Orgalim welcomes the new Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe

11 March 2020

Representing the technology sectors p...

Representing the technology sectors providing innovative solutions which can unlock a greener, healthier and more prosperous future for the EU and its citizens, Orgalim welcomes the new Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe adopted today by the European Commission.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made it a core mission of her team’s mandate that the “EU must lead the transition to a healthy planet”. And today marks a major step towards that goal of addressing the challenge of the green transformation, with the Commission publishing a new Circular Economy Action Plan. This new Circular Economy Action Plan will play a crucial part in achieving the Green Deal’s overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral by 2050.

“As one of the main blocks of the Green Deal supporting Europe’s climate ambitions, today’s new Circular Economy Action Plan can help drive an industrial renaissance for a clean planet for all,” commented Malte Lohan, Orgalim Director General. “Optimising the use of resources throughout the economy makes environmental and economic sense, contributing to climate mitigation and renewing EU industrial global leadership. Coupled with the possibilities of digitalisation and data analysis, the move to a circular economy creates space for new business models and enables the optimisation of energy and resource use throughout the life cycle.”

Orgalim will be carefully assessing the numerous interrelated initiatives announced in the Circular Economy Action Plan to ensure they strike the right balance.

“The stronger the EU single market, the better for the circular economy” should be a guiding principle for future action: to secure the functioning of the single  market, one of the EU’s success stories and major achievements that has improved prosperity and opportunities for European citizens and businesses, it will be crucial to ensure a harmonised approach of the various circular economy measures throughout the EU.

We very much look forward to working with the European institutions and all stakeholders on the next steps regarding the implementation of the various initiatives announced in the new Circular Economy Action Plan.

Orgalim’s response to the Commission Circular Economy Roadmap consultation is available here. And our recommendations on a circular economy that supports Europe’s climate ambition – driving systemic change and the sustainable use of resources throughout the economy (“doing more with less”) – are available in our position paper ‘A European Green Deal of strategic foresight: reinvigorating Europe and driving an industrial renaissance for a clean planet for all’.

Taken as a whole, our work in this area supports our ambition for Europe to “transform societal challenges into future drivers of prosperity”, a key pillar of Orgalim’s strategic agenda ‘2030: an industry vision for a renewed Europe’. 

For more information on Orgalim’s work on the circular economy, please contact Stéphanie Mittelham, Manager Environment.