Meet the founder
Dr. sc. Matija Kajić
is an environmental law and sustainability specialist with more than 8 years of experience in circular economy policy, sustainable resource use and environmental governance. Matija has built an interdisciplinary career spanning academic research, public policy, and applied sustainability strategy. She holds a PhD in Law and a Master’s degree in Legal Research, both of which focused on European environmental law.
Alongside academic work, Matija has contributed to applied sustainability. Most notably, in her role as impact researcher at Triodos Bank, where she conducted research to set financing and investment strategies connected to renewable energy, nature restoration, and the circular economy. She applied the research to exclusion criteria, engagement programmes, impact measurement frameworks, and advocacy initiatives.
No matter the role, Matija’s work always focuses on sustainability in material life-cycles, be that at the company, finance, public policy or system level. Matija has performed legal sustainability assessments for diverse companies and sectors, ranging from biological materials in fish-feed to critical raw materials in batteries and solar panels. This work has an application at company-level, helping companies go beyond mandatory compliance to truly accelerating sustainability with their business models. But it also has applications at the system-level, where it can provide insights on the opportunities and barriers to sustainability transitions.
Matija believes research results need to live beyond the page, informing action, and therefore prioritises advocacy work and knowledge-sharing initiatives. She frequently holds lectures, leads workshops and is a speaker at international conferences and stakeholder dialogues.
Publications
Kajić, M. (2024). “Mind the Gaps! Legislative means of incentivizing a circular food system through recovery of non-renewable resources from waste”. Europa Law Publishing.
Kajić, M. (2023) ‘Balancing Competence for Circularity: Multi-level Incentives for the Recovery of Valuable Resources from Bio-Waste, in EELF 2022 ‘Rethinking environmental law: connectivity, intersections, and conflicts in the global environmental crisis’, Intersentia.
Backes, C. & Kajić, M. (2022). “cjeu (Case C-629/19: Sappi Austria Produktions-GmbH & Co. kg, Wasserverband ‘Region Gratkorn-Gratwein’ v Landeshauptmann von Steiermark: Suitable Recovery and Recycling Operations Surrounding Sludge in the EU)”. Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, 19(3), 248-258.
Kajić, M., & Tosza, S. (2022). Trends and Challenges in Combating Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in the US. Combatting Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products: In Search of Optimal Enforcement, 537-593.
Kajic, M. & A. Keessen (2019) ‘The Path to Legally Introducing a New Fishmeal Recipe’. Report for WWF’s Project X.
Kajić, M., (2019) “Smith and Yair: Knowledge and the Wealth of Nations”, in Arjan van Dixhoorn (ed), History of Zeeland in the World, de Drukkery.
Other notable experience and engagements
2026: Contributor to the Dutch Banking Association’s position paper ahead of updates to the European Circular Economy Act, and participant in advocacy efforts to the European Parliament, DG FISMA and DG GROW.
2025: Speaker at the European Parliament round-table on ‘Financing the Circular Economy’, organised by MEP Rasmus Nordqvist.
2025: Speaker at the World Circular Economy Forum in Sao Paulo, on the topic of designing nature-based solutions for a circular economy.
2025: Host of an accelerator session at the World Circular Economy Forum in Sao Paulo, titled ‘Global Insights: Institutional Set-Up for a Circular Transition’.
2025: Guest on the ‘Money for Change’ podcast, in an episode about how the shortening of electronic device lifespans affect consumers, businesses, and the environment.
2025-2026: Triodos Bank representative in the UNEP-FI Finance Leadership Group on Plastics, providing input and recommendations to the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC) on the desired outcomes for banks, insurers and investors.
2025-2026: Two-time guest lecturer in the Utrecht University course ‘Tackling real-world problems through interdisciplinary collaboration’.
2025: Speaker in the ‘Rights and Responsibilities of Institutional Investors’ conference in Amsterdam, discussing the trade-offs in mining metals, minerals and REEs for the renewable energy transition.
2024-2026: Triodos Bank’s representative in Right to Repair Europe, the coalition representing over 170 organisations from 27 European countries in a movement against throw-away culture, advocating for citizens’ right to access modification and repair options for the products they purchase.
2024: Guest on the ‘Money for Change’ podcast, in an episode about how the EU can deal with Critical Raw Materials shortages.
2024: Speaker at the ‘Annual Wind Blade Materials & Recycling Forum’, discussing the biggest investment opportunities and challenges when it comes to blade recycling.
2024: Completed ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment Training.
2023: LERU Research Visit at Cambridge University, Faculty of Law.
2020: Assistant lecturer at University College Roosevelt, in the courses ‘Introduction to Public International Law’ & ‘Foundations of European Union Law’.
2018: Delegate at the World Water Forum Conference in Brasilia, speaking on the topic of freshwater rights and the legal personality of rivers under International Law.
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