Circular economy spiral: integrating social dimensions for sustainability

Espiral da economia circular: integrando dimensões sociais para a sustentabilidade

Abstract

There is growing recognition that while current Circular Economy frameworks often succeed in prioritising economic growth and incorporating some environmental concerns, they tend to overlook critical social dimensions such as equity, inclusion, and wellbeing. To address this gap, this article introduces the Circular Economy Spiral—a conceptual model that highlights the interconnected nature of circular processes while explicitly integrating social considerations into Circular Economy.The Spiral functions as a heuristic tool to realign circular economy discourse with the core principles of sustainable development. By placing corporate responsibility, environmental protection, and social development at the forefront, the model promotes circular transitions that are not only efficient and regenerative but also inclusive and socially fair. This approach draws attention to the imbalance in many existing circular strategies and underscores the need to strengthen both environmental and social pillars for a truly sustainable future.

Keywords:
circular economy; sustainable development; society; environment; climate change