We are happy to announce that the project “Governmental Trendsetters: Solving Clashes between Circular and Legal Principles (CIRCLASH)” has been awarded €150.000 in the NWA-ROUTE Circular Economy. The consortium, including UU and UMCU researchers, and external partners, will investigate how legal principles in public procurement can hinder the adoption of circular procurement principles and explore solutions to overcome these barriers.
Procurement: a powerful tool to drive the transition to a circular economy
The CIRCLASH project focuses on circular public procurement as a powerful tool to drive the transition to a sustainable, circular economy. While governments hold significant buying power to influence market behavior, legal frameworks designed to ensure equality, transparency, and proportionality often conflict with circular principles like reduce, reuse, refurbish, redesign, repair, recover etc. This project aims to uncover where, when, and why these clashes occur and to propose actionable solutions to align legal principles with circular objectives. By addressing these challenges, CIRCLASH seeks to empower public authorities and market players to adopt innovative procurement practices that support circularity.
The project delivers both scientific and societal impact. It advances legal and circularity scholarship by connecting these fields, creating a foundation for future research into similar sustainability challenges. On a practical level, the project will provide concrete tools, including proposals for legislative amendments, circular procurement criteria, and contract clauses. These outputs will enable public authorities to become sustainability trendsetters, fostering market innovation and benefiting citizens through improved public services and reduced environmental impact. By collaborating with key stakeholders and engaging in expert meetings and conferences, CIRCLASH ensures its solutions are both practical and transformative, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
The funding will help in installing a postdoctoral researcher, who will lead key research activities, coordinate expert meetings, and ensure timely completion of project milestones. They will work closely with the principal investigator and co-applicants, whose involvement is supported by their existing research time.
Involvement of i4CS
The i4CS, part of the EWUU alliance, played a crucial role in strengthening the CIRCLASH consortium by facilitating the inclusion of UMC Utrecht as a key partner. As a major public purchaser in the healthcare sector, UMC Utrecht brings invaluable expertise and practical insights into the challenges and opportunities of circular procurement. Their involvement ensures that the project addresses sector-specific complexities, such as procuring circular medical disposables and equipment, while maintaining high-quality healthcare services. The collaboration highlights the unique value of our network in connecting transdisciplinary expertise and fostering partnerships that drive impactful solutions for the circular transition.
Team
- prof. dr. Willem Janssen – School of Law – UU/Groningen University (Lead applicant))
- prof. dr. Elisabetta Manunza – School of Law – UU
- prof. dr. Fredo Schotanus – School of Economics – UU
- dr. Anne Rainville – Geosciences – UU
Stakeholders
- drs. Anne Marie van den Berg – Procurement – UMCU
- dr. Marcel Stuijts – Bureau Inkoop Zuid-Oost Brabant
- drs. Jenny May – Province of Utrecht
- drs. Alfred de Weert – Kenniskring Aanbesteden