August 4, 2025 13:39

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on a new legislative proposal concerning the circular economy, which could take shape by the end of 2026.
The aim of the consultation, which will remain open until Nov. 6, is to collect insights, opinions and contributions that will help the Commission better understand the challenges and opportunities linked to strengthening the circular economy across Europe.

According to the Commission, the forthcoming legislation aims to reinforce the single market for waste and secondary raw materials, increase the availability of high-quality recycled materials at competitive prices, and boost demand for such materials within the Union. The declared goal is to make the EU a global leader in the circular economy by 2030 and to double the circularity rate.

The initiative incorporates the recommendations from the Letta and Draghi reports, as well as those from industry (Antwerp Declaration), the European Council (Budapest Declaration) and the European Parliament.

Over the past 15 years, the EU’s circularity rate has remained largely stagnant, moving only from 10.7% in 2010 to 11.8% in 2023, according to the initiative’s promoters.

Supply and demand for secondary raw materials remain inadequate or imbalanced, both in quantity and quality. The reasons lie less in regulation and more in economics: Secondary raw materials often cost more than virgin ones while offering lower quality.

As a result, the Commission notes, secondary raw materials struggle to compete in the absence of targeted economic incentives, a supportive legislative framework and robust verification and compliance mechanisms. Moreover, the single market remains fragmented, placing burdens on economic operators and hindering the development of circularity and economies of scale.

To participate in the consultation: Circular Economy Act – Have Your Say

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