As the relentless increase in production volumes continues to drive a massive influx of products onto the EU market each day, the European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal and Circular Economy Act mark an opportunity to transform the EU into a truly circular economy, introduce improved waste management rules and set ambitious waste prevention and reduction objectives.
Waste prevention and preparing for reuse-focused measures can significantly boost EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy by reducing dependency on imported raw materials and addressing the economic, environmental and societal impacts of overproduction, which include the expansion of waste streams and immense pressure on reuse and recycling systems. Focusing on the upper level of the waste hierarchy will also foster local jobs, social inclusion and innovation in circular business models.
From the perspective of Europe’s largest network of social enterprises active in reuse, repair and recycling, the commitment to “simplify, digitalise, and expand extended producer responsibility (EPR) in a targeted manner” is a crucial aspect of the announced measures. As circular economy pioneers, social enterprises bring decades of hands-on experience in managing diverse waste streams and engaging with EPR schemes where they have been established. This wealth of experience uniquely positions RREUSE’s members to identify both: the strengths and weaknesses of the existing EPR frameworks. Leveraging this expertise, we present a set of recommendations for future policymaking on EPR that are detailed in our latest position paper.
Policy paper
