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Analysing policy change towards the circular economy at the example of EU battery legislation

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  • Barkhausen, Robin
  • Fick, Katharina
  • Durand, Antoine
  • Rohde, Clemens

Abstract

Batteries play an important role in the decarbonisation of road transport. By looking at the EU battery legislation from 1991 to 2022, policy change in the subsystem and its underlying drivers is analysed. The advocacy coalition framework is used, with a mixed methods approach combining qualitative document analysis and interviews. A strong increase in circular economy aspects is identified, going beyond the coverage of such aspects in other EU product regulations. Coalitions of industry actors and opposing NGOs are identified, but also a broadening of stakeholders involved and less accentuated boundaries between coalitions over time. Several external events were identified that are likely to have contributed to the alignment of economic and environmental interests towards a domestic and sustainable battery supply chain in the EU. Batteries can serve as a blueprint for other product groups, demonstrating that political and industrial momentum can be used to pursue ambitious environmental policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Barkhausen, Robin & Fick, Katharina & Durand, Antoine & Rohde, Clemens, 2023. "Analysing policy change towards the circular economy at the example of EU battery legislation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:186:y:2023:i:c:s1364032123005221
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113665
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joris Baars & Teresa Domenech & Raimund Bleischwitz & Hans Eric Melin & Oliver Heidrich, 2021. "Circular economy strategies for electric vehicle batteries reduce reliance on raw materials," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 71-79, January.
    2. James Morton Turner & Leah M. Nugent, 2016. "Charging up Battery Recycling Policies: Extended Producer Responsibility for Single-Use Batteries in the European Union, Canada, and the United States," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(5), pages 1148-1158, October.
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    1. Dan Su & Yu Mei & Tongchao Liu & Khalil Amine, 2025. "Global Regulations for Sustainable Battery Recycling: Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-30, March.

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