The French Experience of Building a Closed-Loop Economy: The Legal Aspect

The object of this research is the political and legal foundations of the implementation of the principles of a closed economy in France. The aim is to develop proposals for improving Russian legislation on building a closed–loop economy (hereinafter referred to as the CLE). The comparative legal method was used in the research. Among the tasks set is to determine the genesis of the “closed–loop economy” category. The special relevance of the work was determined by the active formation of Russian legislation on building a circular economy. As a result of the research, the general international legal context of the implementation of the concept of a “closed-loop economy”, expressed in the goals of sustainable development, has been identified. A general description of the relevant legislative regulation in France is given. The most important provisions of the French Law 2020–105 of February 10, 2020 “On Combating Mismanagement and the Closed-loop Economy” (AGEC) are analyzed. An assessment is given of the French system of consumer reimbursement for the repair of certain types of goods, as well as measures aimed at the production and consumption of single-use plastic packaging. The central role of the institute of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in ensuring the construction of a closed-loop economy in France is noted and its main elements are characterized. Attention is drawn to a significant number of manufacturing industries in this country that fall under the extended producer responsibility system, as well as to the creation of special eco-organizations that collect financial contributions from business entities in order to implement projects to reduce waste generation, sort and dispose of it. The experience of French cities in attracting such organizations to eliminate unauthorized landfills is studied. The conclusion is drawn: the success of the implementation of individual measures to build a closed-loop economy largely depends on the choice of optimal legal forms of assistance to the development of CLE. The results of the study showed that one of the main such forms is the extended responsibility of the manufacturer.

1. Casson C. et al. Lessons from English pre-industrial times for a post-industrial circular economy. Resources Conservation and Recyclling. 2023. 193. art. 106968.

2. Aggeri F. From waste to urban mines: A historical perspective on the circular economy: Special Issue 23. Field Actions Science Repeports. 2021. Special Issue. 23:10–13.

3. Pahun J., Eve F., Daviron B. De quoi la bioéconomie est-elle le nom? Genèse d’un nouveau référentiel d’action publique. Natures Sciences Sociétés.2018;26(1):3–16.

4. Erkman S. Industrial ecology: An historical view. Journal of Cleaner Production. 1997;5(1–2):1–10.

5. Murray A., Skene K., Haynes K. The Circular economy: An interdisciplinary exploration of the concept and application in a global context. Journal of Business Ethics. 2017;140(3):369–380.

6. Boulding K. E. The economics of the coming spaceship earth. In: Environmental Quality in a Growing Economy. H. Jarrett (ed.) 1966. Environmental Quality in a Growing Economy. pp. 3–14. Baltimore, MD: Resources for the Future/Johns Hopkins University Press.

7. Stahel W., Reday-Mulvey G. Jobs for tomorrow: The potential for substituting manpower for energy. 1981. Vantage Press, N.Y. 116 p.

8. Pearce D. W., Turner R. K. Economics of natural resources and the environment. 3. Dr. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Univ. Press; 1994. 378 p.

9. Andersen M. S. An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy. Sustainability Science. 2007;2(1):133–140.

10. Xue B. et al. Survey of officials’ awareness on circular economy development in China: Based on municipal and county level. Resources Conservation and Recyclling. 2010;54(12):1296–1302.

11. McDowall W. et al. Circular economy policies in China and Europe. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2017;21(3):651–661.

12. Долгушин А. Б. Построение экономики замкнутого цикла в советский период. Московский Экономический Журнал. 2022;7(11):159–172. Dolgushin A. B. Building a closed-loop economy in the Soviet period. Moskovskiy Ekonomicheskiy Zhurnal = Moscow Economic Journal. 2022;7(11):159–172. (In Russ.).

13. Calisto Friant M., Vermeulen W. J.V., Salomone R. Analysing European Union circular economy policies: Words versus actions. Sustainable Production and Consumumption. 2021;27:337–353.

14. Eickhoff H. The appeal of the circular economy revisited: On track for transformative change or enabler of moral licensing? Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. 2024;11(1) art. 301.

15. Ferrante M., Vitti M., Sassanelli C. The evolution of circular economy performance assessment: A systematic literature review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2025; 217. art. 115757.

16. Fressoz J. B. Sabine Barles, L’invention des déchets urbains. France, 1790–1970 Seyssel, 2011; 66(1):320–322.

17. Sandras A. Eugène Poubelle mis en boîte. Histoire Urbaine. 2011;31(2):69–91.

18. Steinfeld N. Étymologie-origine, étymologie-histoire et déonomastiques: le cas de poubelle (avec une annonce de la création de la base des mots fantômes). XXVe CILPR Congrès International de Linguistique et de Philologie Romanes ed. Iliescu M., Siller-Runggaldier H., Danler P. De Gruyter, 2010.

19. Holden E., Linnerud K., Banister D. Sustainable development: Our Common Future revisited. Global Environmental Change. 2014;26:130–139.

20. Hales R., Birdthistle N. The Sustainable Development Goals — SDG#12 Responsible Consumption and Production. Attaining the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of Responsible Consumption and Production. Birdthistle N., Hales R. Emerald Publishing Limited; 2023:1–10.

21. García-Velasco Garzás M., Ruiz-Fuensanta M. J. Analysing the expansion of the circular economy in the European Union: How important is the regional context? Ecological Economics. 2025;231, art. 108560.

22. Hernandez R. J., Miranda C., Goñi J. Empowering sustainable consumption by giving back to consumers the ‘right to repair’. Sustainability. 2020;12(3). art. 850.

23. Kibert N. C. Extended producer responsibility: A tool for achieving sustainable development. Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law. 2004;19(2):503–523.

24. Campbell-Johnston K. et al. Future perspectives on the role of extended producer responsibility within a circular economy: A Delphi study using the case of the Netherlands. Business Strategy and the Environment. 2021;30(8):4054–4067.

25. Micheaux H. La gestion des déchets et la responsabilité élargie du producteur, un modèle français qui fait référence. Le Journal de l’École de Paris du management. 2020:146(6):23–30.

26. Cullen N. From Lightbulbs to #Sheinhauls: Considerations for Planned Obsolescence Regulation in the Modern Era. Washington Law Review. 2024;99(2).art. 607.