Circular Economy

Equity impacts

EJ communities are less likely to be aware of and benefit from circular, low-carbon, safe and healthy construction processes. Targeted outreach and education are needed to highlight how these processes can decrease waste, support lower housing costs, and incentivize the local workforce. Intentional outreach that prioritizes inclusion of and focus on EJ communities will be important to ensure the equitable distribution of benefits like community resilience, adaptation, recovery, and nontoxic materials.

Recommendations

• An explicit focus on EJ communities would ensure they benefit from these opportunities.
• Ensure that work is done to provide opportunities for EJ communities to benefit from trainings and education, through targeting MBEs and ensuring language used prioritizes EJ communities and leverages tools to incentivize local hire programs.
• Prioritize strategies and programs to target EJ communities and ensure they benefit first and foremost from strategy implementation.
• Co-create guidelines for tenant improvements with tenants (or tenant serving nonprofits/CBOs) to ensure communities have a greater say in the process.
• Programs and guidelines could be developed with the collaboration of EJ communities and CBOs to best incorporate the needs of those who could most benefit from healthier housing.

Suggested edit to the draft

Suggest modifying the strategy as follows: "Implement circular, low carbon, safe and healthy construction processes and materials across the building and infrasturcture sectors and prioritize EJ communities and MBEs."

Adopted in the final plan. Final Strategy CE-1 reads "…that center environmental justice communities and minority business enterprises"; CE-1-7 co-creates tenant-improvement guidelines with CBOs.

Equity impacts

Local/small businesses need support with sustainable sourcing and food recovery. This could be via grant funding and community networking, and would alleviate the cost burden on small businesses of purchasing more climatefriendly foods. Many EJ communities already minimize food waste and have a lower carbon footprint, but are not recognized for this and struggle to expand on these practices. EJ communities can also lack access to knowledge and healthy foods to support healthy diets.

Recommendations

• Establish a program that connects workers from vulnerable populations and EJ communities with skilled jobs in the food sector to provide long-term, high-quality jobs.
• Small businesses would similarly benefit from uplifting this workforce and filling vacancies.
• Increase food sector worker protections for those in the City, covering everything from restaurants to commercial kitchens to animal rendering operations, etc.
• Hold animal rendering plants in the City (and in EJ neighborhoods like the Bayview) accountable for their pollution and require them to limit or move operations as part of tracking carbon emissions and aligning with CA best practices.
• Increase community-led, volunteer-run food operations in the City to promote good practices, expand education, and promote food justice.
• Citywide food procurement and recovery programs should extend not only among City departments and kitchens, but to private sector and faith-based food operations as well.
• Increase education on best practices and ensure cultural relevance.
• Increase the availability and affordability of plant-based, organic, and culturally appropriate foods to benefit public health and well-being across all racial groups.
• Implement measures like ensuring non-dairy options are easily accessible and affordable.
• Support the expansion of community gardens and food forests in collective green spaces in EJ communities.

Suggested edit to the draft

Suggest adding the following as action:"Partner with EJ communities to promote best practices, exemplify existing good habits in community, and expand education to others within EJ communities and all others."

Partly reflected in the final plan. CE-2-5 commissions a food-system landscape analysis with community partners on equitable access; HE-5 adds community gardens in EJ priority areas.

Equity impacts

EJ communities face greater barriers to benefit from the potential economic and workforce development opportunities come from reuse and repair. While many may already practice reuse and repair habits, more education and outreach could benefit the community. Reuse and repair could also support economic recovery efforts from disasters: fix it clinics and tool exchanges in EJ communities can build resilience in the events of economic difficulty or shortages of goods.

Recommendations

• Increase access to resources like refill / zero waste shops across EJ communities and create sustainable job opportunities for those populations in doing so.
• Support the opening and expansion of operations like zero waste / refill co-op shops, as well as expand access to refill and reuse resources in existing markets and grocery stores.
• Engage with CBOs and EJ communities to plan tool exchanges and pop-up fix it clinics at SFPL locations.
• Seek ways to support volunteer and co-op repair clinics that build community cohesion and can act as mutual aid networks in other areas of necessity.

Partly reflected in the final plan. CE-3-3 sets 20 library repair events a year and studies neighborhood tool exchanges.

Equity impacts

EJ communities may not be aware of these best practices, creating a barrier to benefit from the innovation. EJ communities are rarely first adopters due to a lack of awareness, financial costs, and lack of education, requiring a more intentional approach to ensure access.

Recommendations

• EJ communities should be engaged and educated on new practices, empowering communities of color to benefit from emerging technologies and sustainable innovation practices.
• As this strategy is implemented, find ways to promote innovation with EJ communities.
• Target education and outreach to EJ communities to give them firsthand experience and knowledge of industry best practices.

Not traceable in the final text. Final CE-4 actions are procurement standards and sustainable aviation fuel targets.

Equity impacts

EJ communities are often last to realize the benefits from new workforce and economic opportunities. This strategy could also lead to displacement if not carefully planned with EJ communities. A lack of understanding about the significance and meaning of a circular economy is also prevalent in EJ communities, limiting their ability to be a partner with the city without proper capacity building efforts.

Recommendations

• Collaboration with CBOs and EJ communities during the development of the roadmap will be critical if the long-term goal is to build equity and empowerment.
• Consider establishing an advisory group that includes a majority of community stakeholders that are from or serve EJ communities in this process.
• Develop a project timeline that allows for input at all stages of development, from the initial development, drafting, and prior to a formal public review period.
• There should also be time built in for capacity-building outreach and education in EJ communities.
• In-language outreach and education around circularity will also be necessary. A circular economy can support healthier lifestyles, but more education is necessary to ensure it can support EJ communities. Education and resources are necessary to support EJ communities to see the benefits of a circular economy.
• Roadmap should include a section on mitigating potential impacts such as displacement and other impacts to EJ communities, and how the community voices will be included in the implementation.

Suggested edit to the draft

Suggest adding the following as action: "Draft action to include community voices in the implementation of this strategy."

Partly reflected in the final plan. CE-5-1 commits the roadmap to a collaborative public process.