Addressing the ever increasing demands for resources requires transition towards a more circular economy based on maintaining the value of materials and resources as long as possible in the economy and by increasing resource efficiency, recycling and reuse, as well as reducing landfilling. This transition creates local jobs, growth, and opportunities for social integration while enhancing competitiveness. It also helps achieve EU objectives on climate and energy and support its commitments on sustainability.
The scientific and technical support of the Joint Research Centre to policies for a more circular EU economy looks into the lifecycle of products, services, and activities from a supply-chain perspective. This approach takes into account social, economic, and environmental aspects such as resource supply and use, social imbalances, and the emissions into air, water, and soil that occur along the value chain.
In July 2016 the European Commission published the Raw Materials Scoreboard that provides an overview of challenges and opportunities along the entire raw materials value chain. The Scoreboard is an initiative of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials and is a benchmark for progress towards a circular economy. It was developed by the JRC and DG GROW (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs).
Products which are recycled have to comply with certain quality requirements. JRC contributed to creating standards on material efficiency for energy-related products under the Ecodesign Directive. JRC also works with DG GROW on enhancing the EU Raw Materials Knowledge Base and the further development of the Raw Materials Information System.
Today the majority of fertilisers used are manufactured from imported resources or through energy-intensive processes. The revised Fertilisers Regulation adopted by the Commission in 2016 foresees changes to allow the recycling of nutrients through the production of waste-based and organic fertiliser products.
JRC’s End of Waste work on Compost and Digestates was a building block of this new approach as it outlines conditions and technical requirements to transform biodegradable waste into valuable fertilising material. The JRC carried out a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of biodegradable waste flows in the EU. The analysis looked at the economic, environmental and legal impacts of waste transformation into compost/digestate products as envisaged by the Waste Framework Directive.
This work will be extended with a similar assessment by the JRC on the acceptability of other secondary raw materials such as struvite, biochar and ashes from incineration of bio-wastes for CE marked fertilising products.
In June 2016 the Commission published guidelines on better integration of water reuse in water planning and management, developed within the Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive. As water scarcity has worsened in some parts of the EU, the reuse of treated wastewater in safe and cost-effective conditions is a valuable but under-used means of increasing water supply and alleviating pressure on resources.
Facilitating water reuse in agriculture will also contribute to recycling of nutrients by substitution of solid fertilisers. The JRC is developing a technical proposal for minimum quality requirements for water reuse for agricultural irrigation and aquifer recharge. It reconciles existing national regulation and international guidelines while promoting water reuse and recycling.
Today's Commission report comes together with a new initiative – the Communication on Waste to Energy, which is also supported by JRC research.
The Commission’s action plan for the circular economy, adopted in December 2015, aims to deliver important energy savings and environmental benefits. Today's stock-taking brings together legislative proposals and initiatives adopted throughout the last 12 months.
The Circular Economy Action Plan offers a transformative agenda with significant new jobs and growth potential. It aims at fostering sustainable consumption and production patterns, in line with EU commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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