Circular economy is increasingly discussed in Swedish, European, and international public policymaking. A report by EfD researchers, Circular Economy – a Conceptual Review and Analysis of Implications for Swedish Development Cooperation, provides a review of the circular economy concept and discusses its potential implications for Swedish development cooperation.
Main findings
- Circular economy plays an increasingly important role in development cooperation. Especially the focus on circular economy in the new EU development cooperation strategy for 2021–2027 and priorities in the new NDICI instrument will be important for Sweden and other member states as a coordinated “Team Europe” approach is promoted.
- The study finds that few Swedish contributions have so far been explicitly labeled as circular economy initiatives, but that many existing Swedish contributions are highly relevant for addressing real “circular economy issues” and a broader green transition. Notably, Sweden is an important financier of several international organizations and networks influencing global policy discussions on green and circular economy.
- If not managed carefully, European circular economy policies can incentivize the export of secondary materials and products that can only be recycled at high environmental and social costs to countries with less stringent environmental standards and technological capacity.
One of the authors, Daniel Slunge will be interviewed on EBA's (The Expertgroup for Aid Studies) pod on Thursday, May 27th, and also present the report in a webinar on June 4th for Sida and the Swedish Government Offices.
Report authors:
Daniel Slunge, Ph.D., is a researcher in environmental economics at the Environment for Development Initiative, University of Gothenburg.
Ida Andersson, MSc, is a research assistant in chemical risk management and environmental economics at the FRAM Centre for Future Chemical Risk Assessment and Management, University of Gothenburg.
Petter Wikström, MSc, is a research assistant in environmental economics at the University of Gothenburg.
Thomas Sterner is a Professor of environmental economics at the University of Gothenburg.
Go to EBA's website and download the report!