Social and Solidarity Economy And Circular Economy: Possible Synergies And Partnerships

Coordinated by : Institut EDDEC

The circular economy refers to an economic approach that contributes to  more sustainable development. Inspired by the working of natural ecosystems, where nothing is wasted because one person’s “rubbish” becomes another’s “raw material”, the circular economy is based on the optimization of the productivity of resources that are already circulating in the market to firstly reduce the extraction of natural resources and then stop burying residual matter. It seeks to create economic value while minimizing environmental effects and maximizing social benefits. It is based on the creation of products and services with a positive value at each use or reuse of the matter or product. Thus, it calls for new modes of design, production and consumption by prolonging the duration of product use rather than the possession of goods as well as the reduction, reuse and recycling of materials. In this respect, the circular economy offers a new economic model that contributes to the preservation of ecosystems and resources, while generating socioeconomic benefits.

The ties between the circular economy and social and solidarity economy seem obvious. Both are based on experimentation, collective action and entrepreneurship and both seek to produce positive change, to collectively build sustainable equilibrium and to invent plural solutions adapted to the needs of the community. They aim to go beyond a purely economic logic by taking into account people and their living environments.

Beyond these preliminary considerations, what are, fundamentally, the common points between a circular economy approach and the practices of the social and solidarity economy? To what extent and in what ways can practitioners and researchers who develop new solutions based on the circular economy or social and solidarity economy, support each other? This working group aims to clarify the meaning and synergies between these two concepts and to offer recommendations in order to bolster their mutual development.

Refer to the preparatory document and contributions.

The call to contributions is now closed.