Abstract
The circular economy can be defined as an economic system of exchange and production intended to increase the efficiency of the use of resources at all stages of products’ life cycle (including goods and services). Since most natural resources are not inexhaustible, and fossil fuel consumption is considered one of the major factors of global warming, its development seems inevitable, even if it can only be progressive (spanning several decades) and may not apply to all sectors. The circular economy is likely to challenge work methods and working conditions. Consequently, a strategic foresight study has been conducted in order to assess the main consequences on occupational safety and health. In the practice of INRS which carried out this work, foresight is above all a tool to improve and facilitate thinking and decision-making.
Highlights
INRS regularly conducts strategic foresight studies on the possible developments in working conditions and the associated occupational risks in various fields and technologies [1]
Le Moigne describes our current model of production and consumption as follows: “Our economy is based on the linear model which can be summed up as ‘extracting / making / consuming / discarding’, which uses natural resources and energy for producing goods that will become waste” [2]
According to the French environmental agency (ADEM E), a circular economy can be defined as an economic system of exchange and production intended to increase the efficiency of the use of resources at all stages of products’ life cycle [3]
Summary
The subject of the sixth study carried out in 2018 is more crosscutting: the possible consequences on working conditions of the transition from a linear economy model to a circular one, more respectful of the environment with less raw material and energy consumption. The potential risks are high when it comes to revising production processes or using other raw materials ( from recycling), rolling out new technology, developing repair and reuse activities, transforming waste for it to be reused, etc.
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