The most resource-intensive sectors with a high potential to contribute to the circular economy are prioritised:
- Electronics and ICT
- Batteries and vehicles
- Packaging
- Plastics
- Textiles
- Construction and buildings
- Food products
Electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the EU: less than 40% of electronic waste is recycled in the EU.
The new "Circular Electronics Initiative" will revalue these products by:
- encouraging longer product lifespans and a Right to Repair;
- improving waste collection and treatment;
- limiting the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Current and future mobility should be based on sustainable batteries and vehicles.
The future regulatory framework for batteries aims, among other things, to improve the collection and recycling rates for all batteries, to guarantee the retrieval of recoverable materials and to provide guidance to consumers. It also proposes requirements for sustainability of batteries and transparency for the production chain.
Concerning end-of-life vehicles, the Commission wants to:
- promote business models that are more favourable to a circular economy by linking design issues to end-of-life treatment;
- examine the possibility of adopting rules on mandatory recycled content for certain materials used in components;
- improve the efficiency of recycling.
The quantity of packaging waste in Europe continues to grow relentlessly, with a record rate of 173kg per capita in 2017.
The reinforcement of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive will ensure that all packaging placed on the EU market is reused or recycled in an economically viable manner by 2030.
The focus will be on:
- reducing packaging, over-packaging and waste from packaging;
- designing packaging for reuse and recyclability;
- reducing the complexity of packaging materials.
Plastic consumption is at risk of doubling in the next 20 years.
To reduce plastic waste and combat plastic pollution on a global scale, the Commission will propose new, binding provisions on recycled materials content.
In addition to the implementation of the new directive on single-use plastics, particular attention is paid to microplastics.
In response to the new challenges of sustainable development, the Commission will develop a framework for action on the sourcing and labelling of bio-sourced plastics and on the use of biodegradable or compostable plastics.
Among the sectors putting the most pressure on primary raw materials and water resources, the textile industry takes fourth place, behind food products, housing and transport.
Major emitters of greenhouse gases, less than 1% of the world's textile products are recycled into new textiles.
The EU's new global strategy for textiles should strengthen competitiveness and innovation in this industry by:
- promoting sustainable textile products that fit into the circular economy;
- encouraging the use of secondary raw materials;
- combatting fast fashion and limiting textile waste;
- developing the creation of new business models.
The construction sector is responsible for over 35% of the EU's total waste production and is estimated to account for 5-12% of the national greenhouse gas emissions. More efficient use of raw materials could avoid 80% of these emissions (Harwich, E. & al, Resource Efficiency and Climate Change: Material Efficiency Strategies for a Low-Carbon Future, 2020).
The future Global Strategy for a Sustainable Built Environment will advocate the application of circular principles throughout the life cycle of buildings.
The food sector puts great pressure on resources and the environment.
It is estimated that 20% of food products produced in the EU is lost or wasted. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the review of the directive on waste will include a target to reduce food waste, which will be one of the key actions of the "Farm to Fork" strategy.