1. Circular Economy -Public Consultation – Results
Fertilisers WG meeting on

2. Overall facts and results
1. Public stakeholder consultation
Overall facts and results
Public consultation was available from 28 May – 20 August 2015
1,420 questionnaires have been filled in online
+ 58 direct contributions sent by to EC

3. 1. Public stakeholder consultation
Questionnaire covered five sections related to:
Production phase
Consumption phase
Markets for secondary raw materials
Sectoral measures
Enabling factors for the Circular Economy
in total 24 questions (to tick predefined answers and with open answer possibilities)
Possibility to upload additional documents

4. Public stakeholder consultation on the Circular Economy
2. Key messages – Production phase
Regarded as most important are:
Addition aspects that have been highlighted as important:
CE impacts on products
Impacts on consumers
Impacts on functionality of the product
Impacts on enabling innovation
Private individuals and civil society organisations: impact on the environment and ecosystems and the impact on used material and resources
Professional responders: impact on global competitiveness, on affordability and quality as well as on functionality.
Product Features
Minimising lifecycle environmental impacts
Recyclability
Resource use in the use phase
Durability
Phase out of hazardous substances need to be considered when promoting CE principles
Professional responders: use life cycle assessments to identify the most important product feature.
Private enterprises and professional enterprises: safety aspects, functionality and affordability and access possibilities to repair manuals, software tools and firmware updates.
16/10/2015
Public stakeholder consultation on the Circular Economy

5. 3. Key messages – Consumption phase 2. Key messages – Production phase
Actions to be taken at EU level to remove obstacles for the development of the market
Considering the role of consumers
Awareness raising and education
Use behavioural insight to effectively change consumer behaviour
Engage with retailers
Consider businesses and public sector as consumers too, thus GPP must take eco-design and LCA into account
Use EU wide campaigns to impact consumer choices and engage their interests to see the relevance to everyday life of their consumption
Provide Better information
Consumer needs access to better digested information that provide more transparency

6. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Additional comments provided on the consumption phase
Materials considered
Obstacles considered:
Plastics
Bio-nutrients
Construction aggregates
Critical raw materials ….
Lack of EU-wide quality standards for recycled materials
Poor quality of recycled materials
Lack of information or misinformation about the quality of recycled materials
Poor availability of waste/material to be recycled
Poor reliability of supply for recycled materials
Low demand for recycled materials
Cost differential between primary and secondary raw materials
Organisational cost of switching from primary to secondary raw materials in industrial processes
Regulatory obstacles at national/regional/local level
Regulatory obstacles at EU level
Regulatory gaps at EU level
Regulatory gaps at national/regional/local level
Insufficient cooperation/exchange of information along the value chain
Lack of reliable data on secondary raw material flows

7. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Action for the lack of EU-wide quality standards for recycled materials
Regarded as most important for:
Bio-nutrients
Construction aggregates
Plastics
EU-wide quality standards are requested

8. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Regarded as most important for:
Plastics
Bio-nutrients
Construction aggregates
Action for the poor quality of recycled materials
High quality standards and certification across recycling industries shall be implemented
Quality requirements and different levels shall be defined
Mixture of recyclables and raw materials shall be made technically and legally possible
Design for disassembly …
Focus shall be put on the output quality

9. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Regarded as most important for:
Bio-nutrients
Construction aggregates
Plastics
Action for the lack of information about the quality of recycled material
Implementing minimum quality standards for recyclables in order to address and eliminate public doubts
Provide full product information, with minimum reporting standards on product characteristics.
Recyclers and producers can be involved in the agreement on minimum criteria
Education campaigns for citizen on recyclables
Certificates shall acknowledge the quality level of recycled materials through third party verification
Presence of hazardous substances shall be provided through proper information dissemination

10. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Regarded as most important for:
Critical raw materials
Plastics
Wood/ Biomass
Action for the poor availability of waste /material to be recycled
There is a need for `clean´ waste, e.g. by raising public awareness, improve separate collection and collection efficiency, emphasise segregation and inform consumers about the obligation of collecting for the right treatment.
Availability shall be further stimulated by fully implemented landfill bans for recyclable materials and mandatory sorting schemes across the EU.

11. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Regarded as most important for:
Critical raw materials
Plastics
Wood/ Biomass
Action for the poor reliability of supply for recycled materials
Support of regional initiatives for focussing on the collection of minimum volumes
Security of quality via minimum standards/certifications
Set-up of a proper EU legal and policy framework

12. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Regarded as most important for:
Bio-nutrients
Plastics
Critical raw materials
4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Action for regulatory gaps at EU level
A clear definition of final recycling shall be established
Regulations for bio-nutrients and construction aggregates are necessary, whilst at the same time waste rules lack for empty cartridges
Material efficiency and durability targets shall be integrated in EU product and waste policies
The different types of wastewaters and their reuse shall be taken into account in making legislation

13. 4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
Priority secondary raw materials markets

14. Priority secondary raw materials markets – reasons for choices
4. Key messages – Markets for secondary raw materials
3. Key messages – Consumption phase
Priority secondary raw materials markets – reasons for choices
Bio-nutrients for fertiliser use
Importance of the nutrient cycle and the huge potential for the Circular Economy
Implementation can be fast and will provide a good example
The dependency of Europe on raw phosphorus from outside Europe endangers the access (need for phosphorus imports )