Innovative models based on a closer relationship with customers, mass customisation, the sharing and collaborative economy, and powered by digital technologies, such as the internet of things, big The fewer products we discard, the less materials we extract, the better for our environment. In 2015, the European Commission adopted an ambitious 'Circular Economy Package'. In addition, the circular economy has strong synergies with the EU’s objectives on climate and energy and with the Commission’s package on 'Clean Energy for all Europeans'. circular economy, and provides an array of case examples, a solid framework, and a few guiding principles for doing so. The conference is the flagship event of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Loops#4: A discussion with REACT and NEW COTTON! This process starts at the very beginning of a product’s lifecycle: smart product design and production processes can help save resources, avoid inefficient waste management and create new business opportunities. It introduces legislative and non-legislative measures targeting areas where action at the EU level brings real added value.. more innovative and efficient ways of producing and consuming; protection for businesses against scarcity of resources and volatile prices; opportunities for local jobs and social integration; optimisation of waste management which boosts recycling and reduces landfill; energy savings as less production processes requires less energy; benefits for the environment in terms of climate and biodiversity, air, soil and water pollution. It draws attention to both the benefits and challenges in transitioning to such an economy and highlights possible ways to measure progress. The circular economy: find out what it means, how it benefits you, the environment and our economy thanks to our video and infographic. Explore our monitoring framework tool which will help you to easily evaluate your country's progress towards a circular economy by displaying all relevant indicators. Find more information on sustainable development goals on our website dedicated section. During its Presidency of the Council of the EU, Finland wants to work towards integrating the circular economy as a central part of the next Commission’s work programme. Cross-cutting measures to support this systemic … The Circular Economy Package includes the 54-Point Action Plan, in the core of which are various EU Directives that address issues concerning single-use plastic, landfill, recyclability, biodegradability and waste management. Find in this section relevant examples of practices, innovative processes and learning experiences submitted by stakeholders. EEA Report No 2/2016 The report describes the concept of the circular economy and outlines its key characteristics. The circular economy is also instrumental in supporting the EU’s commitments on sustainability, as outlined in the Communication ‘Next steps for a sustainable European future’ and in particular to reach Sustainable Development Goal 12 'Responsible consumption and production'. Find all information and easy access to our data on waste, including topics such as generation and treatment of waste. This strategy will help the EU shift to a climate-neutral, circular economy where products are designed to be more durable, reusable, repairable, recyclable and energy-efficient. EU actions have inspired national debates on circular economy and a majority of Member States have adopted or are in the process of adopting national strategies for the transition to a circular economy. The workshop aims to debate the role of the circular economy for the retail and wholesale sectors, particularly in the context of their recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Explore the simplified life cycle of materials in the EU from the beginning through to material processing to their different uses and final stages. European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, Contribute: submit content for the website, Waste-to-Energy: an essential element for circularity. These frameworks are often replicated at regional and local level, bringing the circular economy closer to citizens and businesses. The EU circular economy action plan In line with EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal under the Green Deal, the European Commission proposed a new Circular Economy Action Plan in March 2020, focusing on waste prevention and management and aimed at boosting growth, competitiveness and EU global leadership in the field. Currently, the production of materials we use every day account for 45% of the CO2 emissions. On 11 March 2020, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan – one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal, Europe’s new agenda for sustainable growth. Measures such as waste prevention, ecodesign and re-use could save EU companies money while also reducing total annual greenhouse gas emissions. Circular economy policy in Wales In December 2019, the Welsh Government consulted on a new circular economy strategy for Wales – Beyond Recycling. This contrasts with the traditional, linear economic model, which is based on a 'take-make-consume-throw away' pattern. Due to maintenance reasons, the user support application will not be available on April 08th, from 12:00 to 13:00. report on the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan, Sustainable Development Goal 12 'Responsible consumption and production'. Through analysis of a number of specific examples, the research also highlights immediate and relatively easy-to-implement opportunities. The ‘circular economy 2.0’ package should include means to promote the sustainable use of natural resources as well as circular and sustainable products. This paper looks at the job creation potential and added value produced by the circular economy and illustrates the generation and treatment of waste in the EU. On 4 March 2019, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive report on the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan. The Commission will step up cooperation with other regions, such as Africa. The EU Circular Talks is a new exchange concept of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. We need to rethink our way of making and using products and services while exploring new ways of ensuring long-term wellbeing for all. An EU Action Plan for the circular economy establishes a concrete programme of actions outlining measures that cover the entire product life cycle: from production and consumption to waste management and the market for secondary raw materials. > Download “Circular Economy Overview 2020” for more details about the EIB Group’s activities and partnerships in the sector, including key projects. Action to reach target 2.1. investing in environmentally-friendly technologies 2.2. supporting industry to innovate 2.3. decarbonising the energy sector The circular economy in Europe has the potential to increase EU GDP by an additional 0.5% by 2030 and to create around 700,000 jobs, while decreasing our environmental footprint and GHG emissions. The European BASAJAUN project will optimize the use of forest products to boost the economy in rural areas and obtain new materials and construction systems based on the circular economy of wood. The circular economy can significantly reduce the negative impacts of resource extraction and use on the environment and contribute to restoring biodiversity and natural capital in Europe. Every year, the European circular economy community from businesses, public authorities, NGOs to knowledge communities and civil society organisations gathers to discuss the transition to a circular economy. To support this, the Commission has established an ambitious agenda to transform EU economy into a circular one, where the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible, bringing major economic benefits. It also provides a clear signal to economic actors such as business and consumers on ongoing trends. In a circular economy, the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible. Circular systems employ reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling to create a closed-loop system, minimising the use of resource inputs and the creation of waste, pollution and carbon emissions. Find here studies and reports published in relation to the circular economy. The new Action Plan announces initiatives along the entire life cycle of … In a circular economy, products and the materials they contain are highly valued. The EU will continue to advocate for the circular economy in its free-trade agreements, its bilateral, regional and multilateral policy dialogues and its international and multilateral environmental agreements – for example via Circular Economy Missions to partner countries. The adoption of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan in 2015 set the European Union firmly on the path towards the circular economy with a view to reduce the EU’s dependency on primary raw materials and to demonstrate global leadership in – and gain competitive advantages through – such transition. 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 jobs5. EU Circular Economy by Michelle Daphne Haruman,Michelle M. 1. effects 1.1. of digital technologies, the circular economy can strengthen the EU’s industrial base and foster business creation and entrepreneurship among SMEs. On 4 March 2019, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive report on the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan. The circular model is generally the antithesis of a traditional, linear economic model, which is based on a ‘take-make-consume-throw away’ pattern. 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. Waste and resource use are minimised and when a product reaches the end of its life, it is used again to create further value. A circular economy (also referred to as "circularity") is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. This brings benefits for European businesses, industries, and citizens such as: Action on the circular economy ties in closely with key EU policy priorities and with global efforts on sustainable development. Applying circular economy principles can increase the EU’s GDP by an additional 0.5% by 2030 and create around 700,000 new jobs, the Commission said in a statement. It will create local jobs at all skills levels and opportunities for social integration and cohesion. The new Action Plan announces initiatives along the entire life cycle of products, targeting for example their design, promoting circular economy processes, fostering sustainable consumption, and aiming to ensure that the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible. At the same time, it will save energy and help avoid the irreversible … The circular economy offers an opportunity to reinvent our economy, making it more sustainable and competitive. It aims to ensure that the textile industry recovers from the COVID-19 crisis in a sustainable way by: • making it more competitive Find here strategies adopted at national regional or local level by public authorities for the transaction to a circular economy. The Commission also supports European industry in the move to a climate-neutral economy and improves the energy efficiency of products through ecodesign legislation. The circular economy has become a priority policy topic in Europe (EC, 2015, 2020) and is a key objective of the European Green Deal. It encompasses a variety of material flows: plastics, food, critical raw materials, construction and demolition, and biomass and bio-based materials. Biological resources are a key input to the economy of the EU and will … Find out more about European and international networks fostering the circular economy. How the EU wants to achieve a circular economy by 2050 Find out about the EU’s circular economy action plan and what additional measures MEPs want to reduce waste and make products more sustainable. AIMPLAS will participate in the development of new profiles manufactured from natural resins and reinforcement agents. To produce in more sustainable way 1.2. repurposing wastes 1.3. innovate to prevent waste 2. It aims to encourage stakeholders to interact and discuss the circular economy topics on the Platform. Global impacts of the EU’s circularity shift. In practice, a circular economy minimises waste through reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products. The circular economy will boost the EU's competitiveness by protecting businesses against scarcity of resources and volatile prices, helping to create new business opportunities and innovative, more efficient ways of producing and consuming. Eurostat's role is to provide easy access to the relevant data for citizens and policy makers in order to support the monitoring progress. Exchange with other members of the Circular Economy community and bring forward innovative ideas and solutions in the field. On 11 March 2020, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan – one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal, Europe’s new agenda for sustainable growth. Webinar: H&M on "Double Sales – Half Impact" for IT, Hacking the city - Design a Circular Future, Publications Office of the European Union. Monitoring allows the European Commission and other policy makers to keep track of the progress made and assess the effectiveness of their actions. A circular economy aims to maintain the value of products, materials and resources for as long as possible by returning them into the product cycle at the end of their use, while minimising the generation of waste. Circular economy 2.0. The EU Circular Economy Package adopted by the European Commission in December 2015 is a key milestone on the road to a low carbon, resource efficient future.