Social dimension of the circular economy: Impact categories through fuzzy Delphi method

Abstract

The scholarly literature highlights the relevance of the social dimension of the circular economy (CE); yet the empirical analysis of this issue has been overlooked. This work sheds light empirically on this gap with a fuzzy Delphi study carried out in a region with strong institutional support for this paradigm. Through the consensus of 25 experts, a set of social impact categories of the CE was scrutinized. The results contribute to widening the current quantitative vision on the employment generated by CE, through the exploration of its qualitative aspects. According to our findings, technological innovation in high-skilled employment appears to be crucial. Likewise, the results anticipate impacts derived from collaboration among stakeholders in a circular context still at an incipient stage. The expert panel also highlights the relevance of socio-cultural and behavioral changes. Implications for public policy makers and other stakeholders are also analyzed, namely the development of a monitoring framework of the social dimension of the CE.