Circular economy action plan

The European Commission adopted the new circular economy action plan (CEAP) in March 2020. It is one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal, Europe’s new agenda for sustainable growth. The EU’s transition to a circular economy will reduce pressure on natural resources and will create sustainable growth and jobs. It is also a prerequisite to achieve the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality target and to halt biodiversity loss.

The new action plan announces initiatives along the entire life cycle of products. It targets how products are designed, promotes circular economy processes, encourages sustainable consumption, and aims to ensure that waste is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible.

It introduces legislative and non-legislative measures targeting areas where action at the EU level brings real added value.

Objectives

Measures that will be introduced under the new action plan aim to

make sustainable products the norm in the EU
empower consumers and public buyers
focus on the sectors that use most resources and where the potential for circularity is high such as: electronics and ICT, batteries and vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction and buildings, food, water and nutrients
ensure less waste
make circularity work for people, regions and cities
lead global efforts on circular economy

Actions

The Commission will implement all 35 actions listed in the action plan.

Monitoring framework

It is essential to monitor progress towards a circular economy, and its direct and indirect benefits. This allows the EU and national authorities to assess whether policies are effective and to identify best practices.

In 2023, the Commission revised the circular economy monitoring framework, previously adopted in 2018. The revision adds new indicators on

material footprint and resource productivity - to monitor material efficiency
consumption footprint – to monitor if EU consumption fits within planetary boundaries

The new framework supports the EU’s circular economy and climate neutrality ambitions under the European Green Deal.

Timeline

Previous and upcoming actions and initiatives

September- October 2023
Adoption of several initiatives on microplastics
- REACH restriction addressing intentionally added microplastics
- Proposal for a Regulation on preventing pellet losses to reduce microplastics pollution
- Brochure on EU action against microplastic pollution
May 2023
European Commission revises the circular economy monitoring framework
- Circular economy monitoring framework
- Find out more in the news announcement and factsheet
22 March 2023
European Commission adopted proposals on green claims and right to repair
- proposal for a Directive on green claims - find out more
- proposal on common rules promoting the repair of goods - find out more
30 November 2022
European Commission adopted measures proposed in the circular economy action plan
- revision of EU rules on Packaging and Packaging Waste – find out more
- Communication on a policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics –find out more
5 April 2022
European Commission adopted proposals for revised EU measures to address pollution from large industrial installations
- revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive - find out more
- revision of the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) - find out more
30 March 2022
European Commission adopted package of measures proposed in the circular economy action plan
- Sustainable Products Initiative, including the proposal for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation – find out more
- EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles - find out more
- proposal for a revised Construction products Regulation - find out more
- proposal for empowering consumers in the green transition - find out more
Find out more about the package in the press release.
17 November 2021
European Commission adopted proposal for news rules on waste shipments
Find out more in the press release and questions and answers
28 October 2021
European Commission adopted proposal to update rules on persistent organic pollutants in waste
Find out more
22 February 2021
Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE) launched
Find out more
10 December 2020
European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation on sustainable batteries
This was the first initiative to be delivered under the new action plan - find out more
11 March 2020
European Commission adopted new circular economy action plan
11 December 2019
European Commission adopted European Green Deal
December 2015
European Commission adopted the first circular economy action plan
All 54 actions under this plan have been delivered or are being implemented.