On 17 November 2021, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise EU rules governing shipments of waste. The proposed regulation aims at easing shipments of waste for reuse and recycling in the EU, to support the transition to a circular economy; ensuring that waste exported from the EU is managed in an environmentally sound manner in the destination countries; and stepping up enforcement to counteract illegal shipments of waste. While supporting the proposed streamlining and digitalisation of procedures, stakeholders have stressed the need for significant improvements to ensure that the new regulation fulfils its objectives, in particular as regards exports of waste.

EPRS policy podcast - Revision of the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation

The European Commission has announced the establishment of a 'right to repair', with a view of saving costs for consumers and facilitating the development of a circular economy. The right to repair may refer to different issues and situations: repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves. Rates of repair depend on the type of a product, with the cost of repair being the most important reason consumers avoid repair. Research shows that consumers favour products that are easily repaired, but their willingness to pay for such products depends on the type of product and the way information on the reparability is presented to them...

EPRS policy podcast - Right to repair

Open strategic autonomy ensures the capacity to cope alone if necessary but without ruling out cooperation whenever possible. It relies on foresight to identify threats and ensures resilience by anticipating the required responses. Can the resulting preparedness also prevent crises (or dissuade others from creating them) by normalising internally situations that would else become emergencies?

EPRS STOA podcast - What if open strategic autonomy could break the cycle of recurring crises?

The aim of the legislative proposal for a Union certification framework for carbon removals initiative is to ensure high-quality EU certified carbon removals, through a transparent and credible governance framework. In doing so, this would open up the possibility for further investments towards carbon removal activities and increased deployment.

EPRS podcast policy - A Union certification framework for carbon removals

The European Union produces more than&nbsp;2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year. It is currently updating its&nbsp;legislation on waste management&nbsp;to promote a shift to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

The circular economy is a&nbsp;model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the&nbsp;life cycle of products is extended.

In March 2020, the European Commission presented the circular economy action plan,&nbsp;&nbsp;which aims to promote more sustainable product design, reduce waste and empower consumers, for example by creating aright to repair). There is a focus on resource intensive sectors, such as&nbsp;electronics and ICT,&nbsp;plastics,&nbsp;textiles&nbsp;and construction.

In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the&nbsp;new circular economy action plan&nbsp;demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and&nbsp;binding targets for materials use and consumption&nbsp;by 2030.

In March 2022, the Commission released the&nbsp;first package of measures&nbsp;to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as part of the circular economy action plan. The proposals include boosting sustainable products, empowering consumers for the green transition, reviewing construction product regulation, and creating a strategy on sustainable textiles.

In November 2022, the Commission proposed&nbsp;new EU-wide rules on packaging. It aims to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging design, with for example clear labelling to promote reuse and recycling; and calls for a transition to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Circular economy

This package contains the events between 1st July 2019 and 31 December 2020. For latest events, see related links.

In its resolution on the European Green Deal, Parliament called for an ambitious new circular economy action plan aiming to reduce the total environmental and resource footprint of EU production and consumption, with resource efficiency, zero pollution and waste prevention as key priorities.

Circular economy (2019 - 2020)

As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Parliament worked on four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. The proposals also strengthen provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamline definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets.

#EUelections2019 - Circular economy

Press conference on the Final vote on the right to repair

EP Plenary session - Common rules promoting the repair of goods

EP Plenary session - Empowering consumers for the green transition

Press conference on the gas and hydrogen markets directive

Press conference on The right to repair

EP Plenary session - Union certification framework for carbon removals

EP Plenary session - Batteries and waste batteries

EP Plenary session - Right to repair

EP Plenary session - The need for an ambitious EU Strategy for sustainable textiles

Batteries and waste batteries regulation, laying down a holistic set of rules to govern the entire product life cycle

Stockshot on Circular economy: sustainable textile strategy - Bag factory using technical fabrics from industry

ENVI Committee - Vote on the regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries

EP Plenary session - Implementation of the Construction Products Regulation

EP Plenary session - Administrative cooperation in the field of taxation

EP plenary session- New Circular Economy Action Plan

Circular economy - right to repair

Members of the EP Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) meet in Brussels to discuss the modernization of the EU's regulatory framework for batteries in order to secure the sustainability and competitiveness of battery value chains. Statement by Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), rapporteur and extracts of the meeting with Joaquim NUNES DE ALMEIDA, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry of the European Commission, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES) and Claudia GAMON (Renew, AT),

Regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries: extracts from the meeting of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

This infoclip is showing the construction of e-batteries, Brussels Motor Show 2018 with e-car models, e-car battery loading station and the recyclage of e-batteries.

Infoclip: Electric cars and e-batteries

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (8-11 February 2021), Parliament adopted comprehensive policy recommendations to achieve a carbon-neutral, sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050 at the latest. Extracts from the debate (08/02/2021), vote result (10/02/2021) and illustration

New Circular Economy Action Plan: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), MEPs debate the New Circular Economy Action Plan. Opening statements by Jan HUITEMA (Renew,NL), Rapporteur and Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA,DE), IMCO by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

New Circular Economy Action Plan: Opening statements by Jan HUITEMA (Renew,NL), Rapporteur and Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA,DE), IMCO by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), Closing statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

New Circular Economy Action Plan: Closing statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), MEPs debate the New Circular Economy Action Plan. (Second part of the debate)

New Circular Economy Action Plan - MEPs debate (Part 2)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), MEPs debate the New Circular Economy Action Plan (First part of the debate)

New Circular Economy Action Plan - MEPs debate (Part 1)

The Environment, Public Health and Food Security Committee will vote on its response to the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. It aims to increase the production of sustainable goods in order to reduce waste and ensure that the EU has a well-functioning internal market for high-quality secondary raw materials. Currently, the production of materials we use every day is responsible for 45% of CO2 emissions. Statement by Jan HUITEMA (RE, NL), rapporteur.

Circular economy: statement by Jan HUITEMA (RE, NL), rapporteur

This Infoclip shows the recycling of e-roller and e-car batteries. The recycling plants are in Châtelet and Mont-sur-Marchienne, Belgium, the 09/12/2020.

Infoclip: Battery recycling, including e-roller and e-car batteries

This Infoclip shows one element of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, the recycling of e-cars. Furthermore the collection of the re-usable materials making them available for re-use in the circular economy. The recycling plants are in Châtelet and Mont-sur-Marchienne, Belgium, the 09/12/2020.

Infoclip: e-car recycling

During the remote plenary session (23-26/11/2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate and vote on ways to boost sustainability by granting EU consumers a “right to repair” and by tackling practices that intentionally shorten the lifetime of products. The results of the vote are: 696 in favour, 34 against, 207 abstentions. Illustration shots of collect for recycling, a repair station and sales point of recycled products in Munich, Germany.

Right to repair: extracts from the debate (23/11), from the vote on the report David CORMAND (Greens/EFA,FR), rapporteur, and - illustration shots

The 'Hall 2' in Munich (Germany) offers used goods at reasonable prices. The objects come from the Munich recycling yards. This infoclip illustrates the repairing, selling and reuse of computers and other modern and technological equipment by ConJob, a Recycling association in Munich and views of the second-hand department store of the city of Munich.

Infoclip: The right to repair

This Infoclip illustrates is the production process of a suitcase made with recycled curbside collected plastic packaging waste. The shells are made of recycled polypropylene (PP) from Post-Consumer packaging and the inner liner is made from recycled plastic PET bottles.

Infoclip: Circular economy - Recycling of plastic waste into travel suitcases

This infoclip shows illustrative footage about an example of circular economy: the recycling circuit of paper towels then turned into toilet paper. The used paper towels are collected by a cleaner and then picked up by a recycling partner and brought to a paper mill where they are recycled into new tissue products.

Infoclip: Circular economy - Recycling of paper towels

During the plenary session (25-28 March 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. Statements by Frédérique RIES (ALDE, BE), rapporteur, Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Renata BRIANO (S&D, IT), Vice-Chair of the EP Committee on Fisheries, and Peter LIESE (EPP, DE). Illustrative shots and extracts from the vote.

Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment: extracts from the debate and the vote, illustrative shots

During the plenary session (11-14 February 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on minimum requirements for water reuse. Statements by Simona BONAFÈ (S&D, IT), Rapporteur, Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Marijana PETIR (EPP, HR), Francesc GAMBÚS (EPP, ES) and Maria Lidia SENRA RODRÍGUEZ (GUE/NGL, ES). Illustrative footage of water treatment site, water leaving the treatment site, general shots.

Minimum requirements for water reuse: extracts from the debate and illustrative footage

This infoclip shows the different plastic packaging that are commonly found in supermarkets. Addressing the circular cycle, the clip finishes with the recycling waste plant ECODEAL in Portugal where plastic is recycled.

Infoclip: Circular economy - Packaging and plastic recycling

The infoclip shows the work of Re-food in Lisbon (PT), a volunteer organisation that gives left-over food to poor people. Furthermore the clip shows the food offer in the supermarket, with a focus on its packaging.

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