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 (T)

9th parliamentary term

Circular economy

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

Infoclip: e-car recycling

Circular economy - right to repair

EP Plenary Session - Circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles

EP Plenary session - Circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles

Infoclip: Circularity of the design and end-of-life of vehicles

Infoclip: Texile and food waste

Press conference on the Final vote on the right to repair

EP Plenary session - Common rules promoting the repair of goods

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: extracts from the debate (22.04) and from the vote

EP Plenary session - Empowering consumers for the green transition

Press conference on the gas and hydrogen markets directive

Unweaving fast fashion: How Europe is rewriting the rules of what we wear

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

EPRS policy podcast - Right to repair

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

EPRS podcast policy - A Union certification framework for carbon removals

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: closing statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner on Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: MEPs debate

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: opening statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Sunčana GLAVAK (EPP, HR), and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: extracts from the debate (Monday 20/11), votes and statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

Voting session: Batteries and waste batteries; Artificial Intelligence Act

Batteries and waste batteries: closing statements by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment and by Achille VARIATI (S&D, IT) , Rapporteur

Batteries and waste batteries: MEPs debate

Batteries and waste batteries: opening statement by Achille VARIATI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur, Patrizia TOIA (S&D, IT), Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment and by Erik BERGKVIST (S&D, SE)

Voting session: EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation

Vote on EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles: extracts from the vote and statement by Delara BURKHARDT (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

Infoclip: Circular economy: sustainable textile strategy (updated version)

EPRS - Circular fashion

EPRS - Ecodesign for sustainable products

EPRS - Climate adaptation: how can we build resilience?

Amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants: closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission and by Martin HOJSÍK (Renew, SK), Rapporteur

Amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants: MEPs debate

Amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants: opening statement by Martin HOJSÍK (Renew, SK), Rapporteur and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission

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