Can the circular economy benefit from strict(er) rules?

Panel discussion

26 May 2025

On 19 May, the Circular Economy community at the Utrecht ľ�ϸ��Ӱ�� (UU) organised the event "Circularity on the Move: Stricter Rules, More Circularity".

Several speakers brought diverse perspectives on the evolving landscape of circular society and the law. After the opening by Willem Janssen (UU and ľ�ϸ��Ӱ�� of Groningen), Ida Mae de Waal (UU) and Marlon Boeve (UU) provided insight into the recent developments regarding the EU and Dutch legal frameworks in light of transition to a circular economy. Afterwards, a panel consisting of Ellen Verkooijen (Municipality of Amsterdam), Gerard Ehrismann (Verpact), Rob Buurman (Fair Resource Foundation) and Chris Backes (UU) continued the discussion.

During the event, the speakers discussed how stricter EU and Dutch rules can accelerate circularity, what focus rules should have, what alternatives exist and how they relate to each other, where opportunities exist to improve circularity or where stakeholders already have space but awareness is lacking. Many questions that are in need of answers!

If you’re interested in contributing to a more circular and sustainable future, we invite you to follow the Towards a Circular Economy and Society community at UU and stay engaged with upcoming events and research.

Moving from a linear to a circular society is more urgent than ever, given climate change and biodiversity loss. The legal framework governing this transition to a more circular economy and society has transformed in recent times. Whereas rules were often not specifically focused on circularity, now we see a development in which circularity takes centre stage. More importantly, the rules appear to have become more stringent by dictating circular behavior of governments and producers. The questions that comes to the fore are multifold. How is this development taking shape in the Netherlands (i.e. Circulaire Economie Wet) and in the European Union (i.e Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation, Batteries Regulation, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation etc.)? Will these stricter rules lead to more circularity? Are they indeed fit for purpose?

These pressing questions are at the core of this interactive event. Its purpose is twofold. First, it aims to provide an understanding of what the legal landscape when it comes to circularity looks like in NL and EU, with a focus on the hypothesis that this landscape is changing into more and more stringent requirements. Secondly, it aims to discuss the positive and negative implications of this changing legal framework legal practice and the involved stakeholders.

Preliminary programme

13:30 - Walk-in
14:00 - Opening by prof. mr. dr. Willem A. Janssen (Utrecht ľ�ϸ��Ӱ�� / ľ�ϸ��Ӱ�� of Groningen)
14:05 - The EU legal framework for a circular economy in the EU: Changing obligations for producers by mr. dr. Ida Mae de Waal (Utrecht ľ�ϸ��Ӱ��)
14:40 - The legal framework for a circular economy in the Netherlands: Obligations for producers – Implementation in the Netherlands by prof. mr. dr. Marlon Boeve (Utrecht ľ�ϸ��Ӱ�� / TU Delft)
15:15 - Q&A
15:30 - Break with coffee/tea
16:00 - Panel discussion ‘Stricter Rules, More Circularity?’
- Legal academic perspective - prof. dr. Chris Backes (Utrecht ľ�ϸ��Ӱ��)
- Producer perspective - (Verpact)
- Policy perspective – (Gemeente Amsterdam)
- NGO perspective – (Fair Resource Foundation)
17:00 -18:00 Closing and drinks

We welcome professionals working in the context of the transition towards a circular economy and society, including academics, policy makers, public enforcers, producers and legal practitioners.

This event is convened by prof. Willem Janssen and prof. Chris Backes within the context of the UU Pathways to Sustainability Community Towards a Circular Economy and Society. It is supported by the research project ‘Public Interest Ecosystems’ of Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in Europe (RENFORCE) and the Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law (UCWOSL), School of Law, Utrecht ľ�ϸ��Ӱ��.

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