On 20th February 2025, the “EU-China Workshop on ‘Transition to a Circular Economy’ — Achieving the Potential of Remanufacturing” took place in Beijing. 

The workshop is part of ongoing cooperation between the European Union and China to promote circular economy practices and was focused on manufacturing. It was opened with remarks by Mr Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director for Circular Economy at the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission, and Mr Wen Hua, Deputy Director General for the Department of Resource Conservation and Environment Protection at NDRC. Both highlighted the importance of remanufacturing as a vital component for advancing circular economy.

By bringing together representatives from government, business, and academia from both the EU and China, the workshop facilitated the exchange of policy and legal frameworks, discussed the current state of value chains, and explored practical applications in the industry. A discussion was followed, offering further insights into the challenges and opportunities in this regard.

By reaffirming a commitment shared by the EU and China to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and fostering innovation and collaboration in remanufacturing, this event contributes to the implementation of the Circular Economy Roadmap, which was agreed by the European Commission (DG Environment) and NDRC in April 2024. Remanufacturing is one of the priority areas of EU-China Circular Economy exchanges, alongside battery recycling and plastics. The workshop provided a timely opportunity to exchange knowledge and strengthen bilateral collaboration on these key environmental issues.

The workshop is supported by the EU-funded “EU-China Circular Economy Action Project”.

 

Background 

Against the background of the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and environment pollution, the European Union and China have a mutual interest and important role in promoting alternative pathways for development and prosperity that do not contribute to the depletion of our environment. 

The commitment shared by the EU and China to cooperate was reaffirmed at the first High-level Policy Dialogue on Circular Economy in September 2023, chaired by Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, former EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and Vice-Chairman Zhao Chenxin, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Both sides agreed to extend the Memorandum of Understanding for 5 years, and to jointly develop a Circular Economy Roadmap supporting its implementation. The roadmap, which was jointly endorsed in April 2024, includes the organization of three workshops on plastics, batteries value chain and remanufacturing. 

Prior to the workshop on remanufacturing. The workshops on plastic and battery recycling were successfully held on 16-17 May 2024 and 24 October 2024, respectively. 

 

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