Eléonore Maitre-Ekern

• Van Der Velden, Maja; Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore & Katland Wanja, Deborah (2023). The Role of Independent Repair in a Circular and Regenerative Economy. Circular Economy and Sustainability. ISSN 2730-597X. doi: 10.1007/s43615-023-00304-y. Full text in Research Archive
• Monciardini, David; Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Malcolm, Rosalind & Dalhammar, Carl (2023). Circular Economy regulation: an emerging research agenda. In Alexander, Allen; Pascucci, Stefano & Charnley, Fiona (Ed.), Handbook of the Circular Economy: Transitions and Transformation. Walter de Gruyter (De Gruyter). ISSN 9783110723229. p. 219–240. doi: https:/doi.org/10.1515/9783110723373. Show summary

  Circular Economy regulation is rapidly adopted at different levels of governance, including municipalities, private and industry standards, national law and supranational standard-setting. There are increasing demands from policymakers, businesses and civil society for theoretical insights and more knowledge on the effects of policies and laws (‘policy learning’). However, despite this mounting interest, the literature still lacks a real strand of studies that systematically and comprehensively addresses this area of research. The chapter offers a review of the origins and limitations of the current model of regulation and the emergence of a law of the Circular Economy in Europe. We maintain that the policy and academic debate is currently too fragmented, depoliticised and undertheorised, highlighting existing gaps and new research directions.

• Svensson-Hoglund, Sahra; Richter, Jessika Luth; Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Russell, Jennifer D.; Pihlajarinne, Taina & Dalhammar, Carl (2021). Barriers, enablers and market governance: A review of the policy landscape for repair of consumer electronics in the EU and the U.S. Journal of Cleaner Production. ISSN 0959-6526. 288, p. 1–18. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125488. Show summary

  Many strategies have been proposed to support the transition to a Circular Economy (CE). In most cases, circular design and product life-extension practices specify repair as an essential element. In both the EU and the U.S., policymakers are attempting to increase the amount of repairs made, through the introduction of recent EU Ecodesign regulation changes and proposed US Right to Repair legislation. This review explores the current policy landscape for repair services by first outlining legal and market barriers to stakeholder participation in repair activities, and which stakeholders are affected. The review reveals a wide range of fundamental obstacles to both supply and demand of repair, including Intellectual Property, Consumer, Contract, Tax and Chemical laws, along with issues of design, consumer perceptions and markets. Subsequently, the current and proposed policy solutions to address barriers and increase repair activities are reviewed. A comparative assessment of the EU and the U.S. is followed by a discussion on the current repair market governance structure, which is found to be primarily centralized (i.e. repair services concentrated with manufacturers), with possible implications for upscaling repair. New policy proposals challenge this governance. Introducing the concept of a Repair Society Framework as a market transformation tool, we comprehensively discuss the current state of repair and provide an outlook for research and policy in this area.

• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2021). Re-thinking producer responsibility for a sustainable circular economy from extended producer responsibility to pre-market producer responsibility. Journal of Cleaner Production. ISSN 0959-6526. 286, p. 1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125454. Show summary

  The transition to a sustainable Circular Economy (CE) requires moving away from linear production processes and the throwaway mentality. Waste needs to be prevented and the consumption of new products must decline. In particular, this involves extending product lifetime (through maintenance and repair) and supporting second-hand trading (reuse). Such a transformation of consumption patterns requires a fundamental change notably in business models. The role of the law is to enable the change. For a long time, the objective of retaining the primary value of products has been linked to waste prevention, which is the main priority of the waste hierarchy as laid out in the EU Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC. However, waste law appears somewhat ill-suited to address these issues. The incentives provided by the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme are limited when it comes to promoting upstream design changes. In line with what Lindhqvist, the father of EPR in Europe, originally had in mind, the responsibility of producers should cover products’ entire life cycle, not just their end-of-life. This article explores the current tensions between EU waste law and the objectives of the CE, and calls for incorporating a pre-market producer responsibility (PPR) within a legal framework for products in order to limit market access to durable, reparable and reusable products.

• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore & Dalhammar, Carl (2019). A Scandinavian Perspective on the Role of Consumers in the Circular Economy. In Terryn, Evelyn & Keirsbilck, Bert (Ed.), Consumer Protection in a Circular Economy. Intersentia. ISSN 9781780686578. p. 201–224.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore & Dalhammar, Carl (2019). Towards a hierarchy of consumption behaviour in the circular economy. Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law (MJ). ISSN 1023-263X. 26(3), p. 394–420. doi: 10.1177/1023263X19840943. Show summary

  In their roles as purchasers, users and dischargers of used products, consumers play an important role in the circular economy. In this article, we put forward a ‘hierarchy of consumption behaviour’ to support European Union policymaking. Among the priorities are avoiding the purchase of single-use and unnecessary products, prolonging the lifetime of products through maintenance and engaging in repair activities. Moreover, the hierarchy intends to privilege sharing and leasing to buying and second-hand products to new ones. Finally, consumption in the circular economy also requires allowing products to re-circulate. Changing consumption patterns is difficult insofar as they are largely determined by the paradigm upon which our economy is built and are enabled by the existing legal framework, most notably European Union consumer law. The article contains concrete recommendations to develop European Union law and promote the proposed hierarchy.

• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Bugge, Hans Christian & Dalhammar, Carl (2018). Present and future challenges for Europe's environmental product policy. In Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Dalhammar, Carl & Bugge, Hans Christian (Ed.), Preventing Environmental Damage from Products An Analysis of the Policy and Regulatory Framework in Europe. Cambridge University Press. ISSN 9781108422444. p. 337–349. doi: 10.1017/9781108500128.013.
• Bugge, Hans Christian; Dalhammar, Carl & Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2018). Developing Legislation to Prevent Environmental Damage from Products: A Herculean but Necessary Task. In Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Dalhammar, Carl & Bugge, Hans Christian (Ed.), Preventing Environmental Damage from Products An Analysis of the Policy and Regulatory Framework in Europe. Cambridge University Press. ISSN 9781108422444. p. 1–20. doi: 10.1017/9781108500128.001.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2018). Exploring the spaceship Earth: a circular economy for products. In Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Dalhammar, Carl & Bugge, Hans Christian (Ed.), Preventing Environmental Damage from Products An Analysis of the Policy and Regulatory Framework in Europe. Cambridge University Press. ISSN 9781108422444. p. 23–56.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2017). The Choice of Regulatory Instruments for a Circular Economy. In Mathis, Klaus & Huber, Bruce R. (Ed.), Environmental Law and Economics. Springer. ISSN 978-3-319-50931-0. p. 305–334.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore & Dalhammar, Carl (2016). Regulating Planned Obsolescence: A Review of Legal Approaches to Increase Product Durability and Reparability in Europe. Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law. ISSN 2050-0386. 25(3), p. 378–394. doi: 10.1111/reel.12182.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2015). Towards an integrated product regulatory framework based on life-cycle thinking. In Sjåfjell, Beate & Wiesbrock, Anja (Ed.), The Greening of European Business under EU Law. Taking Article 11 TFEU Seriously. Routledge. ISSN 978-1-13-801956-0. p. 144–162. Show summary

  The relationship between environmentally sustainable development and company and business law has emerged in recent years as a matter of major concern for many scholars, policy-makers, businesses and nongovernmental organisations. This book offers a conceptual analysis of the principles of sustainable development and environmental integration in the EU legal system. It particularly focuses on Article 11 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which states that EU activities must integrate environmental protection requirements and emphasise the promotion of sustainable development. The book gives an overview of the role played by the environmental integration principle in EU law, both at the level of European legislation and at the level of Member State practice. Contributors to the volume identify and analyse the main legal issues related to the importance of Article 11 TFEU in various policy areas of EU law affecting European businesses, such as company law, insurance and state aid. In drawing together these strands the book sets out the requirements of environmental integration and examines its impact on the regulation of business in the EU. The book will be of great use and interest to students and researchers of business law, environment law, and EU law.

View all works in Cristin

• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Dalhammar, Carl & Bugge, Hans Christian (2018). Preventing Environmental Damage from Products An Analysis of the Policy and Regulatory Framework in Europe. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108422444. 362 p.

View all works in Cristin

• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2023). Policy-oriented legal research: reflections from a sustainability legal scholar.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2022). Regulating the Sustainable Circular Economy.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2021). Utvidet produsentansvar i en bærekraftig sirkulær økonomi.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2021). Achieving a sustainable circular economy: The role of precaution.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2021). Repair: an extended producer responsibility.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2020). Regulating the Circular Economy.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2020). Towards a sustainable circular economy.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2019). Taking products out of waste law: A (new) legal framework for the Circular Economy.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2019). Reform proposals for the Circular Economy.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2019). Enabling sustainable consumption: A legal perspective.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2018). Hva skjer med forbrukspolitikk i EU og Norge?
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2018). Consumers in the Circular Economy.
• Svensson, Sahra; Richter, Jessika Luth; Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Pihlajarinne, Taina; Maigret, Aline & Dalhammar, Carl (2018). The emerging 'Right to repair' legislation in the EU and the U.S. .
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2018). The role of consumers in the Circular Economy.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore & Dalhammar, Carl (2018). The role of consumers in the Circular Economy. A Scandinavian Perspective.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2016). Incentives and the choice of instruments for preventing environmental damages from products.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2016). The Choice of Regulatory Instruments for a Circular Economy.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2016). Regulating planned obsolescence: A review of legal approaches to trigger product durability in Europe.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2015). Preventing environmental effects of products: A life cycle and market-oriented approach in European environmental law.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2015). A market-oriented approach to environmental damages .
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2015). Preventing environmental effects of products: A life cycle and market-oriented approach in European environmental law.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2015). Looking for incentives in the Ecodesign Directive.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2013). Creating a Coherent Environmental Protection in European Union Law? An Analysis of Life Cycle Thinking in Product Regulation.
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2012). Resolving problems of fragmentation of environmental protection in European Union law? An analysis of life-cycle thinking in product regulation.
• Hairabedian, Gabrielle; Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Hess-Erga, Ole-Kristian; Ribeiro, Anne Luise & Meland, Sondre (2024). Environmental, social and economic sustainability considerations of aquaponics. The case of an aquaponic system at a Norwegian high school. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7717-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Hairabedian, Gabrielle; Barkved, Line Johanne; Hess-Erga, Ole-Kristian; Ribeiro, Anne Luise; Meland, Sondre & Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2024). Klasseromsmodellsystem for akvaponi i utdanningen. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7666-4.
• Hairabedian, Gabrielle; Barkved, Line Johanne; Hess-Erga, Ole-Kristian; Ribeiro, Anne Luise; Meland, Sondre & Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2024). Classroom Model System for Aquaponics in Education. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7665-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore; Taylor, Mark Beaumont & van der Velden, Maja (2020). Towards a Sustainable Circular Economy: SMART Reform Proposals. Universitetet i Oslo. Show summary

  The European Union (EU) has developed ambitious strategies to transform the economy, but it is happening too slowly and not uniformly. There is need to set up a smart regulatory mix governing products sold in the EU, designed to achieve coherence and reduce fragmentation of the existing framework pertaining to products and waste, consumer protection, and trade rules. Moreover, CE policies must be developed for the purpose of limiting environmental and social impacts throughout the life cycle of products, extending product lifetime notably through repair and reuse activities and shaping more sustainable consumption behaviours. The new Circular Economy Action Plan released in March 2020 offers great prospects for developing a policy framework for sustainable production and consumption , but the real challenge will lie in developing specific measures to transform objectives into effective legislation.

• Maitre-Ekern, Eléonore (2019). Towards a Circular Economy for Products: A legal analysis of Europe’s policy and regulatory framework from an ecological perspective. Faculty of Law, University of Oslo. ISSN 1890-2375. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in Cristin