse (491 in total)
Looking into further detail on the query results shows that the EU does pay close attention to geostrategic resource security issues and seeks to build resilience, protect the EU from the scarcity of critical raw materials and address migration
Summary
From a little-known concept coined in the late 20th century, the circular economy (CE) is recognized by the European Union (EU) as an “irreversible, global mega trend” (COM 2019/190, p10). Embracing the idea that the CE will “modernise the EU industrial base to ensure its global competitive edge and preserve and restore the EU’s natural capital” (COM 2019/190, p11), the EU seems to consider the CE as a “magic bullet” that can resolve the manifold economic and environmental challenges of the Anthropocene. Social and environmental impacts of CE policies and practices is still lacking (Donati et al, 2020; Hobson and Lynch, 2016; Lekan and Rogers, 2020; Roos Lindgreen et al, 2020; Velis, 2018). Core challenges remain little researched, such as the implication of the CE on the complex trade-offs and synergies between climate change, biodiversity and resource scarcity
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