Regulatory and Legal Framework for the Development of the Circular Economy in Ukraine

Ukraine's regulatory framework for the circular economy is in the process of active development, but requires a comprehensive approach that includes both the integration of international standards and the stimulation of domestic initiatives. The main challenges include imperfect legislation, a weak level of business incentives for environmental initiatives, limited financing of environmental projects, and the lack of a single toolkit for implementing circular business models. Military aggression also has a significant impact, slowing down the transition to new economic models. Ukraine is working to harmonize its legislation with EU norms that provide for the integration of circular economy principles. This includes the implementation of European waste management standards, stimulating the reuse of resources, and developing strategies for sustainable economic development. In Ukraine, a circular economy foresight activity has been launched, initiated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in cooperation with the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Center in Ukraine (RECP Center) within the framework of the EU4Environment program, funded by the European Union with the support of the Government of Germany. The main goal of the circular economy foresight activity in Ukraine is to form a vision of the most appropriate measures for the future of Ukrainian industry, cleaner production and environmental protection. Analysis of the regulatory framework is the basis for determining the key principles, tools and directions for implementing sustainable development and resource efficiency strategies. The article analyzes the main principles of regulatory and legal support for the development of the circular economy of Ukraine, as well as the main tools for its implementation, namely: environmental taxation (the introduction of environmental taxes on pollution, stimulating the use of renewable resources), the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system and financial incentives. The results of the study show that the prospects for implementing a circular economy are significant thanks to the support of international partners, the development of new draft laws, and the growth of public interest in sustainable development.