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Environment

Circular economy action plan

The EU’s new circular action plan paves the way for a cleaner and more competitive Europe.

Objectives

Measures that will be introduced under the new action plan aim to

  • make sustainable products the norm in the EU
  • empower consumers and public buyers
  • focus on the sectors that use most resources and where the potential for circularity is high such as: electronics and ICT, batteries and vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction and buildings, food, water and nutrients
  • ensure less waste
  • make circularity work for people, regions and cities
  • lead global efforts on circular economy

Actions

The Commission will implement all 35 actions listed in the action plan. 

Monitoring framework

It is essential to monitor progress towards a circular economy, and its direct and indirect benefits. This allows the EU and national authorities to assess whether policies are effective and to identify best practices.

In 2023, the Commission revised the circular economy monitoring framework, previously adopted in 2018. The revision adds new indicators on

  • material footprint and resource productivity - to monitor material efficiency
  • consumption footprint – to monitor if EU consumption fits within planetary boundaries

The new framework supports the EU’s circular economy and climate neutrality ambitions under the European Green Deal.

Timeline

Previous and upcoming actions and initiatives

  1. September- October 2023
    Adoption of several initiatives on microplastics
  2. May 2023
    European Commission revises the circular economy monitoring framework
  3. 22 March 2023
    European Commission adopted proposals on green claims and right to repair
  4. 30 November 2022
    European Commission adopted measures proposed in the circular economy action plan
    • revision of EU rules on Packaging and Packaging Waste – find out more 
    • Communication on a policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics –find out more
  5. 5 April 2022
    European Commission adopted proposals for revised EU measures to address pollution from large industrial installations
    • revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive - find out more
    • revision of the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) - find out more
  6. 30 March 2022
    European Commission adopted package of measures proposed in the circular economy action plan
    • Sustainable Products Initiative, including the proposal for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation find out more
    • EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles - find out more
    • proposal for a revised Construction products Regulation - find out more
    • proposal for empowering consumers in the green transition - find out more

    Find out more about the package in the press release.

  7. 17 November 2021
    European Commission adopted proposal for news rules on waste shipments

    Find out more in the press release and questions and answers

  8. 28 October 2021
    European Commission adopted proposal to update rules on persistent organic pollutants in waste
  9. 22 February 2021
    Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE) launched
  10. 10 December 2020
    European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation on sustainable batteries

    This was the first initiative to be delivered under the new action plan - find out more

  11. 11 March 2020
    European Commission adopted new circular economy action plan
  12. 11 December 2019
    European Commission adopted European Green Deal
  13. December 2015
    European Commission adopted the first circular economy action plan

    All 54 actions under this plan have been delivered or are being implemented.