Ein gerechter Übergang zur Kreislaufwirtschaft: Erkundung aktueller und potenzieller sozialer Auswirkungen am Beispiel der Wertschöpfungsketten Batterien, Kunststoffe und Textilien

Over the past few years, the idea of a circular economy has expanded beyond simply dealing with waste to encompass a broader strategy for confronting climate change, ecological degradation, and pollution by keeping materials in use for longer and preserving their value. Despite this, much of the current debate in research, policy, and institutional settings still revolves around technological fixes and economic efficiency, with insufficient attention to participation, fairness, and the distribution of benefits and burdens. In light of these blind spots, the report sets out to reinterpret the circular economy through the lens of a just transition: it clarifies how both concepts are understood, proposes a justice-oriented circular economy framework, investigates social consequences along the battery, textile, and plastic value chains, and reviews existing initiatives in order to suggest concrete measures for a more socially equitable transformation.