Circular Economy: Material Flows and Sustainable Materials – Practical Applications

5.9

Post-Growth Economies for a Circular Society

In this step we explore how the transition to a circular society intersects with the economic frameworks of post-growth and degrowth.

What is Post-Growth Economics?

Post-growth economics is an approach that prioritizes social and ecological well-being over the continuous expansion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It challenges the ‘growth-at-all-costs’ idea, arguing that in high-income nations, the pursuit of infinite growth on a finite planet leads to ecological collapse and social exhaustion.

Unlike traditional economics, which views growth as a prerequisite for prosperity, post-growth thinkers like Timothée Parrique argue that an economy can – and must – be designed to prosper regardless of whether it grows. This involves a shift from quantitative expansion to qualitative development, focusing on the quality of production, the redistribution of wealth, and the satisfaction of fundamental human needs.

Slow Down or Perish: The Economics of Degrowth

In his latest work, ‘Slow Down or Perish: The Economics of Degrowth,’ Timothée Parrique provides a roadmap for an economy moving away from growth. The book is structured around a triple critique:

• Biophysically Unsustainable: Infinite growth cannot be decoupled from environmental impact fast enough to prevent climate catastrophe.
• Socially Untenable: The obsession with market productivity squeezes the reproduction sphere – unpaid care, community work, and leisure—leading to social burnout.
• Politically Undesirable: Beyond a certain threshold, GDP growth fails to improve life expectancy or happiness, serving instead as a ‘discourse of delay’ against necessary redistribution.

Key takeaways:

• Degrowth as a Transition: Degrowth is a planned, democratic reduction of production and consumption in rich nations to reduce footprints and restore justice.
• Post-Growth as a Destination: A steady-state economy that maintains a “harmony with nature” by respecting biophysical speed limits.
• From Profit to Needs: Shifting the “reason for production” from shareholder profit to social utility and the common good.

In the following video, Parrique critiques the growth ideology, defining degrowth as a democratic transition toward a steady-state economy that prioritizes planetary boundaries and human well-being.

For a longer discussion you can watch, listen to the ‘Pathways towards Post-Growth (Julia Steinberger, Jason Hickel, Giorgos Kallis)’ video here.

Why Post-Growth is Essential for Circularity

Circularity and post-growth are two sides of the same coin. A circular economy aims to close resource loops, but if the overall volume of the economy continues to grow exponentially, the “rebound effect” often cancels out efficiency gains—we simply use “circular” materials to make more and more products. Integrating post-growth principles ensures that circularity isn’t just a technical fix for a linear system, but a foundational shift toward a sustainable scale of existence. By slowing down, we allow circular systems the time and space to function effectively without the constant pressure of overproduction.

Further reading, learning and references

Timothée Parrique https://timotheeparrique.com/

Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut Economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. London: Random House Business Books https://www.kateraworth.com/‌

© Daniel Mossberg, CEMUS, Uppsala University and Sonali Phadke, studio Alternatives and Stephanie Foote