What Does the Circular Household of the Future Look Like? An Expert-Based Exploration

Saskia Keesstra, Tamara Metze, Linda Ofori, Marleen Buizer and Saskia Visser
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Saskia Keesstra: Team Soil Water and Land Use, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 2, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
Tamara Metze: Public Administration and Policy Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Linda Ofori: Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Marleen Buizer: Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Saskia Visser: Wageningen Corporate Strategy and Accounts, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Circularity is a necessity for the future of our society but individual households often find it difficult to contribute to this transition. This paper presents possible future visions of circular (and climate-neutral) households, inside and outside the house, regarding their contributions to the circular society, and taking into account food, energy, waste, household devices, and recreation. We combined expert interviews and a literature review to (1) explore imaginable futures for circular households, and (2) make a qualitative evaluation of the inside- and outside-house influences of households on a climate-neutral and circular society. Interviewees were selected to represent different scientific backgrounds. The four household types were organized according to more local or global, and collective or individual, levels: (1) the Househood (centering around neighborhoods); (2) the HouseNet (connecting households); (3) the Sharing Household (sharing goods between households); and (4) the Designing Household (input from circular-by-design products). The analysis shows that households can become more circular by connecting developments in social, ecological, and technological systems, such as those in price dynamics, policies, or land-use design. However, barriers and limitations need attention, including: (1) public awareness and willingness to change; (2) economic models; (3) waste; and (4) social justice.

Keywords: circular bio-economy; future vision; circular agriculture; renewable energy; commodity sharing; recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:7:p:1062-:d:861303

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