How the EU wants to achieve a circular economy by 2050

The EU’s circular economy action plan and additional measures proposed the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) have been set to reduce waste and make products more sustainable. A circular economy will cut CO2-emissions, whilst stimulating economic growth and creating job opportunities.  

 If we keep on exploiting resources as we do now, by 2050 we would need the resources of three Earths. Finite resources and climate issues require moving from a ‘take-make-dispose’ society to a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050.  The current crisis highlighted weaknesses in resource and value chains, hitting SMEs and industry. A circular economy will cut CO2-emissions, whilst stimulating economic growth and creating job opportunities.

The Ecodesign Directive will be extended to non-energy-related products. The textile industry is called to set stricter standards on water use.  The EU generates more than 2.5 billion tonnes of waste a year, mainly from households. MEPs urge EU countries to increase high-quality recycling, move away from landfilling and minimise incineration.