Turning Europe’s circular economy goals into reality depends on focusing on people, ensuring EU rules benefit entrepreneurs, business owners, citizens, and workers alike, according to two assessments by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Companies making circularity central to their operations face obstacles in scaling, highlighting the need for fair, inclusive, and quality jobs within the circular economy. The EU’s remanufacturing market could generate half a million jobs by 2030. EEA briefings on barriers and enablers to scaling circular business models and ensuring a just transition support the upcoming European Commission’s Circular Economy Act. People are central to Europe’s circular economy goals. The transition will enhance prosperity, requiring a fair business environment and decent jobs for workers, with skills development and opportunities. Circular economy success depends on social fairness and economic policy to protect the environment and climate. Scaling circular businesses—up, out, and deep—remains a key challenge. Types of scaling include reaching more customers, changing business structures, and enabling cultural shifts. These scaling types are vital for achieving Europe’s circular economy goals and meeting economic, social, environmental, and climate objectives. Circular business models often focus on waste management and product lifecycle. More support is needed to implement and scale models promoting extended product lifetimes, reuse, renting, leasing, or sharing. Enabling emerging circular businesses requires improved regulation, innovation, circular-friendly finance and insurance, and social innovation to change consumer behaviors. The EEA briefing on a just transition shows how justice in circular economy policies strengthens outcomes. The circular economy will change Europe’s job market. From 2014 to 2023, circular economy jobs in the EU grew by 10% to 4.4 million. While it creates new jobs, some are low-paid or insecure, and higher-skilled roles often benefit advantaged groups, highlighting the need to improve job quality, skills, and inclusivity. Circular economy policies are most effective when fairness, inclusion, and participation are integrated at all stages, enhancing social cohesion, economic resilience, and public trust, enabling effective implementation and environmental benefits. EEA circular economy briefings are part of a series supporting the EU Circular Economy Act, aiming to accelerate Europe’s circular transition. It seeks to establish a Single Market for secondary raw materials, boost recycled materials supply and demand, and strengthen the EU’s economic security, resilience, competitiveness, and decarbonization. The scaling business models in Europe briefing builds on a report by the European Topic Centre on Circular Economy and Resource Use. The just transition briefing is based on three reports on a just circular economy, operational frameworks and indicators, and workforce inclusion.
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