The impact of the circular economy on an individual's quality of life: A European Union perspective

This article explores the relationship between circular economy strategies and individual quality of life in the European Union. While the circular economy is widely promoted for its environmental and economic benefits, its social implications - particularly for everyday well-being - remain underexamined. Drawing on legal and policy document analysis, as well as comparative insights from academic and institutional sources, the study identifies how circular measures contribute to or hinder improvements in quality of life. The findings indicate that circular approaches can positively influence environmental health, job creation, and access to services, particularly when implemented through inclusive and coherent governance structures. However, uneven institutional capacity, fragmented policy implementation, and the absence of social indicators in monitoring frameworks limit the equitable distribution of benefits. The research underscores the need to move beyond material efficiency towards a socially embedded circular transition that prioritises participation, equity, and measurable well-being outcomes. It concludes that circular economy strategies must integrate quality of life considerations explicitly within their planning, funding, and evaluation processes to serve as effective tools for human-centred development across the European Union. Without such integration, the circular economy risks remaining a primarily technical or symbolic agenda, rather than a pathway to improved and more just daily life.