France Stratégie, the unit attached to Matignon, has published an analysis note on the circular economy. After recalling the origin and scope of the concept, the analysis estimates the potential of jobs related to the circular economy at 800,000.
“The notion of the circular economy was introduced into French law by the Energy Transition for Green Growth Act of August 17, 2015, which aims to “go beyond the linear economic model of extracting, manufacturing, consuming, and discarding by promoting a sober and responsible consumption of natural resources and primary raw materials.”
The European Commission confirmed this objective in its “Circular Economy Package” presented on December 2, 2015.
Although it is difficult to assess whether an economy is circular, the authors propose a very general criterion. “The reduction of environmental impacts related to consumption could be measured by an ecological footprint per capita, but the indicators seeking to sum these impacts are debated.
Regarding the consumption of resources, which the circular economy aims to “close the loop,” the analysis also encounters the heterogeneity of the materials considered, whether they are raw materials or derived from waste.
Nonetheless, by utilizing a range of partial indicators already available, there remains progress to be made to decouple French economic growth and the resource consumption it entails, and to reduce its environmental impact.
Finally, and this is the figure that should be noted to allow the circular economy to gain a less marginal political and media presence, France Stratégie estimates that a true transformation could enable these practices to total 800,000 jobs in the medium term.
