This report delves into the business case for accelerated EU action on the circular economy. 

It provides policy recommendations for the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, focusing on the business perspective and how the Act could support the EU’s resilience and competitive sustainability. It highlights barriers and actions identified by companies across various sectors.

The report stresses that a more ambitious and integrated approach, driven by the Circular Economy Act and other strategic EU initiatives, is essential for achieving the EU’s broader goals of climate neutrality, industrial success and social equity. 

The authors aim to improve the understanding of both businesses and policy makers about the urgent need to accelerate the circular economy transition.

The report presents the progress the Commission has made in implementing the 2022 strategy for the outermost regions. It shows that the Commission has delivered on its commitment to reflect the outermost regions’ characteristics in legislative proposals, policy initiatives and programmes.

The outermost regions have high potential to develop circular economy solutions. Cohesion policy supports circular economy development there. Both the ERDF and Interreg support waste management and recycling, for instance in Réunion with EUR 18 million of ERDF funding dedicated to the circular economy. Outermost regions also benefit from support under the LIFE programme. Several of these regions have designed circular strategies, such as the Circular Economy Conference of the Azores.