JUST2CE selected as success case of h2020 by the European Commission
The transition to a fair and inclusive circular economy is central to the EU’s ambitious climate goals. The EU-funded JUST2CE project identified ways to balance economic sustainability with social justice and the global circulation of resources. This will help to ensure that no one is left behind as Europe reshapes its economy.
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.”
"Is going circular just? Environmental justice & just transition – key elements for an inclusive circular economy" - Read more about the new paper showcasing JUST2CE
JUST2CE is showcased in the paper "Is going circular just? Environmental justice & just transition – key elements for an inclusive circular economy" by Patrick Schroeder & Jack Barrie (Chatham House), in Field Actions Science Reports, Special Issue 24.
Read it here: https://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/6864
Abstract
A successful circular economy transition relies on inclusiveness and social justice. Two main equity dimensions should be considered for the circular economy transition to be inclusive: rectifying existing injustices of mismanaged waste and pollution that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide on the one hand, whilst anticipating and addressing the negative future impacts on workers and industries that the transition from a linear to circular economy will create, on the other hand. To do so, understanding the impacts of national transitions in Europe on workers and communities in developing countries will be key, notably how to improve economic diversification and retrain workers in producer countries, and how to increase stakeholder engagement.
About the authors
Patrick Schroeder
Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House
Dr Patrick Schroeder is a senior research fellow in the Environment and Society Programme at Chatham House. He specializes in research on the global transition to an inclusive circular economy with a specific focus on policy analysis and multilateral environmental processes, collaborative opportunities between key countries, closing the investment gap and building an evidence base for trade in the circular economy. Prior to joining Chatham House, he was Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, where he conducted research on the circular economy in developing country contexts and the Sustainable Development Goals. He is a member of the Advisory board of JUST2CE.
Jack Barrie
Research Fellow, Chatham House
Dr Jack Barrie is an expert on the topic of circular economy. In his current role as Research Fellow at Chatham House, Jack leads on pioneering research examining the intersections between the circular economy and international trade, geopolitics, finance (including Green Taxonomies) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prior to joining Chatham House, he was a Circular Economy Policy Analyst for Zero Waste Scotland. He holds a PhD (University of Strathclyde) on circular economy innovation policy.
Apply now: The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) is opening a post-doc position
The project “JUST2CE” addresses major global environmental and sustainability challenges related to Circular Economy (CE), focusing on establishing the current state of knowledge on CE and its socioeconomic impacts, and on putting forward transformative solutions at the local and global levels. The project will follow a transdisciplinary approach that ranges from the natural sciences to economics and social sciences.
Under the framework of the JUST2CE project, the Business Department (Department d’ Empresa) is therefore offering a post-doc position.
The candidate is expected to start in the position by September 2022. The post-doctoral researcher will mainly contribute to the tasks and deliverables of the WP2 and WP3 of the JUST2CE project. In particular, the candidate will work on:
- identifying enablers and barriers to the implementation of CE practices;
- developing a framework to design ‘Responsible Circular Economy Practices’;
- disseminating project outcomes in international training workshops and
conferences.
Most of the work can be done remotely but physical presence will be required
for some of the tasks (e.g. meetings, workshops, conferences, field work, training, etc.
Tasks:
Together with the project manager and the PI, the postdoc will contribute to the day-to-day management of the project:
- Contribute to the development and implementation of research on circular
economy & environmental justice, in continuous interaction with partner
organizations within and beyond academia;
- Co-supervise MSc, PhD and Post-doc research;
- Collaborate, contribute, and/or initiatives for stakeholders engagement, knowledge sharing, outreach and societal impact.
More information
Funding body: European Union H2020 Programme
Duration of the project: 3 years
Destination: Economics and Business department
Category: Ordinary researcher
Duration of the contract: 23 months
Dedication: 37,5 hours / week
How to apply?
Read the whole description of the activities and learn more about the application process here
Deadline to apply: 1st October 2022