On 27 and 28 February 2023, the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee are hosting the sixth edition of the Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference, with the support of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. This year’s event presents the circular economy as a central element for resource independence and resilience and keeping policy objectives linked to sustainable consumption and production. At the conference, stakeholders from the European circular economy community can exchange views and follow discussions on the role of circular economy in the current geopolitical climate and the EU’s competitive recovery from the ongoing crises.
Day 1 of the conference, hosted by the European Commission, focuses on recent policy developments, and will take stock of the initiatives currently under negotiation. Sessions will explore the potential of the circular economy, showcase best practices at the local level and discuss the role of the circular economy in taking forward the ambition of the European Green Deal.
Day 2 of the conference, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee, takes on a cross-cutting approach to the circular economy, highlighting how various sectors are interconnected, with a particular focus on biodiversity and climate change.
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal said:
In world of limited natural resources, geopolitical tensions, price shocks and disrupted supply chains, Europe must transition to a circular economy and power it with renewable energy to remain sovereign and competitive. Businesses are ready, demand is there, and growing. Europeans do not want their consumption to harm the environment, and deplete the Earth. We have put legislation on the table to make sustainable products the norm and to greatly reduce packaging waste. Soon, we will follow up with proposals to fight false green claims, make repairs easier, tackle microplastics pollution, and reduce food waste. We know what’s needed to put Europe on track for a circular economy by 2050. So let’s make sure we do it.
Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said:
The circular economy boosts recovery, resilience, and the EU’s strategic autonomy – all of which we urgently need in the current geopolitical circumstances and in the climate, nature and pollution crises we are facing. The Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform serves as a collaborative forum for all parties dedicated to achieving a world with net-zero emissions, a positive impact on nature, and zero pollution. It is my pleasure to join these stakeholders today and learn about their outstanding initiatives for effecting change at the grassroots level.
Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee said:
Over the last 2 ½ years, our joint European Circular Economy Stakeholder platform has nearly doubled its best practise cases from 400 to 760. That shows the huge potential of the circular economy for our businesses, people and communities. Together, let's break the take-make-waste pattern.
Background
As part of the European Green Deal, in March 2020 the Commission adopted the new Circular Economy Action Plan, aiming to reduce the EU's consumption footprint and double the EU's circular material use rate in the coming decade, while boosting economic growth. It announces initiatives for the entire life cycle of products, from design and manufacturing to consumption, repair, reuse, recycling, and resources back into the economy.
Circular economy principles allow for sustainable development by decoupling economic growth from resource use and environmental impact. The principles of ‘do no harm’ and ‘build back better’ are in line with the circular economy, as they contribute to economic and social resilience as well as to the green and digital transition.
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Details
- Publication date
- 27 February 2023
- Author
- Directorate-General for Environment
