Sidley assisted the World Economic Forum in identifying ways in which trade policy can be used to help achieve circular economy objectives — repair, reuse, and recycle. Please see the published papers:
Facilitating Trade Along Circular Electronics Value Chains — September 2020
Electronics are a critical part of our lives and even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, however, too many electronics wind up in the environment, are recycled in unsafe conditions, or are stored away in households. Yet these products contain valuable raw materials, many of which are not recovered, while opportunities for product life extension, repair, and reuse are also not fully captured. Circular strategies have become a priority for many companies and consumers. Typically, though, these strategies will rely on reverse supply chains, and these are not always supported by current regulatory environments. This paper presents insights on the challenges in reverse supply chains for electronics, and how trade policy may help to overcome these challenges.
Plastics, the Circular Economy, and Global Trade — July 2020
Every year, the world produces more than 400 million tonnes of plastic, much of which is mismanaged after use, causing untold damage to the environment and societies. This paper offers an overview of the challenges to developing a circular global plastics economy and trade policy areas that could help tackle the growing issue of plastic pollution.
