On March 11, 2020, the European Commission published the Circular Economy Action Plan in the context of the European Green Deal. The plan includes measures along the entire life cycle of products with the aim of enhancing the EU-green economy and strengthening competitiveness while protecting the environment and giving consumers new rights. The plan comes with a set timeframe for legislative actions to be taken by the Commission in the near future.
The EU-Commission will propose legislation on sustainable product policy based on design criteria ranging from easier reuse, repair and recyclability, to the incorporation of as much recycled material as possible instead of primary raw material. Consumers will be empowered through the “right to repair” and obtaining access to reliable information on issues such as the reparability and durability of products.
The Commission will focus on industrial sectors that use the most resources and where the potential for circularity is high. These include amongst others: electronics and ICT, batteries and vehicles, packaging and plastics.