The Circular Economy Action Plan underlines the key sectors for the circular transition. These sectors are crucial with their potential for innovation and the scale of the impact on environment as well as demand for the resource.
Built environment: Managing existing construction and demolition waste; preventing construction and demolition waste through adaptive reuse; creating a future built environment without waste.
Organic material and biowaste: EU annual digests/composts 30 million tons of separately collected biowaste; Europe has the capacity to increase this number to 90 million tons; creation of 50,000 jobs, including in areas of high unemployment.
Energy: Complete transition to a more sustainable energy system; waste-to-energy practices and the integration of energy efficiency and renewable energy into local energy systems.
Electronics and ICT: Value is lost when fully or partially functional products are discarded; most electric appliances are made up of a mix of materials and components that can be hazardous to our health and the environment; two in three Europeans would like to keep using their current digital devices for longer.
Packaging and plastics: Consumption of plastics is expected to double in the next 20 years further requirements for recycled content and waste reduction measures for key products such as packaging, construction materials and vehicles.
Textiles: Strengthening industrial competitiveness and innovation in the sector, boosting for sustainable and circularity.
Water: Applying circular economy principles to water management practices can significantly improve water and energy efficiency, and address water and resource shortages
Video: Closing the loop – An EU action plan for the Circular economy