LIFE

LIFE ENVIRONMENT |
LIFE and the circular economy
Introduction
The goals of a circular
economy
The Circular Economy Package provides an EU framework for the transition to a circular
economy, in which the value of products, materials and resources is maintained, and waste is
minimised. It is supported by several inter-linking policies related to sustainable development.
At the launch of the Circular Economy Package,
Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans
said: “Our planet and our economy cannot
survive if we continue with the ‘take, make, use and
throw away’ approach. The circular economy is about
reducing waste and protecting the environment, but
it is also about a profound transformation of the way
our entire economy works. By rethinking the way we
produce, work and buy we can generate new opportunities
and create new jobs.”
Adopted in December 2015, the package sets out a concrete
and ambitious mandate to stimulate and support
the transition towards a circular economy. It consists of
an Action Plan with concrete actions that can be implemented
during the mandate of this Commission and
revised proposals for waste legislation. It will contribute
to closing material loops within product life-cycles by
increasing rates of reuse and recycling, to benefit both
the European economy and the environment.
Moving towards circularity
Transitioning to a more circular economy, where the
value of products, materials and resources is maintained
for as long as possible and the generation
of waste is minimised, is an essential contribution
to the EU’s long-term efforts to develop a competitive,
sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient
economy (see box).
The Action Plan will require the active involvement of
Member States, regions and municipalities, business
communities and citizens. Its implementation will boost
the EU’s competitiveness by protecting against resource
scarcity and volatile prices, and helping create new
business opportunities through innovative and more efficient
production methods. Local jobs will be created at
all skills levels, with opportunities for social integration
and cohesion. At the same time, the circular economy
will save energy and prevent the over-exploitation of
finite resources, by optimising the use of raw materials
and fully exploiting the resources embedded in valuable
waste streams. These actions will bring benefits
in terms of biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and
the reduction of air, soil and water pollution.
The Action Plan for the Circular Economy is organised
into five key areas of action and five priority sectors,
with measures covering the whole life-cycle of products,
from production and consumption to waste management
and the market for recovered secondary raw
materials. For each of them, it proposes a blend of
smart regulations and incentives to help businesses,
consumers, and national, regional and local authorities
LINEAR ECONOMY
to drive the transformation to a circular economy.
TRANSFORM
ENRICH
RETURN
BIOLOGICAL
MATERIALS
TRANSFORM
ENRICH
TAKE MAKE DISPOSE
BIOLOGICAL & TECHNICAL MATERIALS MIXED UP
BIOLOGICAL
MATERIALS
LINEAR ECONOMY
TAKE MAKE DISPOSE
BIOLOGICAL & TECHNICAL MATERIALS MIXED UP
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
CONSUME
Cu
Zn
Cu
Zn
MAKE
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
CONSUME
RECYCLE
TECHNICAL
MATERIALS
MAKE
TECHNICAL
MATERIALS
WASTE
WASTE
WASTE
WASTE
WASTE
WASTE
USE
USE
RETURN
RECYCLE
3