Page 60 - Plastics News July 2025

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Key actions launched to advance

the circular economy

he Commission has launched several ini-
tiatives to accelerate the EU's transition
Tto a circular economy and prepare the
ground for the Circular Economy Act, expected
in 2026.

Circular economy enhances competitiveness
and economic growth by promoting the reuse,
recycling and remanufacturing of materials. The
forthcoming Act will support the EU’s goals un-
der the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean
Industrial Deal to double the share of recycled
material in EU’s economy and become a global
leader in circular economy by 2030. to move from paper to digital procedures for
shipping waste across the EU single market, re-
A strategic dialogue on circularity will take place ducing administrative burden and contributing
today, accompanied by a package of new ac- to competitiveness. This will streamline cross-
tions. The initiatives adopted today include the border shipments of waste within the EU, while
rules on waste shipments and an evaluation of protecting human health and the environment.
electronic waste legislation. In addition, new From 21 May 2026, digital systems will fully re-
rules to improve recycling efficiency and material place paper procedures, simplifying operations,
recovery from waste batteries will be published improving traceability, and curbing illegal ship-
in the next days. The dialogue will also kick off ments. By digitalising these procedures, waste
a public consultation with stakeholders and call will be recycled at the most efficient facilities
for evidence to be launched soon. These new across Member States.
actions touch on different dimensions of the cir-
cular economy and will help to boost the transi- In parallel, the Commission launched a public
tion and strengthen implementation of existing consultation on harmonising the classification
legislation. of certain waste types (so-called “green-listed”
waste) to facilitate their shipments across bor-
Digitalisation and classification of waste ship- ders. The consultation is accessible through the
ments ‘Have Your Say’ portal until 31 October 2025.

The Commission will implement a Digital Waste Evaluation of Waste Electrical and Electronic
Shipment System. This will enable companies Equipment Directive

60 PLASTICS NEWS July 2025