Purpose
The European Commission communication COM(2020)98 final sets out a new Circular Economy Action Plan as part of the European Green Deal, aiming to foster a transition to a cleaner, more resource‑efficient and competitive economy. It seeks to minimise environmental impacts across product life cycles, prevent waste generation and support sustainable growth while strengthening European industrial competitiveness.
Scope of application
Addressed to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, the communication is relevant to all economic sectors and product value chains across the Union. It encompasses policy actions affecting sustainable product design, production, consumption, and waste management, with particular focus on priority areas such as electronics, packaging, textiles, construction and food systems.
Main features and mechanisms
The Action Plan proposes a Sustainable Product Policy Framework that broadens and strengthens sustainability requirements throughout product life cycles, including sustainable design, empowering consumers and public buyers, and enhancing circularity in production. It identifies key product value chains for targeted action (electronics and ICT, batteries and vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction, food, water and nutrients), sets out measures to reduce waste and promote non‑toxic circularity, aims to develop a well‑functioning internal market for secondary raw materials, and integrates circularity principles into regional and urban policy frameworks.