Circular Economy and Consumer Protection: The Consumer as a Citizen and the Limits of Empowerment Through Consumer Law

The role of consumers as citizens contributing to a circular economy must be seen as part of a broader policy mix aimed at stimulating sustainable production on the supply side of the market, and sustainable consumption on the demand side. Consumers can be active contributors to a circular economy through their actions on the demand side, and EU law has sought to facilitate environmentally-friendly consumer choices through information rights. Further reaching measures can however be envisaged whereby sustainability aims can be taken into account when shaping consumer law. Thus, consumers may be stimulated to opt for repair or to engage in shared use of products through “servitization.”