Regulatory Framework for Innovation and Advancing Climate Neutrality Through Circular Economy Sandboxes

Authors

  • Natalia Zamfir Moldova State University, Faculty of Law, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
  • Olesea Plotnic State University of Moldova, Chis¸in˘au, Republic of Moldova
  • Mihaela Tofan University Alexandru Ioan Cuza of Iasi, Romania and Scientific Researcher at Institute of Legal Research Acad. Andrei Radulescu, Romanian Academy, Romania
  • Isidora Milošević University of Belgrade, Technical Faculty in Bor, 19210 Bor, Serbia
  • Maria Menshikova Business Organization at Universitas Mercatorum

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4447

Keywords:

Consumption, climate neutrality, sandbox, innovation, Circular economy, Customers behavior, Sustainability, Greenwashing, Industry sector, Informational asymmetry, environmental protection

Abstract

The paper focuses on analyzing how decoupling economic growth from resource use reflects on transitioning to circular systems of production and consumption, which are essential to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The hypothesis is that the current economy favors excessive consumption and endangers natural resources. The activities of extraction, processing and disposal of materials generate various negative environmental impacts, including the increase of greenhouse gas emissions, which jeopardies the achievement of essential environmental protection goals. The research shows that it is imperative to promote stricter resource efficiency policies and to advance the circular economy throughout the value chain, replacing traditional business models with circular ones. Today, the failure to accelerate innovation in the circular economy is more evident than ever, as the supporters of innovations face the challenge of framing their solutions within the relevant laws, policies and norms set by regulators during the development and implementation phases.

This study is based on a comprehensive analysis of legislation and policy documents from various relevant sectors. The main objective of the study is to examine the strategic role of the Circular Economy Sandbox as a key mechanism for fostering innovation. This research confirms the hypothesis that the sandbox, by creating a flexible regulatory environment, the sandbox allows for the temporary testing of new products, technologies, services and business models and it provides for temporary exemptions from certain restrictive legal provisions – such as those relating to spatial planning, construction, environmental protection or tax procedures – while ensuring compliance with fiscal rules.

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Author Biographies

Natalia Zamfir, Moldova State University, Faculty of Law, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Natalia Zamfir Associate Professor of Law at the State University of Moldova, specialising in international and EU environmental law. Since February 2024, she is a member of the Espoo Convention Implementation Committee. She has been a member of the Chisinau Bar Association since 2010. She has over two decades of experience in academia and legislative drafting, particularly in the areas of the Law on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases and the Climate Actions Law. She has extensive experience in academic curriculum development and has been actively involved in the creation and implementation of a new course on international and EU environmental law. She has experience in coordinating and participating in EU projects within the programme of the Introducing Problem Based Learning in Moldova: Towards Enhancing Students (PBLMD), Erasmus+.

Olesea Plotnic, State University of Moldova, Chis¸in˘au, Republic of Moldova

Olesea Plotnic Full Professor of Law at Moldova State University, specializing in Consumer Law, European Business Law, and Intellectual Property Law. A licensed lawyer, accredited CEDR mediator, and arbitrator, she holds a Master’s in Business Law from Sorbonne University Paris and has over two decades of legal experience. Since 2012, she has served as a trainer at the National Institute of Justice, contributing to the education of judges and prosecutors, while also supervising doctoral research since 2015. Her previous role as Deputy Director of the State Inspection for Market Surveillance and Consumer Protection (2008–2015) reflects her strong engagement in regulatory practice.


Dr. Plotnic is deeply involved in international academic and research initiatives, holding multiple Jean Monnet Chairs and participating in EUfunded projects on consumer rights, social entrepreneurship, and circular economy. She currently leads the ECO4ALL COST Action (2023–2027) and is affiliated with prestigious research institutions in France. Her academic contributions have earned her several national awards, and she is a prolific author in EU legal studies. Fluent in four languages, she actively promotes interdisciplinary and cross-border cooperation in law and policy.

Mihaela Tofan, University Alexandru Ioan Cuza of Iasi, Romania and Scientific Researcher at Institute of Legal Research Acad. Andrei Radulescu, Romanian Academy, Romania

Mihaela Tofan Full Professor of European Financial Law at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ias¸i and scientific researcher at the Institute for Legal reseacrh Acad. Andrei R˘adulescu. She holds the Jean Monnet Chair in European Financial Law and directs the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on European Financial Resilience and Regulation. She was Fulbright Scholar at NYU School of Law (2019) and at Fordham University School lf Law (2024) and she is practising lawyer at the Ias¸i Bar. She has over two decades of academic and legal experience and she holds habilitation in administrative science (2019) an legal science (2022). Her research focuses on European financial and fiscal law, EU monetary integration and tax regulation, and she has authored several books, including Tax Avoidance and European Law (Routledge, 2022). She has participated in numerous international academic collaborations and she is a lecturer and invited professor at leading institutions in Romania and abroad.

Isidora Milošević, University of Belgrade, Technical Faculty in Bor, 19210 Bor, Serbia

Isidora Miloˇsevi´c Full professor at the University of Belgrade, Technical Faculty in Bor, Department of Engineering Management, with 18 years of experience there. Her research field areas are New technology and innovation, Digitalization, Strategic management of new technology, and Strategic and business planning. She has published over 145 scientific papers, 36 of them in journals with an impact factor, one book, one practicum, and numerous invited and plenary lectures. She has participated in 15 national and international projects and edited four international monographs. Her citation number in Google Scholar is 1103, and h-index is 17. She participated in designing and developing the software solution for the strategic decision-making of managers and other stakeholders. She is a member of the scientific board in the International May Conference on Strategic Management (IMCSM) and the International Conference on Management, Enterprise, and Benchmarking (MEB). She is the Head of the commission for publishing activities at the University of Belgrade, the Technical Faculty in Bor. Her ORCID ID is 0000- 0001-5539-8253.

Maria Menshikova, Business Organization at Universitas Mercatorum

Maria Menshikova Associate Professor of Business Organization at Universitas Mercatorum (Italy). She has held teaching positions at several prestigious Italian and international universities, delivering courses such as Organization of Tourism Enterprises, Organization of Financial Intermediaries, Organization and Human Resource Development, Talent Acquisition and Management, Diversity Management, and New Forms of Work Organization and Smart Working. Her research focuses on the impact of digital technologies on work organization, as well as on innovative and sustainable human resource management strategies and practices across various sectors and contexts.

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Published

2025-10-31

How to Cite

Zamfir, N., Plotnic, O., Tofan, M., Milošević, I., & Menshikova, M. (2025). Regulatory Framework for Innovation and Advancing Climate Neutrality Through Circular Economy Sandboxes. Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 44(04), 793–818. https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4447

Issue

2025: Vol 44 Iss 4

Section

Urban and Regional Sustainable Development in Southern Europe