This report summarises the essential results from reports on the biodiversity/circular economy nexus prepared by members of the ECESP's Leadership Group on Biodiversity and Climate.

Its main premise is that biodiversity loss is not only an essential problem for our societies and human well-being but also a key business risk. The report argues that while the circular economy is a key tool for advancing towards our environmental targets, its implementation must be centred around biodiversity and climate considerations.

Reducing the demand for primary resources and preventing waste and pollution at product design stage are crucial, as are policies and measures to promote biodiversity protection and restoration.

This European Environment Agency report gives a comprehensive analysis of how the EU is doing in the transition to a more circular economy.

It explores the strong policy push seen under the EU’s Green Deal and looks at ways to speed up the transition.

It also considers what could be done in the future:

• Fostering EU resource independence and lowering imports, for example by setting targets and promoting higher quality recycling
• Increasing circularity by maximising the use and lifespan of products through reuse, repair and remanufacturing
• Focusing on the economics of raw material supply
• Informing future EU policies through research on consumer demand and how to change consumer behaviour
• Embedding just transition principles into future action