How Circular Can We Legally Be? A Research Agenda for Adaptiveness to Close the Gap Between ‘Traditional’ Legal Concepts and Circular Innovation.

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Published: Dec 11, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24840/2183-0606_012.003_L001
Issue: Vol. 12 No. 3 (2024): (DOIs will be registered as soon as the full issue is closed)
Keywords:
circular economy, circular innovation, environmental law, legal challenges, policy learning, adaptiveness

Main Article Content

Lívia Regina Batista-Pritchard
Sustainable Futures, Business School, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Knigdom
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5159-5390
Eleónore Maitre-Ekern
Water \& Society, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, 0579, Norway
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7301-7781
Tiago de Melo Cartaxo
Law School, Humanities and Social Sciences Cornwall, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7871-4140
Tasso A. R. P. Cipriano
Centro Universitário da Fundação Santo André, Santo André, 09060-650, Brazil
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8489-2370
Jamie Plaatjes
Management Department, Business School, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4PU, United Kingdom
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8680-2236
Philipp Montenegro
International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Lund Universitet, Lund, 221 00, Sweden
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0839-8003

Abstract

In this Letter, we aim to address a knowledge gap in the intersection, and boundaries, between law(s) and circular policies, business models, and practices. By exploring the existing literature and real-life examples across the world, this work provokes further research towards a deeper understanding of the necessary changes in the legal paradigm to enable circular innovation and achieve more circular and sustainable futures. Further research to address these gaps, particularly focussed on adaptiveness and resilience, can enrich our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this evolving field.

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Author Biographies

Lívia Regina Batista-Pritchard, Sustainable Futures, Business School, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Knigdom

Lívia Regina Batista-Pritchard is Lecturer in Sustainable Management at the Sustainable Futures, Business School, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus. She is a graduate in Law, and holds a MSc and PhD in Environmental & Climate Change Law from the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. She is currently a member of the Exeter Centre for Environmental Law and Programme Co-Director (Liaison) of the Bachelor of Business and Laws BBL and LLB Law with Business in Cornwall. Her research interests revolve around climate and environmental justice, intersectional environmentalism, sustainable governance, and transformative social innovations.

Eleónore Maitre-Ekern, Water \& Society, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, 0579, Norway

Eleónore Maitre-Ekern is a Researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). She is a graduate in Law and holds a PhD in Law from the University of Oslo. She is currently part of the section Water and Society at NIVA. She is also a member of the research group Sustainability Law at the University of Oslo. Her main research interests revolve around the development of a policy and regulatory framework for a sustainable circular economy.

Tiago de Melo Cartaxo, Law School, Humanities and Social Sciences Cornwall, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom

Tiago de Melo Cartaxo is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Law in the University of Exeter, where he has founded the Exeter Centre for Environmental Law (ExCEL) and is part of Law and Business Cornwall (LAB/C), teaching and researching in the areas of environmental rights, climate and resilience justice, circular economy, and the energy transition. He holds a European PhD in Law from NOVA University Lisbon and he previously was awarded a Law degree from the University of Lisbon and an LLM from the University of Coimbra. Tiago currently is Associate Director for External Engagement in the University of Exeter Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) and he has also been Director of Postgraduate Research for Humanities and Social Sciences, Cornwall.

Tasso A. R. P. Cipriano, Centro Universitário da Fundação Santo André, Santo André, 09060-650, Brazil

Tasso Cipriano, Dr. iur. is a professor in Environmental Law at Fundação Santo André, Brazil. He holds a Doctorate in Laws from both the University of Bremen, Germany, and the University of São Paulo. He also holds a specialist’s degree in contaminated site management from Centro Universitário Senac, Brazil, where he lectures. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. His main interests both academically and as a practising environmental lawyer include chemicals, product regulation, ecodesign, life cycle assessment, waste management, and contaminated land.

Jamie Plaatjes, Management Department, Business School, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4PU, United Kingdom

Jamie Plaatjes is a PhD Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant at the Business School, University of Exeter. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Her research interests revolve around the intersection of political and environmental issues.

Philipp Montenegro, International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Lund Universitet, Lund, 221 00, Sweden

Philipp Montenegro is a PhD Candidate at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Lund Universitet, Sweden. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science from the Lund Universitet, and previously worked as Research Assistant as part of JustCE, a collaborative project between IIIEE and the University of Exeter, investigating theories of justice in the circular economy. He is active in many non-profit organisations promoting a circular and sharing economy.