Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Circular Economy and Consumer Protection: The Consumer as a Citizen and the Limits of Empowerment Through Consumer Law

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Consumer Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The role of consumers as citizens contributing to a circular economy must be seen as part of a broader policy mix aimed at stimulating sustainable production on the supply side of the market, and sustainable consumption on the demand side. Consumers can be active contributors to a circular economy through their actions on the demand side, and EU law has sought to facilitate environmentally-friendly consumer choices through information rights. Further reaching measures can however be envisaged whereby sustainability aims can be taken into account when shaping consumer law. Thus, consumers may be stimulated to opt for repair or to engage in shared use of products through “servitization.”

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. See also http://ec.europa.eu/environment/green-growth/index_en.htm, for an overview of the areas in which actions are being taken.

  2. Consumers also have increasingly become active on the supply side of the market, facilitated by online platforms that enable non-professional traders to offer products and services to consumers. Which rules should apply to this “prosumer” is subject to debate. Due to reasons of space, we will not deal with that question here. For further reading, see Weitzenboeck (2015); Brown and Marsden (2013).

  3. The latest revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive occurred in 2015 with the adoption of Directive (EU) 2015/720 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Directive 94/62/EC as regards reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags [2015] OJ L115/11.

  4. See, i.a., the Proposal for a directive amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste; COM/2015/0595 final; Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste; COM/2015/0596; Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste; COM/2015/0594 final; Proposal for a directive amending Directives 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment; COM/2015/0593 final.

  5. See Annex I Directive 2005/29/EC, i.a., point 1 (claiming to be a signatory to a code of conduct when the trader is not), 2 (Displaying a trust mark, quality mark or equivalent without having obtained the necessary authorisation), 3 (Claiming that a code of conduct has an endorsement from a public or other body which it does not have), 4 (Claiming that a trader (including his commercial practices) or a product has been approved, endorsed or authorized by a public or private body when he/it has not or making such a claim without complying with the terms of the approval, endorsement or authorisation), 10 (Presenting rights given to consumers in law as a distinctive feature of the trader’s offer).

  6. Several national public authorities have indeed developed guidelines on environmental claims, see https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/factsheet_environmental_claims_non-food_2015_en.pdf, i.a., Denmark, France, Finland, the UK.

  7. See, i.a., chapter D International Code of Commerce Advertising and Marketing Communications, <https://cms.iccwbo.org/content/uploads/sites/3/2018/09/icc-advertising-and-marketing-communications-code-int.pdf; see, e.g., for France the recommendation on sustainable development of the Autorité de Régulation Professionelle de la Publicité, https://www.arpp.org/nous-consulter/regles/regles-de-deontologie/developpement-durable/; in the Netherlands an environmental code of advertising was developed (Milieureclamecode), https://www.reclamecode.nl/nrc/pagina.asp?paginaID=262%20&deel=2 and a similar code exists in Belgium, http://www.jep.be/sites/default/files/rule_reccommendation/milieu_nl.pdf.

  8. See https://www.blauer-engel.de/en.

  9. See https://www.nordic-ecolabel.org/the-nordic-swan-ecolabel/.

  10. See https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/study_on_environmetal_claims_for_non_food_products_2014_en.pdf.

  11. An analysis of the potential for legal actions in different EU member states has been published in a series of country reports in the Journal of European Consumer and Market Law (EuCML). See issues 2017/1 and 2017/2.

  12. See, e.g., the initiatives taking in the field of waste and recycling (e.g., Directive 2008/98/EC on waste; Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste; Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles; Directive 2006/66/ZC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators; Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment).

  13. A Dutch ADR body decided in the same sense; see Geschillencommissie May 30, 2017, https://www.degeschillencommissie.nl/consumenten/uitsprakenoverzicht/108944/commissie-gaat-uitvan-een-gebrek-aan-het-toestel-dat-niet-door-de-consument-is-veroorzaakt>.

  14. A study by Test-Achats confirmed that problems may occur with refurbished phones. Half of the (18) tested refurbished Iphones, showed important defects (https://www.test-aankoop.be/hightech/gsms-en-smartphones/nieuws/een-op-twee-refurbished-iphones-deugt-niet, October 2016). Only one phone (refurbished by Apple) was flawless.

  15. Durability was added as an objective criterion for the assessment of conformity (recital 32 and Art.7), but it remains to be seen whether this will actually contribute to more sustainable products. In addition, the final text of the 2019 directive fortunately still allows Member States to impose longer guarantee periods than the two-year period imposed by the directive (Art. 10).

  16. The recitals of the proposal only mention that “insofar as specific durability information is indicated in any pre-contractual statement which forms part of the sales contract, the consumer should be able to rely on them as a part of the criteria for conformity” (recital 32). A (general) obligation to provide such durability information in order to allow the consumer to make a sustainable product choice is not provided for.

  17. See, e.g., Ecodesign requirements related to computers (https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2018-770780_en) and household refrigerators (https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2018-476272_en).

  18. https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2016-7108187_en.

  19. See https://www.homiepayperuse.com/. Even Ikea is considering to rent home furniture as part of a more sustainable business, see https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/04/kitchen-for-rent-ikea-to-trial-leasing-of-furniture.

  20. e.g., Philips at Schiphol airport, but also at Kortrijk library, Philips.com; see http://www.lighting.philips.be/systemen/circular-lighting.

  21. See (Tukker 2004) who points out that the majority of the eight reviewed PSS types only results in marginal environmental improvements; some PSS types could even lead to increased environmental impacts, i.a., due to less responsible user behaviour.

  22. The study of Zaring et al. even suggests that when environmental reasons are the main driver it is rare for the business to be profitable.

  23. Thus, e.g., in the car industry where producer start offering certain models solely on subscription based usage thus cutting out car dealers, see Bostoen and Devroe 2018, p. 411. The authors refers to the example of Volvo’s Polestar hybrid sports coupe that would only be offered on a subscription based usage.

  24. Zaring 2001, p. 498. Life Cycle Assessment can be applied to services (see, e.g., M Goedkoop e.a. Product Service Systems. Ecological and economic basis, https://www.pre-sustainability.com/download/Product_Service_Systems_main_report.pdf. Over the past years, the ‘Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint (PEF/OEF)’ methodology - a life cycle-based multicriteria measure of the environmental performance of products, services, and organizations - has been further tested and refined (European Commission 2019b, pp. 46–47). This methodology has however also been criticized for creating confusion and limitations in applicability to practice, see, i.a., Goldstein and Lessard 2018.

  25. Although certain ancillary services (e.g., the installation of the goods) are covered, cf. Art. 2 (5) Consumer Sales Directive 1999 and although the Consumer Sales Directive 2019 includes certain goods with incorporated or interconnected digital services.

  26. Although damage caused by a defective product while providing a service is covered by the directive, see, e.g., Case C-2013/99, Veedfald, ECLI:EU:C:2001:258.

  27. See for examples of existing services standards see, e.g., CEN 2015 standard on Aesthetic Surgery services (<http://www.cen.eu/news/brief-news/Pages/NEWS-2015-001.aspx>; EN 15838:2009 Customer Contact Centres; EN ISO 17100: 2015 requirements for translation services etc. …

  28. See the British Standard 8001; https://ecostandard.org/first-standard-on-circular-economy/.

  29. The Dutch financial authority, e.g., confirmed that the warning “borrowing money costs money” that is obligatory when marketing consumer credit, does not apply to private lease: https://www.amweb.nl/financiele-planning/nieuws/2017/04/afm-private-lease-huur-dus-geen-waarschuwing-nodig-10194509.

  30. See Wetgevingsbrief AFM 2014 aan het ministerie van financiën, 10 juli 2014, p. 5

  31. See also the definition of credit agreement in Art. 3 c) Consumer credit directive 2008/48/EC: ‘”credit agreement” means an agreement whereby a creditor grants or promises to grant to a consumer credit in the form of a deferred payment, loan or other similar financial accommodation, except for agreements for the provision on a continuing basis of services or for the supply of goods of the same kind, where the consumer pays for such services or goods for the duration of their provision by means of instalments.’

  32. Thus “leasing” (“financieringshuur”) only qualifies as a credit agreement under Belgian law if the contract includes an explicit or implicit option to purchase the good, see Art. I.9, 47 Code of economic law. See also the comments of the FOD economie on the former, similar definition of financieringshuur in Art. 1, 10 Consumer credit act http://www.consumercredit.be/nl/article-1,-10%C2%B0-financieringshuurf.html.

  33. https://www.bkr.nl/globalassets/documenten/positioning-papers/positioning-paper%2D%2D-private-lease.pdf.

References

  • All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG)- (2014). Triple win. The social economic and environmental case for remanufacturing. A report by the All Party Sustainable Resource Group of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from: https://www.policyconnect.org.uk/apsrg/sites/site_apsrg/files/report/535/fieldreportdownload/triplewin-thesocialeconomicandenvironmentalcaseforremanufacturing.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Auto Alliance, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, Global Automakers & CARE. (2014). Memorandum of understanding. Retrieved from: https://www.autocare.org/workarea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=1440&gmssopc=1. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Beckers, A. (2018). Environmental protection meets consumer sales. The influence of environmental market communication on consumer contracts and remedies. European Review of Contract Law, 14, 157–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BEUC. (2016). Position paper. Proposal for a Directive on certain aspects concerning contracts for distance sale of goods. Retrieved from: https://www.beuc.eu/publications/beuc-x-2016-053_csc_beuc_position_paper_on_tangible_goods_proposal.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Bluff, J. (2017). 8 States have introduced right to repair legislation, Apple to oppose. Retrieved from:https://ifixit.org/blog/8780/apple-right-to-repair/. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Bostoen, F., & Devroe, W. (2018). From sales to subscriptions in the car sector: Competition law implications of servitisation and the refusal to sell to consumers, 9 European competition law review. European Competition Law Review, 411.

  • Bracquené, E., Peeters, J., Duflou, J., & Dewulf, W. (2018). Repairability for energy related products. KU Leuven: VITO. Retrieved from: http://www.benelux.int/files/7915/2896/0920/FINAL_Report_Benelux.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Brown, I., & Marsden, C. T. (2013). Regulating code: Good governance and better regulation in the information age. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

  • Busch, C. (2010). DIN Normen für Dienstleistungen – Das Europäische Normungskomitee produziert Musterverträge. NJW, 3061.

  • CEN. (2017). Strategic plan on services standardization to implement the ambitions 2020. Retrieved from: ftp://ftp.cen.eu/CEN/Sectors/List/Services/services_strategy-Final-2017-08-30.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • de Vries, S. A., de Waele, H. C. F. J. A., & Granger, M. P. (Eds.). (2018). Civil rights and citizenship. Challenges at the crossroads of the European, national and private spheres. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2016). Empowering repair. Retrieved from: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/ce100/Empowering-Repair-Final-Public1.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Ferri, D., & Cortese, F. (Eds.). (2018). The EU social market economy and the law. Theoretical perspectives and practical challenges in the EU. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, E. T. (2000). Buying quarter inch holes: Public support through results. Archival Issues, 25, 91–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer, H., Fleisch, E., Friedli, T. (2005). Overcoming the service paradox in manufacturing companies. European journal of management, 23(1), 4–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N., & Hultink, E. (2017). The circular economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goedkoop, M. J., Halen, C. J. G. van, Riele, H. R. M. Te, & Rommens, P. J. M. (1999). Product service systems. Retrieved from: https://www.pre-sustainability.com/download/Product_Service_Systems_main_report.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Goldstein, L., & Lessard, L. (2018). Developing product environmental footprint category rules (PEFCR) for shampoos: the basis for comparable life cycle assessment. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 14(5), 649–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heremans, T. (2012). Professional services in the EU internal market: Quality regulation and self-regulation. Oxford: Hart Publishing.

  • Hojnik, J. (2016). The servitization of industry: EU law implications and challenges. Common Market Law Review, 53, 1575–1624.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hojnik, J. (2018). Ecological modernization through servitization: EU regulatory support for sustainable product-service systems. Review of European. Comparative & International Environmental Law (RECIEL), 27, 162–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC. (2018). Special report: Global warming of 1.5 °C. Retrieved from: https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/.Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Karsten, J., & Reisch, L. A. (2008). Sustainability policy and the law. German Policy Studies, 4, 45–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeble, B. R. (1988). The Brundtland report: Our common future. Medicine & War, 4, 17–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kye, C. (1995). Environmental law and the consumer in the European Union. Journal of Environmental Law, 7, 31–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machiels, S., & Penninks, T. (2015). Private lease. Tijdschrift voor Financieel Recht, 5.

  • Maitre-Ekern, E., & Dalhammar, C. (2019). A Scandinavian perspective on the role of consumers in the circular economy. In E. Terryn & B. Keirsbilck (Eds.), Consumer Protection in a Circular Economy. Antwerp: Intersentia (in print).

  • McCollough, J. (2009). The disappearing repair trades. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 33, 619–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGregor, S. (2002). Consumer citizenship: A pathway to sustainable development. Keynote at the International Conference on Developing Consumer Citizenship (Hamar, Norway; April 2002). Retrieved from:  https://www.consultmcgregor.com/documents/research/norway_keynote.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Michel, A. (2016). La Directive 1999/44/CE sur la garantie des biens de consommation: Un remède efficace contre l’obsolescence programmée? Revue européenne de droit de la consommation, 2, 207–236.

  • Michel, A. (2019). The design and production stage: ecodesign requirements. In E. Terryn & B. Keirsbilck (Eds.), Consumer Protection in a Circular Economy. Antwerp: Intersentia (in print).

  • Micklitz, H.W. (2007). Services standards: Defining the core consumer elements and their minimum requirements. Retrieved from: http://www.anec.eu/attachments/ANEC-R&T-2006-SERV-004final.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Micklitz, H. W., & Reich, N. (2014). The court and sleeping beauty: The revival of the unfair contract terms directive. Common Market Law Review, 3, 771–808.

  • Mont, O., & Dalhammar, C. (2005). Sustainable consumption: At the crossroads of environmental and consumer policies. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 8, 258–279.

  • Nelson, G. (2014). Automakers agree to ‘right to repair’ deal. Automotive News. Retrieved from: http://www.autonews.com/article/20140125/RETAIL05/301279936/automakers-agree-to-right-to-repair-deal. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • OECD Environment Directorate. (2001). Background paper for the ‘expert workshop on information and consumer decision-making for sustainable consumption’. Retrieved from: http://www.oecd.org/env/consumption-innovation/informationandconsumerdecision-makingforsustainableconsumption.htm. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Parker, C., Carey, R., & Scrinis, G. (2018). The meat in the sandwich: Welfare labelling and the governance of meat-chicken production in Australia. Journal of Law and Society, 45, 341–369.

  • Prakash, S. (2016). Einfluss der Nutzungsdauer von Produkten auf ihre Umweltwirkung: Schaffung einer Informationsgrundlage und Entwicklung von Strategien gegen “Obsoleszenz”. UBA Texte, 11.

  • Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics. London: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reim, W., Parida, V., & Örtqvist, D. (2015). Product-service systems (PSS) business models and tactics – A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 97, 61–75.

  • Reisch, L. A. (2004). Principles and visions of a new consumer policy. Discussion paper by the scientific advisory Board for Consumer, Food, and Nutrition Policies to the German Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food, and Agriculture. Journal of Consumer Policy, 27, 1–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schally, H. (2019). The circular economy action plan: an agenda for change. n E. Terryn & B. Keirsbilck (Eds.), Consumer Protection in a Circular Economy. Antwerp: Intersentia (in print). 

  • Schuller, E. (2018). Who has the right to repair? Fleet Maintenance, 22(1), 10–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tonner, K. (2000). Consumer protection and environmental protection: Contradictions and suggested steps towards integration. Journal of Consumer Policy, 23, 63–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trentmann, F. (2016). Empire of things. How we became a world of consumers, from the fifteenth century to the twenty-first. London: Allen Lane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tukker, A. (2004). Eight types of product-service system: Eight ways to sustainability. Business Strategy and the Environment, 13, 246–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2011). Environment Programme 2011. Recycling of materials: A status report.

  • Van Acker, K. (2017). RecyclAge. Leuven: Lannoo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veleva, V., & Ellenbecker, M. (2001). Indicators of sustainable production: Framework and methodology. Journal of Cleaner Production, 9, 519–549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster, K. (2017). The circular economy: A wealth of flows. Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

  • Weitzenboeck, E. M. (2015). Looking back to see ahead: The changing face of users in European E-Commerce Law. Artificial Intelligence Law, 23, 201–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendehorst, C. (2016). Das Vertragsrecht der dienstleistungen im deutschen und künftigen europäischen Recht. AcP, 207–299.

  • Wiens, K. (2013). Using copyright to keep repair manuals secret undermines circular economy. The Guardian. Retrieved from:https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/copyright-law-repair-manuals-circular-economy. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Wilhelmsson, T. (1998). Consumer law and the environment: From consumer to citizen. Journal of Consumer Policy, 21, 45–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wise, R., & Baumgartner, P. (1999). Go downstream: The new profit imperative in manufacturing. Harvard Business Review, September-October, 133–141.

  • Zaring, O. (Ed.), (2001). Creating Eco-efficient producer services. Gothenburg Research institute. Research report (15 February 2001). Retrieved from:http://www.score-network.org/files/828_18.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

  • Zoll, F. (2019). Services. In Casebook on consumer law. Oxford: Hart Publishing (in print).

Cases

  • Case C-52/18 Christine Fülla v Toolport, Opinion Advocate General Wahl, 15 January 2019, EU:C:2019:22.

  • Case C-632/16 Dyson Ltd and Dyson BV v BSH Home Appliances NV [2018] EU:C:2018:599, case note C. Koolen, EUCML 2019/2, pp. 82–89.

  • Case C-404/06 Quelle AG v Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände [2008] EU:C:2008:231.

  • Case T-544/13 RENV, Dyson Ltd v European Commission [2018] EU:T:2018:761.

  • District Court Amsterdam 8 July 2016, ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2016:4197. (2017a) Tijdschrift voor Consumentenrecht 183, case note V Mak.

  • District Court Amsterdam 18 April 2017, ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2017b:2519.

  • Supreme Court Norway 17 February 2006, Rt 2006, s 179.

Legislation

    European Union

    • Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption [1998] OJ L330/32.

    • Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) NO 2092/91 [2007] OJ L189/1.

    • Council Directive 85/374/EEC of 25 July 1985 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning liability for defective products [1985] OJ L 210.

    • Directive 2006/123 on services in the internal market [2006] OJ L 376 (Services Directive).

    • Directive 2008/48/EC on credit agreements for consumers and repealing Council Directive 87/102/EEC [2008] OJ L 133 (Consumer Credit Directive).

    • Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency [2012] OJ.

    • Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings [2010] OJ L153/13.

    • Directive 2009/125/EC establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products [2009] OJ L285/10.

    • Directive 2009/72/EC on common rules for the internal market in electricity [2009] OJ L211/55.

    • Directive 2005/29/EC concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market [2005] OJ L/149/22 (Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, UCPD).

    • Directive 1999/44/EC on the sale of goods to consumers and associated guarantees [1999] OJ L171/12 (Consumer Sales Directive 1999).

    • Directive (EU) 2019/770 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services [2019] OJ L136/28.

    • Directive 2019/771 on certain aspects concerning contracts for the sale of goods, amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directive 2009/22/EC, and repealing Directive 1999/44/EC [2019] OJ L136/28.

    • European Commission. (1990). Proposal for a Directive on the liability of suppliers of services, COM (90) 482 final.

    • European Commission. (2000). Commission’s guidelines for making and assessing environmental claims. Available at: <http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/archive/cons_safe/news/green/guidelines_en.pdf>.

    • European Commission. (2007). Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee. EU consumer policy strategy 2007–2013. Empowering consumers, enhancing their welfare, effectively protecting them. COM(2007) 99 final.

    • European Commission. (2010). Consumer market study on environmental claims for non-food products. Available at: <https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/study_on_environmetal_claims_for_non_food_products_2014_en.pdf>.

    • European Commission. (2013a). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Building the Single Market for green products facilitating better information on the environmental performance of products and organisations. COM(2013) 196 final.

    • European Commission. (2013b). Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU of 9 April 2013 on the use of common methods to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations [2013] OJ L 124/1.

    • European Commission. (2015). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Closing the loop – An EU action plan for the circular economy. COM(2015) 614 final.

    • European Commission. (2016). Commission Staff Working Document. Guidance on the implementation/application of Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Commercial Practices. SWD(2016) 163 final.

    • European Commission. (2017). Study on the costs and benefits of extending certain right under the consumer sales and guarantees directive 1999/44/EC. Retrieved from https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4d120ad5-deee-11e7-9749-01aa75ed71a1/language-en. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

    • European Commission. (2018a). Proposal for a Directive amending Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993, Directive 98/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards better enforcement and modernisation of EU consumer protection rules. COM(2018) 185 final. (New Deal for Consumers).

    • European Commission. (2018b). Proposal for Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers, and repealing Directive 2009/22/EC. COM(2018) 184 final. (New Deal for Consumers).

    • European Commission. (2018c). Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. COM(2018) 340 final.

    • European Commission. (2018d). Behavioural study on consumers’ engagement in the circular economy. Final report. Retrieved: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ec_circular_economy_final_report_0.pdf Executive summary retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ec_circular_economy_executive_summary_0.pdf. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

    • European Commission. (2019). Report on the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan, COM(2019) 190 final.

    • European Commission. (2019b). Commission Staff Working Document Sustainable Products in a Circular Economy - Towards an EU Product Policy Framework contributing to the Circular Economy, 4 March 2019 SWD(2019) 91 final.

    • European Commission DG Justice and Consumers. (2017). Consumer market study to support the fitness check of the consumer law (lot 3). Retrieved from: https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/a8d7ca32-772c-11e7-b2f2-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

    • European Parliament. (2017). Motion for a European Parliament resolution on a longer lifetime for products: Benefits for consumers and companies. Retrieved from: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A8-2017-0214+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN. Accessed 19 Nov 2019.

    • European Parliament and Council. (2019). Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects concerning contracts for the sale of goods, amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directive 2009/22/EC, and repealing Directive 1999/44/EC. 2015–0288 (COD).

    • Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2017 setting a framework for energy labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU [2017] OJ L198/1.

    • Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel [2010] OJ L27/1.

    • Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC.

    • Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters [2009] OJ L342/46.

    • Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information [2007] OJ L171/1.

    • Royal Decree 9 July 2000. KB betreffende de vermelding van de essentiële gegevens en de algemene verkoopsvoorwaarden op de bestelbon voor nieuwe voertuigen.

    Download references

    Author information

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands

      V. Mak

    2. Commercial and Consumer Law at KU Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium

      E. Terryn

    Authors
    1. V. Mak
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    2. E. Terryn
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to V. Mak.

    Additional information

    Publisher’s Note

    Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this article

    Mak, V., Terryn, E. Circular Economy and Consumer Protection: The Consumer as a Citizen and the Limits of Empowerment Through Consumer Law. J Consum Policy 43, 227–248 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-019-09435-y

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Accepted:

    • Published:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-019-09435-y

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation