The UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition is proud to announce the formal recognition of the Circular Economy Coalition as an outstanding example of humanities-anchored, transdisciplinary sustainability science.
BRIDGES Recognition Programme: The Mission in Practice
The Recognition Programme was established to advance the BRIDGES mission: encouraging transdisciplinary research that is inclusive of the humanities and co-produced with communities.
The BRIDGES recognised initiatives exemplify our mission to foster transdisciplinary, humanities-inclusive solutions, offering innovative approaches to building socio-ecological resilience in real-world contexts where transformation is most critical.
Each project demonstrates that we cannot solve sustainability issues without understanding the social and cultural contexts that drive them.
UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES recognition follows a rigorous evaluative process assessing alignment with UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES’ principles and UNESCO’s sustainability science approach, with particular emphasis on transdisciplinary, socially responsible, ethical and transformative practice.
Influencing Global Policy
BRIDGES recognition provides a mechanism for these initiatives to inform international policy. By highlighting these projects as exemplary models, the actionable knowledge they generate will:
The Circular Economy Coalition (CEC), under the umbrella of Locals.Global, focuses on advancing Circularity4All by ensuring that living, biological, technical and financial resources maintain their highest societal value. It aims to shape multilateral dialogues globally by connecting North and South practitioners. The initiative ensures that circular economy practice moves beyond efficiency and transition towards true transformation. By embedding humanities, cultural awareness, and youth leadership into the heart of circular innovation, CEC creates a resilient model for resource conservation, climate action, and societal wellbeing.
A Humanities-Informed Framework
The CEC recognises that culture and values shape whether circular practices take root. By integrating environmental humanities, arts, and social sciences (such as storytelling, narrative, and ethics) with circular economy methodologies, the CEC makes complex systems accessible, and ensures that circular strategies are socially just and culturally grounded.
This approach is guided by the intellectual foundation of the book Diamond Economics, which provides the framework for moving beyond mere "transition" toward true "transformation."
Expected Outcomes:
Short-term: A curated, open-access knowledge repository of case studies and roadmaps.
Medium-term: Integration of circular solutions into education curricula and regional business strategies.
Long-term: Empowered local communities adopting circular solutions that fit their specific material and cultural contexts, alongside harmonised global policies.
The CEC Manifesto
The manifesto is built on 6 Pillars for a Paradigm Shift, with 24 Principles to Guide the Way: PILLAR 1 – Economic Transformation; PILLAR 2 – Social Equity and Justice; PILLAR 3 – Environmental Sustainability; PILLAR 4 – Regenerative Practices; PILLAR 5 – Innovation and Infrastructure; PILLAR 6 – Collaboration and Policy.
Societal and Planetary Value
Guided by advancing the vision of Circularity4All, the initiative aspires to maintain and utilise resources according to their highest societal value, rather than their highest commercial value. This paradigm shift is crucial for a future where people and the environment thrive in harmony.
The work of The Circular Economy Coalition strengthens the global UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES network and contributes meaningfully to transformative, humanities-anchored community-led initiatives.
Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Co-Design
The Coalition deliberately operates at the intersection of multiple fields:
STEM & Economics: Material flows, systems modelling, and market design.
Humanities & Arts: Narrative building, ethics, and cultural analysis.
Social Sciences: Behavioural studies and the sociology of innovation.
Co-design is built into the governance structure. The initiative adopts collaborative, transparent processes to ensure that decisions are driven by the community of practice rather than imposed externally.
A defining feature of the CEC is its commitment to intergenerational continuity. Youth interns and Master’s students act as researchers and ambassadors, translating knowledge and representing the coalition at international fora like UNESCO and the UNEA.
Advancing Circularity through 'Dugnad'
Rooted in the Nordic tradition of dugnad, the concept of collective effort for the common good, the Coalition unites a diverse array of stakeholders. By connecting research and academia, public institutions, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous partners, the CEC co-produces sustainability knowledge that is both practical and inclusive.
Partners, communities, stakeholders
Community of practice: SMEs, circular practitioners, researchers, academia, and youth interns. These actors co-create, test, and curate knowledge and tools.
Community of interest: public sector, policymakers, funders, and multilateral agencies. They benefit from the outputs and apply them in policy frameworks and institutional adoption.
BRIDGES recognises the importance of championing transdisciplinary initiatives that address complex, multi-faceted societal challenges in innovative ways to stimulate transformative change for the benefit of societies, people and planet.
A criteria of the BRIDGES Recognition Programme is the initiative addresses specific global, regional or local challenges encompassed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Circular Economy Coalitin serves as an exemplary case of how bridging diverse knowledge bases can provide innovative solutions to the SDG’s. By integrating the humanities with technical systems, this initiative ensures that sustainability is rooted in social and cultural realities, attending to:
SDG 1: No Poverty
The Circular Economy Coalition advocates for a "Just Transition" that keeps resources at their highest societal value, creating stable livelihoods and decent work for marginalised communities.
They focus on: Inclusive Business Models; Equitable Access; and Economic Resilience.
SDG2: Zero Hunger
The Circular Economy Coalition addresses SDG 2 by redesigning food systems to be regenerative and waste-free, ensuring more reliable local food access, making local food production more resilient and productive.
Their strategy centres on: Regenerative Agriculture; Waste Valorization; and Shortened Supply Chains.
SDG 4: Quality Education
The Circular Economy Coalition treats learning as a prerequisite for systemic change. It integrates circular economy principles into formal education and provides young professionals with the technical and policy literacy needed for future leadership.
Their aim is to move societal values away from "take-make-waste" and toward stewardship and resource preservation. Their approach involves: Skills for Circularity; Knowledge Democratisation; Mindset Shifting.
SDG5: Gender Equality
The Circular Economy Coalition addresses SDG 5 by ensuring that the transition to a regenerative economy is socially inclusive and "gender-responsive."
Their work focuses on: Empowering Female Entrepreneurship; Formalising Informal Roles; and Gender-Lens Design.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The Circular Economy Coalition promotes an economic model that decouples growth from resource extraction while improving labour conditions.
They focus on Green Job Creation; Formalisation and Social Dialogue: Advocating for a "Just Transition" that integrates informal workers into the formal economy; and Economic Productivity through Innovation, driving economic growth through high-value services rather than increased material consumption.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The Circular Economy Coalition addresses SDG 9 by redefining industrialisation as a process of value preservation rather than resource extraction. It promotes the development of resilient local infrastructure, increasing resource efficiency and boosting industrial employment in the Global South.
Their strategy centres on: Inclusive sustainable Industrialisation; Infrastructure for Circularity; and Innovation Financing.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
By prioritising a socially just and culturally grounded transition, the CEC ensures that Indigenous partners and Southern practitioners have a seat at the table, that prevents the circular shift from becoming a techno-centric model for the Global North only.
Their focus includes: Bridging the Global Divide; Democratic Resource Ownership: Encouraging models that decentralise resource management; and Social Inclusion in Governance, by Empowering marginalised groups.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The Circular Economy Coalition works towards transforming urban centres from resource "sinks" into regenerative systems, directly enhancing the safety and resilience of human settlements.
Their efforts focus on three key areas: Circular Urban Planning; Waste Management & Health; and Local Value Loops, by keeping resources circulating locally, reducing the need for heavy transport and lowering the cost of living for city residents.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
This is the core of the initiative. By advancing Circularity4All, the CEC ensures that resources maintain their highest value through reuse, repair, and circular business models, directly reducing waste and unsustainable production.
SDG 13: Climate Action
The initiative drives systemic transformation through resource conservation. Keeping materials in the loop to directly decrease the carbon footprint that otherwise accumulates during the stages of material extraction and final disposal.
SDG 15: Life on Land
The Circular Economy Coalition directly identifies biodiversity loss as a key challenge. Its focus on biological resource management and regenerative practices helps protect ecosystems from the pressures of overconsumption.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The Circular Economy Coalition acts as a global bridge, connecting practitioners from the Global North and South, rooted in the Nordic tradition of dugnad, the concept of collective effort for the common good.
Its digital commons and collaborative portals foster multi-stakeholder partnerships between academia, government, and civil society.
The Circular Economy Coalition: Official Website.
Coalition Wiki: Governance, Methods, and Tools.
Regional Case Platform: (Examples) Circular Regions.
