Welcome to Sustainability Circularity and Product Policies

Description: With the EU Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, EU has set up an elaborate roadmap for tackling the climate crisis. Although the EU has recently adopted an omnibus package, simplifying the legislation and requirements on environmental reporting among other things, the product policies are still an important part of the roadmap. So far, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation has not yet been targeted by the omnibus, and the scope is currently being broadened extensively, meaning that all products on the European market, with only a few exemptions, will be within the scope of the regulation. These product policies will therefore have a major impact on all sectors, all companies bringing products to the European market, all authorities involved in the implementation and enforcement of the legislation, and consumers.

The aim of this course is to introduce PhD candidates to product policies and how these can help the sustainable and circular transition, with a special focus on the EU. The course provides PhD candidates with an in-depth engagement in key elements within product policies, the practice of implementation and efficiency of the policies.

The course introduces the PhD candidates to the core of sustainable and circular product policies, and the dynamics of different policy instruments. Participants will be introduced to current/recent directives, regulations, and proposals as well as current issues and debates surrounding the policies.

The course features a mix of onsite and online lectures, peer group discussions, and company perspectives.

The course is relevant for PhD students from a wide range of areas such as law, industry, design, environmental science, and engineering.

No prerequisites, other than an interest in environmental product policies. The Course is relevant for PhD students from a wide range of areas such as law, industry, design, environmental science, and engineering.

Learning objectives: 

By attending this course, the students will

• Gain thorough knowledge of the vast array of environmental product policies, with a particular focus on the EU
• Gain an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of the policies and standards supporting the policies, how they are intended to support a sustainable transition, and how the policies sometimes unintended counteract the transition.
• Be able to reflect and discuss how their specific field of research is influenced by the product policies, and how they can navigate the policies.

Onsite session (3-5 November 2025)

Day 1: Introduction to EU’s product policy, Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. The first day will provide participants with a historic overview of the development of the landscape of product policies, sustainability, and circularity. The day will also entail an introduction to the vast array of EU product policies, such as the Ecodesign Directive, Energy labelling, WEEE Directive, Batteries Regulation, Packaging Regulation and Ecolabels. Furthermore, we will look into the demand side of the product policies and the right to repair initiatives.

Day 2: We will continue the topic of the demand side of product policies and public procurement, and we will introduce and take a deep dive into the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The ESPR will replace the Ecodesign Directive and will cover almost all products on the EU market, setting requirements to support a circular transition.

Day 3: The third day will focus on the Digital Product Passport from the ESPR with a special guest lecture. The digital product passport is a key tool to support circularity and presents both challenges and opportunities for industries. Furthermore, we will have a gust lecture on Circular economy integration at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S. The final session on the day will consist of a paper workshop, supporting the participants in developing research and paper ideas.

Online session (3 December 2025)

Following the onsite session, all participants must submit an extended abstract for discussion in peer groups. The online session will be moderated by AAU, but participants are expected to prepare feedback and engage in discussions.

Organizer: Rikke Dorothea Huulgaard

Lecturers: Associate Professor Rikke Dorothea Huulgaard, Associate Professor Anja Marie Bundgaard, Professor Arne Remmen, and Professor Carl Dalhammar, Lund University, Sweden.

Time: 3 - 5 November (Aalborg), 3 December 2025 (online)

Place: Aalborg University, Rendsburggade 14, 9000 Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 15

Deadline: 13 October 2025

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course. 

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.