In recent years, the circular economy has undergone a remarkable transformation: From a niche topic in environmental protection to a strategic instrument for economic resilience. At the latest board meeting of the Circular Valley Foundation, another argument that has so far received little attention moved into the spotlight: the circular economy also protects our health.

For a long time, the circular economy was primarily seen as a response to ecological challenges: less waste, lower resource consumption, and reduced CO₂ emissions. In recent years, however, it has become clear that it is much more than that: a tool of economic policy that strengthens supply chain resilience, reduces dependence on raw material imports, and makes companies less vulnerable to geopolitical risks.

This is also demonstrated by a recent brief study by the Environmental Economy Competence Network NRW: more than 241,000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia work in areas related to the circular economy, including around 108,000 in extending product lifecycles, approximately 83,000 in recycling, and around 50,000 in intelligent product use and manufacturing.

At the board meeting of the Circular Valley Foundation, attended by North Rhine-Westphalia’s Environment Minister Oliver Krischer, representatives from other NRW ministries, and foundation partners, this perspective was expanded even further: the circular economy is also a matter of public health.

Fewer Pollutants in Water, Less Plastic in the Human Body

The connections are diverse. If pharmaceutical cycles are closed more consistently, fewer drug residues enter the environment. 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.

The same applies to plastics. 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 2025showed 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.

The connection between the circular economy and health is also evident in construction: 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 shown how long it can take before health risks are recognized.

The Circular Economy as a Holistic Approach

“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,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. “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 favor of the circular economy are becoming broader and stronger. It is no longer merely an answer to ecological or economic questions – but also to questions of health and quality of life.