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Knowledge category: Papers and reports

Accelerating the circular economy in Europe. State and outlook 2024

Updated on 17.06.2024

This report looks into potential actions for wide-scale circularity implementation.

Author: European Environment Agency
Year of publication: 2024

More information

These allude to a range of aspects that include:

 

  • Circular policies should become more binding and target-oriented, extending beyond waste to possibly include targets on resource use or material footprint.
  • Measures should now promote higher quality recycling to foster EU resource independence and reduce its overall material footprint.
  • Bold implementation of the revamped EU Sustainable Product Policy should result in safe and sustainable products, which are designed for circularity from the outset.
  • Additional attention should be paid to the economics of raw material supply, so that secondary raw material markets can thrive.
  • In line with the conclusions of the International Resource Panel, additional action is needed on the demand side, potentially leveraging the concept of sufficiency.
  • Just transition principles should be embedded in Europe and globally.

Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions

This paper's practical value stems, among other things, from its transition framework to circular economy, as well as its assessments of where Europe stands in various aspects of circularity, and its considerations for the future. These aspects make it a useful resource for cities and regions looking to begin working on how to govern the process of deploying CSSs. All stakeholders involved in that process can make use of this resource, especially in the Map and Design phases of CSS deployment.

Sectors

CEAP2 key product value chain

built environment, CEAP2 key product value chain

CEAP2 key product value chain

CEAP2 key product value chain

CEAP2 key product value chain

CEAP2 key product value chain

CEAP2 key product value chain

including bio-based economy

e.g. B2B services

digital tools facilitating CE transition

e.g. chemicals, cosmetics, bio-based industries

e.g. re-use of public spaces and facilities in urban areas

e.g. electrical engineering, furniture and interior, textile and fashion

e.g. healthcare

CEAP2 key product value chain

Territories involved

large 500 000-200 000, medium 200 000-50 000, and small cities 50 000-5 000

predominantly urban regions, intermediate and predominantly rural regions, refer to TERCET typology NUTS 3 region