1. Closing the loop – An EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy

2. From a Linear Economy…
NATURAL RESOURCES
TAKE
MAKE
DISPOSE
WASTE

3. What are the limitations of a Linear Economy?
unstable supply of raw materials
scarcity of resources
volatile prices of resources
lost value of materials and products
waste generated
environmental degradation & climate change

4. EU imports more materials and natural resources than it exports
European Union (EU-28)
Rest of the world (ROW)
EU-28 exports (2014)
159
237
434
EU-28 imports (2014)
181
195
1300
Total trade EU-28 to ROW
In 2004: 455 million tonnes
In 2014: 640 million tonnes
Total trade ROW to EU-28
In 2004: 1664 million tonnes
In 2014: 1534 million tonnes
Biomass
Manufactures
Fuel/mining products

5. …to a Circular Economy

6. Transition towards a Circular Economy
Maintaining the value of products, materials and resources in the economy for as long as possible
Minimising waste generation
Boosting our competitiveness with new business opportunities and innovative products and services
Bringing economic, social and environmental gains

7. Circular Economy: a priority
One objective: building a sustainable future One model: Protecting the environment and boosting competitiveness go hand-in-hand
Jobs, Growth and Investment
Democratic Change, Better Regulation
Energy Union and Climate
CIRCULAR ECONOMY

8. International dimension
EU's international commitments
2030 Sustainable Agenda
Paris Agreement to combat climate change
G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency
EU's international commitments
2030 Sustainable Agenda, adopted by the United Nations in Sept 2015
COP21, historic agreement on 2°C global warming limit in Dec 2015
G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency, building more sustainable supply chains and global markets for secondary raw materials

9. 1/3 of the actions are being implemented
State of Play
Action Plan
Communication
List of Follow-up
Initiatives (Annex)
4 Legislative
proposals on waste
1/3 of the actions are being implemented
Under debate at the Council and at the European Parliament

10. Secondary raw materials
Key action areas
Production
Consumption
Innovation, Investment, Monitoring
Secondary raw materials
New or revised legislation: waste proposals, fertilisers, water reuse
Strengthened and more coherent implementation: support to compliance in waste policy, products policy, guidance on industrial emissions, consumers protection against unfair practices, interface between waste, products and chemicals legislations
Voluntary approaches: Green Public Procurement, EMAS, EU Eco-label, standards on secondary raw materials and on recovery of materials from electronic waste, sustainable sourcing, certification of waste facilities
Better use of information: Environmental Footprint, Raw Materials Information Systems, platforms on food waste, on financing
Combination of EU funding (Horizon 2020, EFSI) and private financing
Waste Management

11. Key action areas Production Consumption Waste Management
Provide incentives to boost circular product design
Innovative and efficient production processes
Consumption
Provide consumers with reliable information on environmental impact of products
Waste Management
Improve waste management in line with the EU waste hierarchy
Address existing implementation gaps
Provide long-term vision and targets to guide investments
Secondary Raw Materials
Increase the use of secondary raw materials
Increase the use of recycled nutrients and the reuse of treated wastewater
Safely manage risks of chemicals of concern
Improve knowledge of material stocks and flows
Innovation and Investment
Create the right environment for innovation and investment

12. Priority sectors Biomass & Bio-based Products Plastics Food Waste
Construction & Demolition
Critical Raw Materials

13. Strategy on Plastics and reduction of Marine Litter
Promotion of biobased resources and support for innovation on bioeconomy
Strategy on Plastics and reduction of Marine Litter
Recovery of valuable resources and better assessment of environmental performance of buildings
Promotion of the recovery of Critical Raw Materials and exchange of best practices
Common methodology to measure Food Waste

14. Innovation & Investment
Horizon 2020 initiative launched on ‘Industry 2020 in the Circular Economy’ (EUR 650 million)
Regional Policy
European Structural and Investment Funds
Investment
new platform for financing Circular Economy with European Investment Bank and national promotional banks
Overcoming barriers
pilot ‘innovation deals’ to address potential regulatory obstacles for innovators

15. What has been done so far?
Legislative proposals on waste
Tackling false green claims
Green Public Procurement
Legislative Proposal on fertilizers
Eco-design
"Innovation Deals" and H2020 call
Stakeholders platform on food waste

16. What is coming? Communication 'Waste to Energy'
Plastics Strategy
Interface chemicals, products and waste legislation
Monitoring and indicator framework
Minimum requirements for reused water
Communication 'Waste to Energy'
Green Financing Platform with the EIB and national banks
Assessment of the contribution of Circular Economy to the Bio-economy Strategy

17. Implementation at National level
France- "Loi de Transition Énergétique pour la Croissance Verte"
Germany- German Resource Efficiency Programme (ProgRess II)
The Netherlands-A circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050
Finland- Finland's National Circular Economy Roadmap

18. At regional level
Brussels Region-Programme Régional en Economie Circulaire
Scotland-Making Things Last - A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland
At local level
Amsterdam- Report "Circular Amsterdam"
Paris-White Paper on the Circular Economy of the Greater Paris

19. Stakeholders' engagement
Exchange of best practices and knowledge
European Innovation Partnerships (Raw materials-water)
Food waste platform
SME Resource Excellence Centre
Role of private institutions and NGOs
Ellen McArthur Foundation
Institut de l'Économie Circulaire
Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

20. Thank you for your attention
Hugo Maria Schally
European Commission
DG Environment