Regulatory cooperation important for a circular economy

News

The shift to a circular economy requires new regulations. So, how should regulators approach the development of such regulations? According to a new report from the National Board of Trade (Kommerskollegium), regulatory cooperation on standards and definitions is one important factor.

Ensuring that resources are reused and recycled is an important aspect of the circular transition. Labelling requirements for recycling instructions is one example of how legislators have chosen to steer towards greater circularity but, when differing requirements are introduced in different regions and countries, it creates problems for trade. A product may need different packaging or labelling for different markets, making it more difficult for companies to sell their products due to the need for market-specific adjustments and negating some of the benefits of scalability.

In a new report, the National Board of Trade makes recommendations on how legislators in the EU and member states should approach the development of regulations for a circular economy. The report investigates how regulatory cooperation tools can be used when developing rules for a circular economy in order to ensure the free movement of goods within the single market and to avoid creating unnecessary barriers to international trade.

Read more and download the report
Addressing Fragmentation for a Global Circular Economy: Lessons from the EU Single Market (in English, summary in Swedish)