SUMMARY

• A group of 14 S&D MEPs, led by MEP Delara Burkhardt (S&D, DE), has published a joint letter addressed to the Commissioner Roswall ahead of the forthcoming Circular Economy Act.
• The letter outlines key political expectations to ensure the initiative delivers a systemic shift towards a more circular European economy. The full letter is attached for your reference.

‍MORE DETAILS

In their letter, the signatories stress the need for a systemic shift away from the current linear economic model, highlighting that overproduction and waste-intensive consumption patterns continue to undermine circularity efforts. They argue that recycling alone will not be sufficient and call for stronger measures on prevention, reuse, and repair.

Against this backdrop, the letter calls for a Circular Economy Act that:

• Advances Europe’s strategic autonomy, by reducing reliance on raw material imports. To this end, harmonising key frameworks such as End-of-Waste criteria and EPR schemes across Europe is key, towards a more effective model and taking as example the most ambitious preexisting schemes
• Boosts competitiveness and innovation, by supporting the recycling, repair, and reuse sectors, extending recycled content targets beyond plastics and ensuring EPR schemes prioritise waste prevention.
• Makes sustainable choices easier for consumers, by ensuring affordability and accessibility of repair, second-hand, and sustainable products

The letter also explicitly highlights the challenges linked to waste-intensive sectors such as textiles, noting that fast fashion is placing increasing pressure on European markets and waste systems. In this context, the signatories underline that a systemic shift is needed, and call for a comprehensive Circular Economy Act that considers EPR schemes, including for distance and online sellers, "as an instrument that prioritizes waste prevention and fully funds reuse activities - aligning with the EU waste hierarchy’s core principles".

NEXT STEPS

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FESI will also continue to monitor developments related to the Circular Economy Act.

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