Editor's note

EU’s “Circular Economy Package” (CEP) aims to help European businesses and consumers in transition to a stronger and more circular economy where resources are used in a more sustainable way. The proposed actions will contribute to "closing the loop" of product lifecycles through greater recycling and re-use, and bring benefits for both the environment and the economy. The plans will extract the maximum value and use from all raw materials, products and waste, fostering energy savings and reducing green house gas emissions.

Circular economy: main ideas

To ensure sustainable growth in the member states, the EU recommends using existing resources in a smarter and more sustainable way. It is clear that the linear model of economic growth, on which national economies relied in the past, is no longer suited for the needs of present modern societies in a globalised world.

No way, the member states can build their future on a 'take-make-dispose' model. Many natural resources are finite; the states have to find an environmentally and economically sustainable way of using them. It is also in the economic interest of businesses to make the best possible use of their resources.

In a circular economy the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible; waste and resource use are minimised, and resources are kept within the economy when a product has reached the end of its life, to be used again and again to create further value.

This model can create secure jobs in Europe, promote innovations that give a competitive advantage and provide a perspective level of protection for humans and the environment.

It can also provide consumers with more durable and innovative products that provide monetary savings and an increased quality of life.

Short history

In December 2014, the Commission decided to use its new horizontal working methods in the new legislative package of the first Work Program in Juncker Commission to cover the full economic cycle in the member states.

Hence, the Commission at that time withdrew a pending legislative proposal on waste, as the reduction targets were not just about wastes but all developmental spheres.

The comprehensive CEP’s ideas were adopted in Brussels on 2 December 2015, representing a set of tangible, broad and ambitious actions. The Package is presented, at the same time, in a plenary session of the European Parliament on 2 December by First Vice-President Timmermans and Vice-President Katainen.   

Historically, while developing circular economy package, the Commission organised a twelve-week public consultation (28 May- 20 August 2015) which received over 1500 submissions. Then, followed the first CEP conference (Brussels, 25 June 2015), which was attended by around 700 stakeholders.

In addition, the Commissioners, their Cabinets and the services held intensive and collaborative consultations with key stakeholders.

The Commission is now calling on the European Parliament and Council to build on this important preparatory work and prioritise adoption and implementation of the legislative proposals.

EU action plan for the circular economy

The CEP gives a clear signal to economic policies in the Baltic States to use all the tools available to transform national economies on a “circular way” to start new businesses and boosting competitiveness.

Broad measures for changing full product lifecycle go beyond a narrow focus on the end-of-life stage and underline EU's clear message to transform the states’ economies. Innovative and more efficient ways of producing and consuming should increasingly emerge as a result of the Commission’s incentives.

Circular economy has the potential to create many jobs in the member states, while preserving precious and increasingly scarce resources, reducing environmental impacts of resource use and injecting new value into waste products.

Sectoral economic measures are also set out, as well as quality standards for secondary raw materials. 

Key CEP actions include:

·         Funding of over €6 billion (about 650 million under Horizon 2020 and €5.5 billion under the structural funds);

·         Actions to reduce food waste including a common measurement methodology, improved date marking, and tools to meet the global Sustainable Development Goal to halve food waste by 2030.

Revised legislative proposals on waste

The revised legislative proposal on waste sets clear targets for reduction of waste and establishes an ambitious and credible long-term path for waste management and recycling. To ensure effective implementation, the waste reduction targets in the new proposal are accompanied by concrete measures to address obstacles on the ground and the different situations across Member States.

Key elements of the revised waste proposal include:

·         common EU target for recycling 65% of municipal waste by 2030;

·         common EU target for recycling 75% of packaging waste by 2030;

·         binding landfill target to reduce landfill to maximum of 10% of all waste by 2030;

·         a ban on landfilling of separately collected waste;

·         promotion of economic instruments to discourage landfilling ;

·         simplified and improved definitions and harmonised calculation methods for recycling rates throughout the EU;

·         concrete measures to promote re-use and stimulate industrial symbiosis: turning one industry's by-product into another industry's raw material;

·         economic incentives for producers to put greener products on the market and support recovery and recycling schemes (e.g. for packaging, batteries, electric and electronic equipment, vehicles).