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Circular Economy

What is the policy of the European Union?

Circular economy does not stop at the border, as the Dutch economy is open and strongly interconnected with the international economy through import and export. Achieving a circular economy in the Netherlands relies on crucial European policies, particularly because the European Commission has extensive powers over products, trade, and waste. EU policies are especially relevant for the Netherlands as it is a frontrunner in circular economy practices in Europe, and further policies, especially for products, require a unified EU approach.

On this page, we delve into European circular economy policies and some other policy areas relevant to a circular economy. What policies have been initiated, and what is included in the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plans? What instruments have been announced, which ones are currently available at the European level, and what can we expect from them?

The Circular Economy Action Plan

In 2020, the European Commission approved the new Circular Economy Action Plan, a key component of the European Green Deal, the EU’s agenda for sustainable growth. The action plan outlines legislative and non-legislative measures implemented to transition to a circular economy. The Institute for European Environmental Policy mapped the EU’s circular economy policy in 2022, with findings available in the report ‘European Circular Economy policy landscape overview.’ This page describes some significant measures that have been or are being taken.

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation sets requirements for the design of products marketed within the European Union. ESPR aims to promote the production and consumption of sustainable products that are energy-efficient, have longer lifespans, rely on recycled materials instead of primary raw materials, and are marketed using circular business models. The new Ecodesign guidelines also impose obligations on sustainable public procurement.

ESPR imposes requirements on products regarding:

  • Sustainability, reusability, upgradability, and repairability of products.
  • Presence of substances hindering circularity.
  • Energy and resource efficiency.
  • Recycled content.
  • Reproduction and recycling.
  • Carbon and ecological footprint.
  • Information requirements, including a digital product passport.

Right to Repair

In addition to Ecodesign guidelines, measures are taken to promote and facilitate repair and reuse. The “right to repair” for consumers applies both within and outside the legal warranty period. Within the legal warranty period, sellers must offer repair unless it is more expensive than replacement. Outside the legal warranty period, consumers gain new rights and tools, making “repair” an easy and accessible option:

  • The right for consumers to demand producers to repair technically repairable products under EU law, such as washing machines or televisions.
  • The obligation for producers to inform consumers about products that must be repaired by the producers themselves.
  • An online repair platform to connect consumers with repairers and sellers of repaired goods in their vicinity.
  • A European repair information form that consumers can request from any repairer, making repair conditions and prices more transparent and it easier for consumers to compare repair offers.
  • The development of European quality standards for repair services to help consumers find repairers delivering high-quality work.

Measures by Product Group

In addition to these general measures, the EU, like the Dutch government, introduces measures for specific product groups. This section describes measures for batteries and vehicles, plastics, and textiles. New measures regarding Electronics and ICT, Packaging, Construction and Buildings, and Food, Water, and Nutrients will soon be added to this overview.

Batteries and Vehicles

With the modernization of rules for batteries and accumulators, the EU aims to minimize the harmful effects of batteries on the environment throughout their entire lifecycle, from design and production to reuse and recycling. New EU environmental regulations for end-of-life vehicles aim to ensure sustainable management of discarded cars (car wrecks). There is now a proposal to improve the collection, processing, and recycling of end-of-life vehicles.

Plastics

New measures for microplastics aim to reduce the unintended release of microplastics into the environment. This includes labeling, standardization, certification, and regulatory measures for the main sources of these plastics. New measures regarding bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics aim to improve understanding of these materials and clarify where these plastics can provide real environmental benefits. Products must meet certain criteria to be labeled as “bio-based,” “biodegradable,” or “compostable.” Lastly, the Commission is working on new end-of-waste criteria for plastics.

Textiles

The EU’s strategy for sustainable and circular textiles includes a package of measures to make the textile sector more sustainable. Some of the measures include rules for sustainable design, clearer information on textiles and a digital product passport, transparency regarding the destruction of unsold or returned textiles, rules on green claims, and the introduction of extended producer responsibility.

The European Commission’s website provides news and documents on the Circular Economy Action Plan.