In line with the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal under the Green Deal, the European Commission proposed in March 2022 the first package of measures to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as announced in the Circular Economy Action Plan. The proposals include an expansion of the scope of eco-design rules, empowering consumers for the green transition, as well as a strategy on sustainable textiles.
In November 2022, the Commission published a second package, including a proposal on new EU-wide rules on packaging, and a proposal on EU certification for carbon removals.
A third package was presented in March 2023, including a proposal for regulating green claims by companies and guaranteeing a right to repair products.
In July 2023, the Commission proposed a revision of the Waste Framework Directive to promote the sustainable management of textile and food waste.
In October 2022, Parliament approved a revision of rules on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to reduce the amount of dangerous chemicals in waste and production processes. The new rules will introduce stricter limits, ban certain chemicals and keep pollutants away from recycling.
In April 2024, Parliament approved establishing of EU-wide certification scheme for carbon removals. It will ensure carbon removal activities are measured in an accurate way, while carbon is stored for as long as possible.
Moving to sustainable products
The production process starts with raw materials and global supply chains were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, MEPs asked for a comprehensive EU strategy for critical raw materials based on sustainable sourcing and high environmental, social and human rights standards. MEPs wanted to reduce the EU’s reliance on a few non-EU countries and to promote recycling and the recovery of critical raw materials. The Critical Raw Materials Act, pursuing these aims, was adopted in December 2023.
To achieve an EU market of sustainable, climate-neutral and resource-efficient products, the Commission proposed extending the Ecodesign Directive to non-energy-related products and creating Digital Product Passports, with the aim of sharing all relevant information along the product lifecycle. Parliament and the Council reached a deal on the new rules, which Parliament approved in April 2024.
MEPs also backed initiatives to fight planned obsolescence, improve the durability and reparability of products and to strengthen consumer rights with the right to repair. Parliament adopted the directive in April 2024. New rules should ensure that it is easier and cheaper to repair products instead of purchasing new ones.
In January 2024, MEPs approved an agreement with the Council to update the EU consumer rules to ban greenwashing and provide more information to consumers’ on the durability of products.
Parliament also adopted a position in March 2024 on a system for verifying companies’ environmental-related claims. The new Parliament will continue working on the legislation.
Making crucial sectors circular
Circularity and sustainability must be incorporated in all stages of a value chain to achieve a fully circular economy: from design to production and all the way to the consumer. The Commission action plan sets down seven key areas essential to achieving a circular economy: plastics; textiles; e-waste; food, water and nutrients; packaging; batteries and vehicles; buildings and construction.
Plastics
MEPs back the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, which would phase out the use of microplastics.