Fragmented Circularity: Power Asymmetries and Stakeholder Perspectives in the European Plastics Value Chain

Scholarship increasingly recognises that the move towards circular economy is not merely technical but also socio-political, involving contested meanings, conflicting interests and uneven power relations. We contribute to this literature by showing how different actors in the European plastics value chain encounter distinct barriers and hold unequal levels of power and influence within the chain, shaped by their geographic locations, market positions, and framings of circularity. Based on 22 interviews with 27 European recyclers, manufacturers of plastic products/components, and their representative organizations, we show how uneven perceptions of power and responsibility shape “fragmented circularity”, undermining the effectiveness of circular economy initiatives.