Draft circular economy strategy: equality impact assessment

The Scope of the EQIA

20. Whilst the nature of the Strategy means that it will not have a direct impact on those with protected characteristics, it has been considered important to complete an EQIA nevertheless. This EQIA will not offer full insight into all potential issues that will come from the development of interventions linked to the priorities set out in the Strategy, however we can identify and consider broader issues. Doing so will assist further investigation prior to development and implementation of individual interventions, as required.

21. A high-level framing exercise has been carried out to determine whether an EQIA was required, and to identify relevant areas for investigation.

22. An initial assessment of potential impacts on those with protected characteristics has been undertaken. This involved systematically assessing the Strategy priorities and considering impacts on protected characteristics based on EQIA guidance. This process looked at the theme of the priorities and anticipated the nature of activity it may demand.

23. As a result, many priorities were discounted from this analysis because it was not immediately clear how they might have an equalities-related impact. Only those priorities that could be reasonably predicted to link to future impacts on protected characteristic groups are included.

24. This EQIA acknowledges and assesses some generic activities that may result from pursuing interventions linked to stated priorities. This will enable an element of impact assessment at this stage and highlight areas for fuller assessment in future. These generic activities are:

• Research activity
• Policy development activity
• Communications activity

25. This EQIA has also been informed by the 2024 Circular Economy and Waste Route Map EQIA^[8]. The Strategy was a priority intervention within the ‘Strengthening the Circular Economy’ Strategic Theme of the Route Map. A number of Route Map interventions will interact with Strategy priorities – either explicitly or due to their respective purpose or approach to specific themes or areas of the circular economy.

26. The Strategy is focused on setting out clear priorities within a number of cross-cutting themes, priority sectors and for a product stewardship approach. Specific policy detail for any associated interventions is not defined at this stage. As such publication of the Strategy itself will not result in impacts on protected characteristic groups. However, it is possible that some of the interventions developed as a result of the Strategy priorities may have an impact. These impacts will need to be taken into consideration as their proposal, plans and actions are designed and implemented.

27. Other factors investigated in relation to the additional protected characteristics do not appear, at this stage, to raise significant equality-related issues. This may be due to a lack of available published information and the individual circumstances of those impacted. Direct engagement with equality groups and individuals may identify further impacts as and when individual interventions resulting from Strategy priorities are taken forwards.

28. This EQIA results document will be updated following consultation.

29. This EQIA can be used to help determine the level of further evidence gathering or external engagement that may be required as associated interventions are designed and taken forward.

30. Further EQIAs will be carried out, where needed, as and when any specific interventions linked to the published priorities are developed and progressed. This will allow for more detailed consideration of any issues specific to future measures, and for specific recommendations to be made about any amendments or mitigating measures.