Circular Economy Approaches for Advancing Women’s Quality of Life, Health, and Well-being in Resource-Scarce Settings

Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately experience the health consequences of environmental degradation and resource scarcity. Daily exposure to indoor air pollution from biomass fuels contributes to high rates of respiratory illness; lack of access to safe water and sanitation facilitates waterborne diseases and reproductive tract infections; and the drudgery of collecting fuel and water entrenches time poverty, limiting educational and economic opportunities. These interconnected challenges demand integrated solutions that address environmental, health, and social dimensions simultaneously. Thus, this special collection seeks to spotlight the latest research advancements on circular economy approaches to improve women’s quality of life, health, and well-being.

Women in developing countries often bear a disproportionate burden of poor environmental conditions, from indoor air pollution due to biomass cooking fuels to limited access to safe water and sanitation. These challenges not only compromise health but also perpetuate cycles of time poverty, food insecurity, and reduced socioeconomic opportunity. Circular economy innovations include the valorisation of organic waste into biogas for clean cooking, the transformation of biowaste into nutrient-rich soil conditioners to bolster women-led agriculture, the development of locally sourced products for pollutant adsorption in water purification, the formulation of safe and affordable personal care products from local bio-resources, and circularity in Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHM), including innovations in safe, reusable, and biodegradable materials.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions that explore how circular economy strategies can improve women’s health and well-being in resource-scarce contexts. Contributions may include interventions that reduce respiratory illness through cleaner energy transitions, improve nutrition and food security via waste-to-fertiliser systems, reduce waterborne disease through biochar-based purification, ensure material safety in locally produced hygiene products, or create green enterprises where women take central roles. By showcasing evidence from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other resource-constrained regions, this issue seeks to highlight how circular economy solutions can deliver measurable improvements in women's quality of life, specifically by advancing health outcomes, fostering climate resilience, and promoting local empowerment.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Clean Energy Transitions
• Circular Food and Nutrition Systems
• Water Security and Hygiene
• Sustainable Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHM)
• Safe and Circular Bio-products (e.g., antimicrobial soaps, skin-care creams, detergents, etc)
• Green Entrepreneurship and Empowerment