Circling to Wellness: Health Implications of Transitioning to a Circular Economy

Background The Earth's finite resources face the risk of depletion due to excessive exploitation. Embracing a circular economy offers a route towards sustainable progress, enhanced well-being, and meaningful employment opportunities, all while protecting natural resources and the ecosystem. The shift from a linear economic model, characterized by extraction, production, and disposal, to a circular approach focused on renewal, refurbishment, and resource-sharing holds promise for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, notably Sustainable Development Goal 12, which focuses on sustainable use and creation of goods. Despite the potential benefits, examining the health implications stemming from this transition has been somewhat inadequate. This article aims to bridge this gap by outlining the change within a health framework, paving the way for future policy formulation, identifying research needs, and involving stakeholders in understanding crucial health ramifications. Results It underscores that transitioning to a circular economy offers significant opportunities for enhancing health, including direct enhancements to medical infrastructures and the secondary advantages of reducing environmental damage. Nonetheless, inherent hazards, particularly related to processes involving hazardous substances, necessitate vigilant recognition and mitigation within circular economy strategies, especially at the national, regional, and local levels. Conclusions Transitioning to a circular economy presents a significant opportunity for generating considerable health advantages. However, it also entails risks of potential adverse effects that necessitate identification, thorough investigation, effective communication, and integration into circular economy approaches and application plans. Instances of such negative impacts are notably observed in waste management practices, the proliferation of hazardous chemicals, and the reuse of wastewater. The shift towards a circular economy holds the potential to yield considerable overall health advantages, thereby aiding in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDGs 3, 9, 11, and 12. Several essential services vital to confined societies, such as energy provision, water supply, wastewater treatment, and waste collection, rely heavily on natural resources and environmental services. Correctly reconstructing the planet is both necessary and urgent, requiring everyone to contribute with heightened commitment. Therefore, it is crucial to pursue economic recovery rooted in sustainability, with a strong emphasis on environmental stewardship.