Nordic Circular Policies and Regulations

The Nordic Roadmap for Circular Policies and Regulations focuses on harmonizing and scaling circular economy policies across the Nordic region. Coordinated by the Transition Group for Policies and Regulations under the Nordic Circular Hotspot, this project aims to address regulatory inconsistencies and develop best practices for a seamless circular transition across Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden.

Project Background

While the transition to a circular economy is underway at various levels—local, national, and EU—Nordic countries face common structural challenges, including high personal consumption rates and waste management practices that rely heavily on incineration. These factors necessitate coordinated efforts to align policies and regulations across borders. The roadmap seeks to leverage the shared ambition of Nordic nations to create more unified and effective circular economy strategies.

Project Goals

The main objective of the roadmap is to support policy coordination among Nordic countries by addressing gaps and building on EU regulations. The roadmap provides a framework for creating aligned circular economy policies that support long-term sustainability goals, focusing on areas such as waste reduction, green public procurement, and sustainable building practices. By offering 10 key recommendations for policy coordination, the roadmap aims to overcome regulatory fragmentation and help Nordic countries meet their circular economy goals in a collaborative manner.

Whitepaper Publication

In October 2023, this whitepaper was published, outlining the current state of circular policies in the Nordics, highlighting best practices, and providing recommendations for future coordination. This whitepaper serves as a foundation for ongoing policy development and collaboration among Nordic countries.