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European Green Deal

The European Green Deal is the roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable, by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities, and making the transition just and inclusive for all.

Recognising that climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats to Europe and the world, the EGD provides an ambitious package of measures, followed by EU Green Deal Action Plan. These measures include cutting greenhouse gas emissions, investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, and preserving Europe's natural environment.

Fighting climate change and achieving the transition to a climate-neutral society requires significant investments, research and innovation, new ways of producing and consuming, managing waste, and changes in how we work, use transport and live together.

Since solid waste, wastewater, water supply, energy efficiency, air pollution – all these things affect climate change, the EGD addresses environment (waste and recycling) among the key action areas also towards being climate neutral in 2050

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Increasing EU’s Climate ambition for 2030 and 2050

Supplying Clean, affordable and secure energy

Mobilising industry for a clean and circular economy

Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way

A zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free environment

Preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity

From “Farm to Fork” : a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system

Accelerating the shift to sustainable and smart mobility

The EU as a global leader

A European Climate Pact

The European Green Deal

Transforming EU’s economy for a sustainable future

Financing the Transition

Leave no one behind (Just Transition)

Sustainable Europe Investment Plan

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What is the problem in EU’s industry?

The annual global extraction of materials continues to grow.
About half of total greenhouse gas emissions and more than 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress come from resource extraction and processing of materials, fuels and food.
The EU’s industry has started the shift but still accounts for 20% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Industry remains too ‘linear’ and dependent on the throughput of new materials extracted, traded and processed into goods, and finally disposed of as waste or emissions.
Only 12% of the materials it uses come from recycling

– see interactive Circular economy flow diagrams (europa.eu).

Source: The European Green Deal, Communication from The Commission to The European Parliament, The European Council, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions.. COM (2019) 640 Final, 11.12.2019

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Main points of Mobilising industry for a clean and circular economy in the European Green Deal (1)

The transition is an opportunity to expand sustainable and job-intensive economic activity.
New circular economy action plan will help modernise the EU’s economy and draw benefit from the opportunities of the circular economy.
The decarbonisation and modernisation of energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals, and cement is essential.
The‘sustainable products’ policy will support the circular design of all products based on a common methodology and principles. It will prioritise reducing and reusing materials before recycling them.
Focus in particular on resource-intensive sectors such as textiles, construction, electronics and plastics - all packaging in the EU market will be reusable or recyclable in an economically viable manner.

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Main points of Mobilising industry for a clean and circular economy in the European Green Deal (2)

Encouraging businesses to offer, and to allow consumers to choose, reusable, durable and repairable products.
Reduction waste significantly - where waste cannot be avoided, its economic value must be recovered and its impact on the environment and on climate change avoided or minimised.
Access to resources for clean technologies, digital, space and defence applications.
New forms of collaboration with industry and investments in strategic value chains (circular and sustainable battery value chain).
Digital technologies in many different sectors.

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Circular Economy - definition

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

In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value

This is a departure from the traditional, linear economic model, which is based on a take-make-consume-throw away pattern. This model relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy

Source: Circular economy: definition, importance and benefits, News. European Parliament, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits

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Circular economy = closes loop economy

The circular economy is replacing the linear economy.
In the circular economy, processes are designed to minimize waste, waste products and materials are reused where possible, and non-reusable materials are regenerated or recycled.

Source: How Steel Makes the Circular Economy Go ‘Round,

https://newsroom.posco.com/en/steel-makes-circular-economy-go-round/

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Assumptions of Circular Economy

optimizing the use of resources and energy throughout their entire life cycle

maintaining products, components and materials over the long term with the highest possible level of utility and value

passing materials through the system as many times as possible by cascading them into different applications

using clean materials to improve the quality of their reuse

Source: Growth within: a circular economy vision for a competitive Europe, McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/growth-within-a-circular-economy-vision-for-a-competitive-europe

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Source: More from less – material resource efficiency in Europe. 2015 Overview of Policies, Instruments and Targets in 32 Countries, EEA Report No. 10/2016, p. 71

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Groups of activities enabling transition towards CE - ReSOLVE

Source: Growth within: a circular economy vision for a competitive Europe, McKinsey Centre for Business and Environment, https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/growth-within-a-circular-economy-vision-for-a-competitive-europe.

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European Commission CE Policy

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A new Circular Economy Action Plan – main initiatives

1. Sustainable Product Policy Framework Designing sustainable products Empowering consumers and public buyers Circularity in production processes 2. Key Product Value Chain Electronics and ICT Batteries and vehicles Packaging Plastics Textiles Construction and buildings Food, water and nutrients	3. Less Waste, More Value Enhanced waste policy in support of waste prevention and circularity Enhancing circularity in a toxic-free environment Creating a well-functioning EU market for secondary raw materials Addressing waste exports from the EU 4. Making Circularity Work For People, Regions and Cities European Urban Initiative Intelligent Cities Challenge Initiative Circular Cities and Regions Initiative

Source: A new Circular Economy Action Plan. For a cleaner and more competitive Europe, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1583933814386&uri=COM:2020:98:FIN

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A new Circular Economy Action Plan - objectives

Measures that will be introduced under the new action plan aim to:

make sustainable products the norm in the EU
empower consumers and public buyers
focus on the sectors that use most resources and where the potential for circularity is high such as: electronics and ICT, batteries and vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction and buildings, food, water and nutrients
ensure less waste
make circularity work for people, regions and cities
lead global efforts on circular economy

Source: A new Circular Economy Action Plan. For a cleaner and more competitive Europe, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1583933814386&uri=COM:2020:98:FIN

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Towards a circular economy: �A zero waste programme for Europe

It has been noticed that valuable materials are "escaping" from the economic system.
In a world where there is a growing demand for scarce resources, as well as increased competition and environmental degradation, Europe can benefit economically and environmentally from better waste management, which can be used as raw materials.
The goal of the European Union is to achieve a "recycling society" with a particular focus on actions in the field of proper municipal waste management. This will result in economic, social and environmental benefits:

create more than 180 000 direct jobs in the EU by 2030
satisfying between 10 and 40% of the raw material demand in the EU
achieving the 2030 EU target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% – 62 Mt of CO_2eq per year would be avoided in 2030

Source: Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52014DC0398

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Circular economy approaches (1)

reducing the quantity of materials required to deliver a particular service (lightweighting)
lengthening products’ useful life (durability)
reducing the use of energy and materials in production and use phases (efficiency)
reducing the use of materials that are hazardous or difficult to recycle in products and production processes (substitution)
creating markets for secondary raw materials (recyclates) materials (based on standards, public procurement, etc.)
designing products that are easier to maintain, repair, upgrade, remanufacture or recycle (ecodesign)

Source: Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52014DC0398

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Circular economy approaches (2)

developing the necessary services for consumers in this regard (maintenance/repair services and others)
incentivising and supporting waste reduction and high-quality separation by consumers
incentivising separation, collection systems that minimise the costs of recycling and reuse
facilitating the clustering of activities to prevent by-products from becoming wastes (industrial symbiosis)
encouraging wider and better consumer choice through renting, lending or sharing services as an alternative to owning products while safeguarding consumer interests (in terms of costs, protection, information, contract terms, insurance aspects and others)

Source: Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52014DC0398

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A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy – main problems

Around 25.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated in Europe every year. Less than 30% of such waste is collected for recycling.
In the EU, 150 000 to 500 000 tonnes of plastic waste enter the oceans every year.
Between 75 000 and 300 000 tonnes of microplastics are released into the environment each year in the EU.

Source: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of regions, „A European Strategy for Plastics in a circular economy”, COM(2018)28 final, EUR-Lex - 52018DC0028 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

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A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy – actions

1. Making recycling profitable for business new rules on packaging to improve the recyclability of plastics and increase the demand for recycled plastic content improving the separate collection of plastic waste launching an EU-wide pledging campaign targeting industry and public authorities 2. Curbing plastic waste a Directive on single use plastic products and fishing gear measures to restrict the use of microplastics in products and address and reduce the unintentional release of microplastics into the environment measures on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics new rules on port reception facilities to tackle sea-based marine litter	3. Driving innovation and investment scaling up support for innovation, with an additional €100 million to develop smarter and more recyclable plastics materials, to make recycling processes more efficient, and to trace and remove hazardous substances and contaminants from recycled plastics 4. Spurring global change working with international partners to devise global solutions and develop international standards on plastics