Circular economy – Slow transition by member states despite EU action

Summary:

A circular economy preserves the value of products, materials and resources and minimises waste. A product’s design determines around 80 % of its environmental impact. We found only limited evidence that the Commission’s two Circular Economy Action Plans, in particular in terms of the circular design of products and of production processes, had been effective in influencing circular economy activities in the EU. We recommend that the Commission analyse reasons for the low take up by member states of EU funding for circular design and consider how to provide more incentives for this, and improve its monitoring
of member states’ transition to a circular economy.

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