LIST OF PANELS

There is a pressing need to move to more sustainable production and consumption systems (Meadows et al., 2004; Jackson 2006; WBCSD, 2010; Markard et al., 2012; Dietz & O’Neill 2013). To address this need, two of the world’s economic and political powers, China and the EU, have developed political strategies to introduce the ‘Circular Economy’ (European Commission 2015; Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China 2008). These strategies describe the circular economy as a new paradigm that implies a complete ‘transformation’ of the economy and, subsequently, the society in these regions. The realization of this transformation will have large impacts on the global economy, and, thus, on how world politics is to be governed, with the recent Chinese waste import ban being a first indication of such impacts (Reuters 2017). Despite its global political relevance, an exponentially growing literature is focusing mostly on the technical and business aspects of the circular economy (Ghisellini 2016). While interesting business and technical answers are provided to the major question posed—what are the barriers and enablers to this transformation?—the political, institutional, and social barriers and enablers of such transformations have so far  received much less attention.

We believe that by shedding light on the political and governance struggles over this transformation paradigm and the resulting policy-making, much can be learned regarding its potential global effects. On that basis, this panel aims to initiate a structured discussion of this new economic model from social, political, legal and governance perspectives and identify commonalities and differences across cases to generate joint lessons learned. Specific aspects that will be discussed include:

• barriers and enablers identified by business and civil society stakeholders, scholars and policy makers;
• socio-economic dynamics resulting from circular economy strategies;
• regulatory and governance challenges and trade-offs emerging from subsequent changes in supply chains and production and consumption processes;
• different conceptualizations of the circular economy;
• policy instruments for a circular economy.

The goal of this panel is to bring together researchers from diverse disciplines and geographic locations with a common interest in exploring the idea of the circular economy. In order to facilitate this exchange, this panel asks for empirical studies as well as theoretical contributions in relation to the circular economy worldwide. Disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary work is welcome. Possible research questions include, for instance:

• What barriers and enablers do business and civil society stakeholders, scholars and policy makers discuss when realizing novel business models for a Circular Economy?
• Which new socio-economic dynamics, regulatory challenges and regulatory trade-offs emerge from subsequent changes in supply chains and production and consumption processes?
• How do different countries or institutions conceptualize the circular economy?
• What policy instruments and governance arrangements are suggested for transforming towards a circular economy?
• How is the circular economy discussed/understood differently across municipalities/states /regions and with what effects for their local/national/global regulation?
• What role do businesses play in circular economy?