Circular economy

Circular economy is about minimising waste generation and maintaining the economic value of products, materials and resources as long as possible. It can take several forms: from reducing the use of virgin resources and energy to redesigning products for better recycling, or cooperation between companies through an industrial symbiosis where one industry’s waste is another industry’s input.

Circular economy: the business case

22-05-2018

European business is fully on board with the circular economy approach. It does so because it makes business sense, and because future consumption and production patterns are so monumental that they cannot be managed in the way we organise these patterns today. Many businesses all over Europe have already embarked into more circularity or plan to do so.

BusinessEurope is involved in many policy files related to the circular econony. Furthermore, it has launched the European Circular Economy Industry Platform in May 2017. The platform is a web tool managed by BusinessEurope and its national members that contributes to the EU’s agenda on circular economy. It continuously brings new examples of innovative ways in which industry, SMEs and other business add to the circular economy in Europe. At the same time, it highlights the regulatory and non-regulatory challenges these businesses still face to upscale their current initiatives or to start new ones. The platform is a unique bottom-up business-led hub of knowledge and expertise.

Publications

Position papers Date
EU circular economy policy - BusinessEurope priorities for 2024-2029 10/07/2024
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) - a BusinessEurope statement 11/05/2023
Safeguarding the environmental and climate benefits of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) - Joint business statement 28/04/2023
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) - a BusinessEurope position paper 09/09/2022
Digital Product Passport - a BusinessEurope position paper 28/02/2022
The Sustainable Product Initiative (SPI) - BusinessEurope's reply to the public consultation 09/06/2021
Inception impact assessment of the sustainable product policy initiative (SPPI) - Input to the public consultation 13/11/2020
The new circular economy action plan - BusinessEurope comments 03/08/2020
Priorities on circular economy for the next EU political cycle 19/07/2019
Priorities on zero- and low-emission mobility in the next EU political cycle 17/07/2019
Addressing the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation - BusinessEurope reply to the public consultation 29/10/2018
The future of plastics - a BusinessEurope position paper 25/09/2017
Feedback to the stakeholder consultation paper on "chemical, product, waste interface" 05/07/2017
European social partner statement on tapping the potential from greening the economy for job creation 30/05/2017
BusinessEurope comments on key issues voted on by the EP ENVI Committee on the Waste Framework Directive (COM proposal amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste) 24/01/2017
Press releases Date
BusinessEurope reacts to deal on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation reached by EU co-legislators 05/12/2023
EU Commission’s Sustainable Product Initiative is an opportunity for more circularity 30/03/2022
EU a step closer to a functioning market of secondary raw materials 27/01/2021
Strong EU circular economy is a win-win for environment and business 11/03/2020
EU Plastics Strategy – ambitious targets with a balanced approach 16/01/2018
EU circular economy can be a game changer 31/05/2017
Public letters Date
EU Council meeting on 24 October 2022 - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Anna Hubáčková 11/10/2022
Concern over the current draft of single-use plastics (SUP) directive guidelines - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 09/02/2021
Call for urgent action to postpone the legal obligations related to the SCIP database - Letter from 40 industry associations to Ursula von der Leyen 21/09/2020
Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Amb. Thomas Oberreiter 29/10/2018
Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer 11/07/2018
Plastics strategy: voluntary pledges - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Jyrki Katainen 03/04/2018
Plastics strategy - Letters from Markus J. Beyrer ahead of the Environment Council meeting on 5 March 2018 02/03/2018
Facts and figures Date
Key aims of the European circular economy industry platform 31/05/2017

Contact

Matilda Lindblad

Adviser
Tel:
+32 2 237 65 45
Last updated: 10 July 2024