From Circular Economy to Circular Society: The Role of Logistics
摘要
Circular economies are increasingly embraced as pathways to sustainability, focusing on designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. However, these technical and economic frames may overlook broader socio-political dimensions. The emerging concept of a circular society places society and human well-being at the center of circularity, uniting diverse visions under a democratic, eco-centric ethos. A circular society embeds circular economy (CE) practices within wider socio-ecological cycles and values, aiming for a fair, inclusive, sustainable system aligned with natural limits. Rethinking e-commerce and urban logistics through circular principles, such as minimizing packaging waste, optimizing delivery networks, and supporting local distribution, can play a pivotal role in aligning consumption patterns with the values of a circular society. This chapter reviews foundational principles of circular societies and examines how industries, citizens, and institutions co-create them, while highlighting the necessity of implementing innovative logistics concepts. By combining land use, mobility, and resource flows in ways that improve local resilience and equity, circular cities and regions act as living laboratories for the large-scale implementation of circular practices. In this situation, urban logistics plays a crucial role in facilitating the connections between last-mile deliveries, reverse logistics, and decentralized manufacturing systems that promote low-carbon, circular urban ecosystems. Through concerted efforts in waste reduction, renewable energy, and decentralized supply chains, the story of Lower Saxony demonstrates how regional policies can successfully integrate circular economy concepts with sustainable urban logistics. Lower Saxony exhibits a pragmatic, territorial approach to achieving circular society objectives in both urban and rural contexts by encouraging cooperation between municipalities and private stakeholders, investing in multimodal transport infrastructure, and supporting local production networks. Academic insights, policy initiatives, and practice case examples are integrated throughout, with key literature and policy documents highlighted as recommendations.