Fairness at the heart of circular policy

Circular consumption is stagnating in the Netherlands.
While frontrunners embrace sustainable choices, the majority lags behind. Vulnerable groups risk being left behind, increasing inequality and undermining public support for circular policies. How do we ensure that everyone is both able and willing to participate? In this publication, we outline how circular policy can better take this into account.

The circular transition is fundamentally a question of distribution

The circular transition affects society in several ways. Scarcer materials and rising prices put pressure on the financial resilience of vulnerable consumer groups. This makes the circular transition, at its core, a distributional issue: we need to change how we use materials, but the key question is who benefits from this shift—and who bears the burden. Addressing this requires policies that are not only sustainable but also socially just.

A fair distribution strengthens public support

Research shows that public support for circular and sustainable policies is closely linked to perceptions of fairness: Dutch citizens are more likely to support ambitious climate and circular policies when low-income groups are protected and when polluters pay. Yet in practice, distributional effects are often only implicitly considered, which can unintentionally lead to unequal outcomes. It is therefore essential to explicitly aim for a fair distribution of costs and benefits, ensuring broad societal support for the circular transition.

Steering for availability, affordability, and accessibility

A fair distribution is not automatic; it requires deliberate policy choices. In this publication, we translate the concept of “fair distribution” into three concrete themes: availability, affordability, and accessibility.

Is the supply of circular products and services within reach for everyone?
Are they affordable, including for vulnerable groups?
And is the policy itself accessible—both formally and informally?
By placing these questions at the core, we provide policymakers with a practical framework to embed fairness in the circular transition.

About the research

In this position paper, we present guidance for policymakers and other stakeholders on how to center fairness in circular policy. The paper provides concrete steps and distribution principles to shape a just circular transition. To support this, we have developed a more extensive analytical framework: a practical tool that guides policymakers through the key themes of fair distribution using targeted questions.

Are you working on a fair transition? Or would you like to start using the framework? Get in touch with Gwen Aartsma or Lucie Jansen at Copper8.