At present, the design of circular economy policies and measures largely takes place at the national level. While the development of national policies have a key role to play in spurring a circular economy transition, there is also growing recognition of the range of opportunities and challenges arising across international supply chains and markets that require international cooperation and coordination.

Dialogue and shared understandings on best practices and approaches for the design of trade-related circular economy policies and measures are needed to help governments and stakeholders navigate a complex set of priorities, including the design of policies and measures that achieve environmental objectives, are non-discriminatory, minimize trade costs, are effective across interconnected markets, and support sustainable development outcomes and a fair transition.

As a contribution, TESS has convened a group of international experts on trade, circular economy, and sustainable development to provide guidance on best practices and approaches on the trade dimensions of circular economy policies and measures, with the overarching goal of advancing sustainable development goals—environmental, social, and economic. The group includes experts from academia, think tanks, and intergovernmental and stakeholder organizations representing a diversity of perspectives and regional expertise, participating in their personal capacities.

The aim of the group was to prepare a report on best practices and approaches. The final report of the expert group, published in September 2024, reflects a collective, cooperative effort among the group members to contribute their expertise and experience to provide guidance to policymakers and stakeholders. The report aims to contribute to ongoing deliberations on these topics at the World Trade Organization in the context of the Committee on Trade and Environment and the TESSD and DPP initiatives, as well as in other international organizations and processes, including UN Trade and Development, the OECD, UNEP, the World Customs Organization, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The group’s meetings were held from September 2023 to January 2024. This process was complemented by consultations between TESS and key stakeholders and experts on key issues for consideration as well as with government delegations.

(in their personal capacities)

Latifahaida ABDUL LATIF, Assistant Director, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat

Adina Renee ADLER

Apporva ARYA, Founder and CEO, Circular Innovation Lab

Sandra AVEROUS-MONNERY, Economic Officer, World Trade Organization

Jack BARRIE, Senior Research Fellow at the Environment & Society Centre Chatham House

Christophe BELLMANN, Head of Policy Analysis and Strategy, Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs (TESS)

Arpit BHUTANI, Chief Operating Officer, Circular Innovation Lab

Florence Binta DIAO-GUEYE, Global Policy Lead, Trade & Customs, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

Jocelyn BLÉRIOT, Executive Officer, Policy & Institutions, Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF)

Kimberley BOTWRIGHT, Head, Sustainable Trade, World Economic Forum (WEF)

Vito BUONSANTE, Policy and Technical Advisor, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN)

Catherine CHEVAUCHÉ, Chair of ISO/TC 323 Circular Economy

Dominic COPPENS, Professor of International Economic Law, Maastricht University

Hélionor DE ANZIZU, Staff Attorney, Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Carolyn DEERE BIRKBECK, Executive Director and Founder, Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs (TESS)

Bonmwa FWANGKWAL, Program Manager, African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) Secretariat

Gael GROOBY, Ag. Director Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, World Customs Organization (WCO)

Kamal GUEYE, Global Coordinator, Green Jobs Programme, International Labour Organization (ILO)

Jeet KAR, Lead, Sustainable Trade and Global Policy (Plastics), World Economic Forum (WEF)

Michikazu KOJIMA, Senior Research Fellow on Environmental Issues, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Rainer LANZ, Policy Analyst, World Trade Organization (WTO)

Aik Hoe LIM, Director of the Trade and Environment Division, World Trade Organization (WTO)

Elisa LUOTONEN, Coordinator of Africa Circular Economy Facility, Climate Change and Green Growth Department, African Development Bank (AfDB)

Nanno MULDER, Chief, International Trade Unit, International Trade and Integration Division, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

Badri NARAYANAN GOPALKRISHNAN, Founder and Director, Infinite Sum Modelling LLC and Fellow, Niti Aayog, Government of India

Henrique PACINI, Economic Affairs Officer, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Maria Teresa PISANI, Economic Policy Officer, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Patrick SCHROEDER, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs

Branson SKINNER, Co-Founder and Executive Producer, The Or Foundation

Colette VAN DER VEN, Founder and Director, Tulip consulting

Shunta YAMAGUCHI, Policy Analyst Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

* Several experts from the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions also participated in the expert group.