Circular Valley Foundation is redefining how the circular economy is perceived, expanding its focus beyond environmental and economic benefits to include significant public health advantages. At their recent board meeting, attended by North Rhine-Westphalia’s Environment Minister Oliver Krischer and foundation partners, the organisation highlighted how circular practices directly protect human health through reduced pollution and safer materials. The foundation’s research reveals that more than 241,000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia now work in circular economy-related sectors, including 108,000 in extending product lifecycles and 83,000 in recycling operations.
Reducing Pharmaceutical Pollution Through Circular Practices
The connection between circular economy principles and public health becomes evident when examining pharmaceutical waste in waterways. According to the German Environment Agency, a total of 414 pharmaceutical substances, including their degradation products, were detected in German waters in 2020 – 145 more than in 2016. A more consistent circular approach in the pharmaceutical industry could help reduce this burden.
If pharmaceutical cycles are closed more consistently, fewer drug residues enter the environment, reducing contamination in water sources that ultimately affect human consumption. This represents a direct pathway where circular economy practices translate into improved public health outcomes through cleaner water systems.
Addressing Microplastics Through Circular Design
The circular economy’s impact on reducing microplastic contamination presents another compelling health argument. Microplastics that end up in water and soil eventually find their way into food and therefore into the human body. A study conducted by the University of New Mexico and published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine in 2025 showed that the concentration of microplastics in the human brain increased by around 50 percent between 2016 and 2024.
In Germany alone, according to BUND, at least 300,000 tons of microplastics enter the environment every year. Keeping plastics in circulation instead of discarding them prevents them from entering soils, waterways, and ultimately the food chain in the first place.
Healthier Building Materials Through Circular Construction
The connection between the circular economy and health extends into construction practices. Circular building practices rely on bio-based, durable, and proven materials such as wood, natural stone, and clay instead of composite materials whose long-term effects on indoor climate have not yet been fully researched. Past experiences with construction materials such as asbestos have demonstrated how long it can take before health risks are recognised.
This approach prioritises materials with established safety profiles over newer composite materials that may pose unknown health risks over time. By emphasising natural, well-understood materials, circular construction principles contribute to healthier indoor environments and reduced exposure to potentially harmful substances.
A Comprehensive Health And Sustainability Strategy
Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation, said:
“For a long time, the circular economy was discussed primarily as an environmental issue. Then we realized that it is also crucial for economic resilience and supply security. What became clear during our board meeting is that it also has a health dimension: fewer pollutants in our water, less plastic in our bodies, and healthier building materials in our living spaces. That is the contribution of the circular economy to public health.”
The board meeting demonstrated that the arguments in favour of the circular economy are becoming broader and stronger. The foundation’s analysis shows that circular economy employment spans multiple sectors, with approximately 83,000 people working in recycling and around 50,000 in intelligent product use and manufacturing across North Rhine-Westphalia.
This evolution from environmental concern to comprehensive health strategy positions the circular economy as a solution that addresses multiple societal challenges simultaneously. Rather than viewing circular practices as solely environmental measures, this perspective integrates human health outcomes as a core benefit, creating stronger arguments for widespread adoption across industries and policy frameworks.
