Resilience and the Circular Economy: Opportunities and Risks

This report provides a first structural analysis of the relationship between resilience and the circular economy. It explores how the circular economy increases social-ecological resilience, dives into potential trade-offs between the two and highlights the labour market characteristics that are prerequisites for both a more circular and resilient economy.

This report first introduces the definition and key principles of social-ecological resilience. Then, using this framework, circular economy trends have been mapped along the key principles of resilience. In identifying the relationship between these two schools of thought, risks (where one may harm the other) and opportunities (where one reinforces the other) are identified. For every circular economy trend, recommendations are formulated for businesses and companies to build resilience through circularity. Lastly, three case studies exemplify what resilient circular economy strategies look like in practice.