such as extended producer responsibility. In addition, the Commission will put forward, for specific streams as part of a broader set of measures on waste prevention in the context of a review of Directive 2008/98/EC. Circular by design - Products in the circular economy This report explores the circular economy from a product perspective, applying a systemic approach and transition theory. In particular, this proposal will address the most effective combinations of separate collection models, the density and accessibility of separate collection points, including in public spaces, taking account of regional and local conditions ranging from urban to outermost regions. European data space for smart circular applications. to ensure that all products placed on the EU market become increasingly sustainable and stand the test of circularity. This plan will ensure that the regulatory framework is streamlined and made fit for a sustainable future, that the new opportunities from the transition are maximised, while minimising burdens on people and businesses. Supporting the circular economy transition through Cohesion policy funds, the Just Transition Mechanism and urban initiatives, Improving measurement, modelling and policy tools to capture synergies between the circular economy and climate change mitigation and adaptation at EU and national level, Regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals, Reflecting circular economy objectives in the revision of the guidelines on state aid in the field of environment and energy, Mainstreaming circular economy objectives in the context of the rules on non-financial reporting, and initiatives on sustainable corporate governance and on environmental accounting, Leading efforts towards reaching a global agreement on plastics, Proposing a Global Circular Economy Alliance and initiating discussions on an international agreement on the management of natural resources, Mainstreaming circular economy objectives in free trade agreements, in other bilateral, regional and multilateral processes and agreements, and in EU external policy funding instruments, Updating the Circular Economy Monitoring Framework to reflect new policy priorities and develop further indicators on resource use, including consumption and material footprints, Use quotation marks to search for an "exact phrase". all relevant stages of products’ lifecycle; further developing and harmonising methods for, measuring unintentionally released microplastics. As explained in section 3, revision of EU, legislation on batteries, packaging, end-of-life vehicles, and hazardous substances in electronic equipment. The capacity of the EU to take responsibility for its waste will be also strengthened. The EU classification system for environmentally sustainable activities: empowering consumers in the green transition, Legislative and non-legislative measures establishing a new “, Mandatory Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria and targets, , including the integration of circular economy practices in upcoming Best Available Techniques reference documents, industry-led industrial symbiosis reporting and certification system, restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, and guidance to clarify its links with REACH and Ecodesign requirements, Review of the rules on proper treatment of, reduce (over)packaging and packaging waste, for key products such as packaging, construction materials and vehicles, bio-based plastics and biodegradable or compostable plastics, Waste reduction targets for specific streams, harmonised model for separate collection of waste and labelling, Methodologies to track and minimise the presence of substances of concern, for the presence of substances of concern, EU-wide end-of-waste and by-product criteria, Supporting the circular economy transition through the, Supporting the circular economy transition through, Cohesion policy funds, the Just Transition Mechanism, Improving measurement, modelling and policy tools to capture, synergies between the circular economy and climate change mitigation and adaptation, Reflecting circular economy objectives in the revision of the guidelines on, state aid in the field of environment and energy, Mainstreaming circular economy objectives in the context of the rules on, Mainstreaming circular economy objectives in, to reflect new policy priorities and develop further, https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4d42d597-4f92-4498-8e1d-857cc157e6db, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/eu_gpp_criteria_en.htm, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/PEFCR_OEFSR_en.htm, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=t2020_rt130&plugin=1, https://www.boverket.se/sv/byggande/hallbart-byggande-och-forvaltning/miljoindikatorer---aktuell-status/vaxthusgaser/, https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/39984, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/buildings.htm, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/refreshTableAction.do?tab=table&plugin=1&pcode=cei_cie010&language=en, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/fs_20_39, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/HIS/?uri=CELEX%3A52018PC0353, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/circular-economy/indicators/monitoring-framework, Portal of the Publications Office of the EU. in products, will contribute to preventing a mismatch between supply and demand of secondary raw materials and ensure the smooth expansion of the recycling sector in the EU. In December 2015, the EU adopted an ambitious Circular Economy Package, including an Action Plan, to stimulate Europe’s transition to a circular economy. The EU textile sector, predominantly composed of SMEs, has started to recover after a long period of restructuring, while 60% by value of clothing in the EU is produced elsewhere. The idea of a circular economy is to decouple economic growth and prosperity from consumption of finite resources and to build economic, natural and social capital. In order to ensure that all packaging on the EU market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030, the Commission will review Directive 94/62/EC, reinforce the mandatory essential requirements for packaging. To help citizens, businesses and public authorities better separate waste, the Commission will, propose to harmonise separate waste collection systems. The Commission will also support measures at multilateral, regional and bilateral levels to. , in line with scientific and technical progress and the international obligations under the Stockholm Convention; classification and management of hazardous waste. In line with the new sustainable products policy framework, this initiative will promote longer product lifetimes and include, among others, the following actions: regulatory measures for electronics and ICT including. In this brief, the European Environmental Bureau takes stock […] , in synergy with measures under the sustainable products policy framework and with the ECHA Database on articles containing substances of very high concern; annexes to the Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Greenhouse gas emissions from material extraction, manufacturing of construction products, construction and renovation of buildings are estimated at 5-12% of total national GHG emissions, . sourcing, labelling and use of bio-based plastics. The aim is that batteries placed on the EU market are sustainable, circular, high-performing and safe all along their entire life cycle, that they are collected, repurposed and recycled, becoming a true source of valuable raw materials. Therefore, the Commission invites EU institutions and bodies to endorse this Action Plan and actively contribute to its implementation, and encourages Member States to adopt or update their national circular economy strategies, plans and measures in the light of its ambition. The following analysis assesses to what extent the actions included in the action plan may help deliver such reductions and contribute to a more circular European economy within the boundaries of the planet. EU delivers on Circular Economy Action Plan, still needs to step up action. The Commission will ensure the timely implementation of the new Directive on. The European Commission has today (11 March) published its new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), outlining measures to ensure that products are designed to last longer and are easier to reuse, repair and recycle.. CEAP was proposed as part of the European Green Deal, agreed by MEPs in January, which commits the EU to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. New Circular Economy Action Plan _____ Rapporteur: Tjisse Stelpstra (NL/ECR) Regional minister of the Province of Drenthe _____ Deadline for tabling amendments: 3 p.m. (Brussels time) on 25 September 2020. Where necessary, the Commission will also use its enforcement powers. Relying on European statistics as much as possible, new indicators will take account of the focus areas in this action plan and of the interlinkages between circularity, climate neutrality and the zero pollution ambition. . The Commission will also increase the effectiveness of the current Ecodesign framework for energy-related products, including by swiftly adopting and implementing a new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2020-2024 for individual product groups. has set in motion a comprehensive set of initiatives responding to a challenge of serious public concern. The EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan aimed to cover the full economic cycle — from production to consumption, repair and remanufacturing, to waste management and secondary raw materials. Applying circular economy measures in Europe can increase the EU’s GDP by an additional 0.5% by 2030 creating around 700,000 new jobs. In a circular economy, we reuse indefinitely materials and products that are already available. based on assessing where the use of bio-based feedstock results in genuine environmental benefits, going beyond reduction in using fossil resources; use of biodegradable or compostable plastics. Further product groups will be identified based on their environmental impact and circularity potential. As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Commission made four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. Circular economy policy in Wales. Circularity can be expected to have a positive net effect on job creation provided that workers acquire the skills required by the green transition. under the Ecodesign Directive so that devices are designed for energy efficiency and durability, reparability, upgradability, maintenance, reuse and recycling. It is the intention of the Commission that the, product sustainability principles will guide broader policy and legislative developments in the future. It will be disruptive at times, so it has to be fair. The specific objectives of the Package are to boost the EU’s global competitiveness, foster sustainable economic growth and generate new jobs. with a view to progressively phasing out their use where alternatives exists; sustainability and transparency requirements for batteries. will look into enhancing synergies with the circular economy transition, in particular by applying product-as-service solutions to reduce virgin material consumption, use sustainable alternative transport fuels, optimise infrastructure and vehicle use, increase occupancy rates and load factors, and eliminate waste and pollution. In line with the European Green Deal and the 2020 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy With measures along the entire life cycle of products, the new Action Plan aims to make the economy fit for a green future and strengthen competitiveness, while protecting the environment and giving new rights to consumers. Circular economy will be among the priority areas of the, European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. The plan, says the Commission, focuses on the “design and production for a circular economy”, aiming to ensure that resources used are “kept in the EU economy for as long as possible.” It contains a list of 35 ‘actions’ acting as a checklist for the Commission in the coming years. While there is little yet to suggest that true “decoupling” works at the scale required, the European Commission has adopted circularity as the new economic paradigm for Europe, starting with the launch of its first EU Circular Economy Action Plan in 2015. It aims at accelerating the transformational change required by the European Green Deal, while building on circular economy actions On 10 November 2020, the Commission adopted the first Action Plan’s milestone: a proposal for a Regulation to modernise EU legislation on batteries. Despite the absence of targets to reduce the impact of our consumption, the strategy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the way we manufacture and use our products in a way that benefits people and the planet. It will aim to ensure that labelling a product as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’ does not mislead consumers to dispose of it in a way that causes plastic littering or pollution due to unsuitable environmental conditions or insufficient time for degradation. a sustainable product policy legislative initiative. will also be covered unless the sector reaches an ambitious voluntary agreement within the next six months; priority sector for implementing the ‘right to repair’. To progress swiftly on enhancing the sustainability of the emerging battery value chain for electro-mobility and boost the circular potential of all batteries, this year the Commission will propose a, . and tackling pellets taking into account the opinion of the European Chemicals Agency; labelling, standardisation, certification and regulatory measures, on unintentional release of microplastics, including measures to increase the. Keeping track of consumption footprints globally, which requires good supply chain data and accounting, is increasingly recognised as critical to an inclusive transition to sustainability, including in the UN Sustainable Development Goals where material footprint is included as an indicator. to ensure that intellectual property remains a key enabling factor for the circular economy and the emergence of new business models. Building on the work done since 2015, the new Plan … Indicators on resource use, including consumption and material footprints. Indicators on resource use, including consumption and material footprints to account for material consumption and environmental impacts associated to our production and consumption patterns will also be further developed and will be linked to monitoring and assessing the progress towards decoupling economic growth from resource use and its impacts in the EU and beyond. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology, will coordinate innovation initiatives on circular economy in collaboration with universities, research organisations, industry and SME’s within the, needs to be fit for the digital age and the green transition and support EU businesses’ competitiveness. so as to maintain clean recycling streams, including through further alignment with the classification of chemical substances and mixtures where necessary. The report presents the main results of implementing the action plan and sketches out open challenges to paving the way towards a climate-neutral, competitive circular economy where pressure on natural and freshwater resources as well as … a benchmark for qualititative secondary materials. At the same time, instruments such as the EU Ecolabel, or the EU green public procurement (GPP) criteria, are broader in scope but have reduced impact due to the limitations of voluntary approaches. This Circular Economy Action Plan provides a future-oriented agenda for achieving a cleaner and more competitive Europe in co-creation with economic actors, consumers, citizens and civil society organisations. high-quality, functional and safe products, which are efficient and affordable, , last longer and are designed for reuse, repair, and high-quality recycling. In synergy with the objectives laid out in the Industrial Strategy. announced in the European Green Deal to lead to significant improvements in energy efficiency in the EU will be implemented in line with circular economy principles, notably optimised lifecycle performance, and longer life expectancy of build assets. In line with the European Green Deal and the 2020 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy, reinforce the monitoring of national plans and measures to accelerate the transition to a circular economy as part of refocusing the European Semester. industry-led reporting and certification system. This will be done in full cooperation with stakeholders and business. . Accelerating the green transition requires careful yet decisive measures to steer financing towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns. The Commission would like to hear your views. Value is lost when fully or partially functional products are discarded because they are not reparable, the battery cannot be replaced, the software is no longer supported, or materials incorporated in devices are not recovered. It would also seek standardisation and the use of quality management systems to assure the quality of the collected waste destined for use in products, and in particular as food contact material. On 11 March 2020, the EC unveiled its plan for the circular economy. Monitoring Framework for the Circular Economy. There, it identified plastics as a key priority and committed itself to ‘prepare a strategy addressing the challenges posed by plastics throughout the value chain and taking into account their entire life-cycle’. The Commission will also update the Monitoring Framework for the Circular Economy Europe will not achieve transformative change by acting alone. . Append an asterisk (, Other sites managed by the Publications Office, Enhanced waste policy in support of waste prevention and circularity, Enhancing circularity in a toxic-free environment, Creating a well-functioning EU market for secondary raw materials, Making circularity work for people, regions and cities, Circularity as a prerequisite for climate neutrality, Driving the transition through research, innovation and digitalisation, There is only one planet Earth, yet by 2050, the world will be consuming as if there were three, . The. This product policy framework will be progressively rolled out, while key product value chains will be addressed as a matter of priority. This will be achieved by a comprehensive set of measures, including: as set out in section 2 to textiles, including developing, to ensure that textile products are fit for circularity, ensuring the uptake of secondary raw materials, tackling the presence of hazardous chemicals, and, empowering business and private consumers, easy access to re-use and repair services, improving the business and regulatory environment for sustainable and circular textiles in the EU, in particular by providing. Welcome to have your say on the Sustainable Products Initiative, one of the deliverables of the Circular Economy Action Plan! In the new Circular Economy Action Plan, the Commission commits to scope during 2020-2021 the development of possible further Union-wide end-of-waste (EoW) and by-product criteria (BP). Public authorities’ purchasing power represents 14% of EU GDP and can serve as a powerful driver of the demand for sustainable products. A recent study estimates that applying circular economy principles across the EU economy has the potential to increase EU GDP by an additional 0.5% by 2030 creating around 700 000 new jobs. A number of actions foreseen in this Plan, notably introducing requirements for. The new Circular Economy Action Plan published in March 2020 announces initiatives for the entire life cycle of products, from design and manufacturing to consumption, repair, reuse, recycling, and bringing resources back into the economy. This, progressive, yet irreversible transition to a sustainable economic system, . Instead of producing –> consuming –> throwing away (the traditional linear model), … This Circular Economy Action Plan provides a future-oriented agenda for achieving a cleaner and more competitive Europe in co-creation with economic actors, consumers, citizens and civil society organisations, . It aims at accelerating the 1 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable -consumption production/ It foresees the further development of a. contributing to measuring well-being beyond GDP. Circular economy solutions will be tailored to the, , due to their dependence on resource imports, high waste generation fuelled by tourism, and waste exports. EU initiatives and legislation already address to a certain extent sustainability aspects of products, either on a mandatory or voluntary basis, successfully regulates energy efficiency and some circularity features of energy-related products. As half of total greenhouse gas emissions and more than 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress come from resource extraction and processing. . , which Member States have to ensure by 2025; sorting, re-use and recycling of textiles, encouraging industrial applications and regulatory measures. The new Circular Economy Action Plan presents actions along the entire life cycle of products in order to modernise and transform our economy while protecting the environment.