Lessons from English pre-industrial times for a post-industrial circular economy

This paper takes an interdisciplinary qualitative approach to repair, re-use and recycling. Collaboration between academics in the fields of economic sociology, sustainable production and consumption and medieval history permits a long-term perspective on the incentives and deterrents for sustainable practices in relation to resource flows. In England in the period 1250–1500 acquisition of raw materials and production processes were labour intensive, resources were scarce and production and consumption were not strictly separated. However, a dynamic manufacturing sector and rising consumer incomes meant that new goods were readily available.