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Competition

Competition in the Circular Economy

 

 

  15 June 2023  OECD Conference Centre, Paris

As a circular economy based on the reduction, reusing and recycling of resources and materials is increasingly recognised to be at the core of the green transition, the question arises whether competition laws and policies as currently designed and applied are compatible with its paradigm.

In June 2023, the OECD held a roundtable to discuss how to balance economic growth and the shift to a circular economy. As the circular economy may lead to different incentives, business models and dynamics than traditional linear economy systems, the roundtable explored: 

  • in which industries and cases competition law might be an obstacle to the shift to a circular economy;
  • what are the advocacy and enforcement activities that competition authorities can take to pro-actively support the transition to a circular economy;
  • whether any adjustments to the assessment of competition harm and effects is required for competition cases in the circular economy.

This page contains all related documentation.  

See the full list of best practice roundtables on competition.

Invited speakers 

Peter Börkey Bio  
Circular Economy Lead at OECD Environment Directorate

Benoît Durand Bio 
Partner at RBB Economics

Helen Gornall Bio  
Partner Competition Law, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek

Herbert Hovenkamp Bio  
James G. Dinan Professor, Penn Law & The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Presentation
Documents 

OECD Background Note (version française)

Detailed Summary of the discussion EN | FR

Executive Summary with key findings EN | FR

 

Contributions from participating delegations

Australia

Austria

BIAC

Canada EN l FR

Egypt

France EN | FR

Hungary

Italy

Japan

Latvia

Romania

Spain  

Summaries of Contributions

 
 
Related material

Horizontal agreements in the environmental context (2010)

Competition issues in waste management (2013)

Competition Law and Responsible Business Conduct (2015)

Sustainability and competition (2020)

Environmental Considerations in Competition Enforcement (2021)

See also

Green Innovation and Competition (OECD Competition Open Day 2022)

Environment

About Responsible Business Conduct

Digital Economy, Innovation and Competition

OECD best practice roundtables on competition

More OECD work on competition

 

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