192
C. Dalhammar et al.
14.2.4 Improving Synergies Between Different Product
Policies
Coordination should strive to find synergies between policies. However, there are
numerous dimensions to what ‘coordination’ and ‘synergy’ really mean. Therefore,
in Table 14.3 we outline examples of conceptual approaches.
Thus, synergies can be related to e.g. policies covering different like cycle phases,
or addressing different actors, or providing different types of incentives (Faure and
Dalhammar 2018). Policies can be in synergy in relation to quite different objectives,
e.g. covering the full product life cycle, or be combined to together provide a comprehensive policy package to achieve specific policy outcomes (e.g. more repairs). An
increasingly important issue in the EU is to ensure that EU policies are coordinated
with EU member states’ national policies.
In reality, we can never expect perfect coordination, as policies are often adopted
ad hoc, when there is strong political momentum for addressing a specific issue.
Further, policymakers will usually not be able to foresee all potential interactions
with other policies when a specific policy is adopted.
We will now discuss some emerging policy conflicts.
14.3 Examples of Conflicts and Potential Solutions
in Relation to Circular Economy Policies
14.3.1 Introduction
While there are many relevant conflicting or potentially conflicting policies, here we
will focus on some conflicts that seem to be especially important emerging issues in
the context of the Circular Economy. We will first discuss the clash between policies
that promote recycling and policies that address chemicals in products and materials.
Then we will review the potential conflicts between different sustainability criteria
applied in GPP, which are relevant in the context of the CE. As a third example, we
exemplify how prolonging the product lifetime can lead to conflicts between resource
efficiency aspects and energy-related environmental impacts.
14.3.2 Recycling and Rules Related to Chemicals
Toxic-free resource flows is one of the prerequisites for a truly Circular Economy,
and thus rules on chemicals in products and materials are beneficial for desired
resource efficiency strategies such as remanufacturing and recycling in the longer
run. However, in the short run, we see some conflicts emerging. As a first example,
C. Dalhammar et al.
14.2.4 Improving Synergies Between Different Product
Policies
Coordination should strive to find synergies between policies. However, there are
numerous dimensions to what ‘coordination’ and ‘synergy’ really mean. Therefore,
in Table 14.3 we outline examples of conceptual approaches.
Thus, synergies can be related to e.g. policies covering different like cycle phases,
or addressing different actors, or providing different types of incentives (Faure and
Dalhammar 2018). Policies can be in synergy in relation to quite different objectives,
e.g. covering the full product life cycle, or be combined to together provide a comprehensive policy package to achieve specific policy outcomes (e.g. more repairs). An
increasingly important issue in the EU is to ensure that EU policies are coordinated
with EU member states’ national policies.
In reality, we can never expect perfect coordination, as policies are often adopted
ad hoc, when there is strong political momentum for addressing a specific issue.
Further, policymakers will usually not be able to foresee all potential interactions
with other policies when a specific policy is adopted.
We will now discuss some emerging policy conflicts.
14.3 Examples of Conflicts and Potential Solutions
in Relation to Circular Economy Policies
14.3.1 Introduction
While there are many relevant conflicting or potentially conflicting policies, here we
will focus on some conflicts that seem to be especially important emerging issues in
the context of the Circular Economy. We will first discuss the clash between policies
that promote recycling and policies that address chemicals in products and materials.
Then we will review the potential conflicts between different sustainability criteria
applied in GPP, which are relevant in the context of the CE. As a third example, we
exemplify how prolonging the product lifetime can lead to conflicts between resource
efficiency aspects and energy-related environmental impacts.
14.3.2 Recycling and Rules Related to Chemicals
Toxic-free resource flows is one of the prerequisites for a truly Circular Economy,
and thus rules on chemicals in products and materials are beneficial for desired
resource efficiency strategies such as remanufacturing and recycling in the longer
run. However, in the short run, we see some conflicts emerging. As a first example,