Closing the loop –

An EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy

Werner BosmansEC – DG Environment

16 December 2015

Limits of the linear model

• Lost value of materials and products• Depletion of scarce resources

Volatile resource prices • Security and stability of raw materials supply• Waste Generation• Environmental degradation & climate change

From a Linear Economy…

DISPOSEMAKETAKENATURAL RESOURCES

WASTEWASTEWASTE

… to a Circular Economy

The Circular Economy Package

• Adopted by the Commission on 2nd December 2015

Action PlanCommunication

List of Follow-up Initiatives (Annex)

Legislative proposal on waste

What is the Circular Economy?

• Maintaining the value of products, materials and resources in the economy for as long as possible while minimising waste generation

• Boosting our economy and competitiveness with new business opportunities and innovative products and services.

• Giving economic, social and environmental gains

5 Main Areas of Action

Production

Consumption

Waste Management

Secondary raw materials

Innovation,

Investment &

Monitoring

Plastics Food waste Critical Raw Materials

Construction &

Demolition

Biomass & bio-based products

5 Priority Sectors

Key examples• Funding of over €650 million under Horizon 2020 and €5.5 billion

under the structural funds• Quality standards for secondary raw materials to increase the

confidence of operators in the single market• Measures in Ecodesign to promote reparability, durability and

recyclability of products• A revised Regulation on fertilisers• A strategy on plastics, addressing recyclability, biodegradability,

presence of hazardous substances, and SDG on reducing marine litter• Actions to reduce food waste including a common measurement

methodology, improved date marking, and the SDG to halve food waste by 2030

• A report on critical raw materials• Improved consumers protection against unfair practices

New targets municipal- waste recycling

• 1 calculation method (N°4) based on effective recycling by 2025, 2030

• Possible 5-year extension for 7 MS recycling less than 20% in 2013

• Review clause (2025) to consider more stringent targets

2014 (current status) Target 2025 (1 method)

Target 2030 (1 method)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

% Prep. For reuse and recycling

11

New binding target to reduce landfill to maximum of 10% of municipal waste by 2030

Reported in 2013: 31%

12

Common EU target for recycling 75% of packaging waste by 2030

Circular economy: the way ahead• Growth and job creation

– Up to +7%GDP– Up to 600 billion savings – 8% of annual turnover for

business in the EU– Possible 170 000 direct jobs in waste management

sectors created by 2035• Improving competitiveness and security of supply• Economic and environmental resilience• Inducing innovation• Reduction of total annual GHG emissions by 2-4%.

Thank you for your attention!

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm

werner.bosmans@ec.europa.eu