What can space teach us about the circular economy?

What can living and working in space teach us about the circular economy on Earth – and the future of work? In space, every resource counts. Water is recovered and reused, equipment cannot simply be replaced, and international cooperation is essential to solving problems in a closed and fragile environment. These principles are also at the heart of the circular economy, which seeks to make better use of finite resources.

In this episode of the ILO’s Future of Work podcast, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques and Casper Edmonds, the ILO’s expert on the circular economy and the world of work, explore how circular approaches are already shaping millions of jobs. They discuss the opportunities and risks for workers, why more than half of those working in the circular economy are in informal employment, and how social dialogue, skills and decent work can help ensure that the transition delivers both environmental and social benefits.

©All images and videos in space are curtesy of the the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).