The traditional linear model of ‘take, make, use, dispose’ is unsustainable and pushes us beyond planetary boundaries. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible, and waste and resource use are minimised.

The EU’s transition to a circular economy is crucial for reducing pressure on natural resources, halting biodiversity loss, achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and building a more resilient and competitive Europe.

In 2015, the Commission adopted the first Circular Economy Action Plan, with 54 actions that have now been delivered. In 2020, the Commission adopted a second Circular Economy Action Plan. In 2023, the circular economy monitoring framework was revised to better track progress.

Due for adoption in 2026, the Circular Economy Act aims to establish a Single Market for secondary raw materials, increase the supply of high-quality recycled materials and stimulate demand for these materials within the EU. It will contribute to the ambition laid out in the Competitiveness Compass to make the EU the world leader in the circular economy by 2030.

Updated information on the European Commission's actions to help the transition to a circular economy for a cleaner and more competitive Europe can be found here.