Circular Economy regulation: an emerging research agenda

Circular Economy regulation is rapidly adopted at different levels of governance, including municipalities, private and industry standards, national law and supranational standard-setting. There are increasing demands from policymakers, businesses and civil society for theoretical insights and more knowledge on the effects of policies and laws (‘policy learning’). However, despite this mounting interest, the literature still lacks a real strand of studies that systematically and comprehensively addresses this area of research. The chapter offers a review of the origins and limitations of the current model of regulation and the emergence of a law of the Circular Economy in Europe. We maintain that the policy and academic debate is currently too fragmented, depoliticised and undertheorised, highlighting existing gaps and new research directions.