9. How Effective Are Circular Models at Delivering a Sustainable Trifactor: A Focus on Social Inclusion?

Circular models have been widely criticised for their lack of social considerations due to a greater focus on environmental and ecological sustainability through recyclability or reusability of products. This view is reinforced by the models and frameworks that exist for the adoption of circularity in existing business models, typically showing a closed loop principle for an existing product value chain and usually relating to circular reformation from a linear to a circular model. Although these models do little to articulate the sustainable trifactor of financial, environmental and social sustainability, circular models can be developed and built around greater social inclusion if a ‘Separated Business Model Canvas Approach’ is used when analysing existing models and/or developing new circular models. This chapter covers a brief literature review of social sustainability in circular model adoption, addressing some of the factors contributing to social exclusion and also reviewing some of the solutions for social inclusion. This chapter offers an alternative framework addressing the social sustainability aspects of circular modelling and concludes with a case study example where the framework is applied to an existing business to help identify the social elements of the circular model.