Economía circular

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La transición hacia una economía circular ocupa un lugar destacado en la agenda del CESE como solución para luchar contra la crisis climática y proteger nuestro planeta. Es una gran oportunidad para la sociedad civil, ya que puede contribuir a:

  • incrementar la competitividad de la industria europea,
  • fomentar el crecimiento económico sostenible;
  • generar nuevos puestos de trabajo.

El modelo de producción y consumo basado en «extraer, producir y desperdiciar» que sigue dominando nuestra economía en la actualidad no solo despilfarra recursos, sino que también socava la lucha contra el cambio climático. A diferencia de la economía lineal, la economía circular se basa en un diseño regenerativo y reparador que se centra en la creación y retención de valor económico y que aborda retos medioambientales mundiales como el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad y la contaminación, al tiempo que genera beneficios económicos.

La buena noticia es que la transición circular ya se está produciendo sobre el terreno. Las partes interesadas de la sociedad civil —incluidas las empresas, los sindicatos, el mundo académico y las comunidades de conocimiento, las organizaciones juveniles, así como las ONG y otros grupos de interés— están creando y aplicando numerosas iniciativas circulares a nivel local y regional. Catalizar las soluciones circulares y el liderazgo de las partes interesadas pertinentes es la mejor manera de que Europa acelere la transición hacia una economía circular.

Como tal, la Plataforma Europea de Partes Interesadas de la Economía Circular —una iniciativa conjunta del CESE y de la Comisión Europea— es una plataforma creada en 2017 para reunir a la comunidad de la economía circular en Europa. La plataforma impulsada por las partes interesadas respalda la transición de Europa hacia una economía circular mediante el fomento del diálogo y el intercambio de conocimientos y buenas prácticas.

  • Aprobados on 05/07/2017 - Bureau decision date: 24/01/2017
    Referencia
    NAT/706-EESC-2017-00719-00-00-AC-TRA
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Ireland
    (Italy

    The objective of the Communication on the role of waste-to-energy in the circular economy is to ensure that the recovery of energy from waste in the EU is consistent with the objectives pursued in the Circular Economy Action Plan.

    Download — Dictamen del CESE: Waste-to-energy under the Circular Economy
  • Aprobados on 05/07/2017 - Bureau decision date: 13/12/2016
    Referencia
    NAT/702-EESC-2017-00281-00-01-AC-TRA
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Ireland
    Download — Dictamen del CESE: Eco-design work programme 2016-2019
  • Aprobados on 14/12/2016 - Bureau decision date: 21/01/2016
    Referencia
    INT/784-EESC-2016-00975-00-00-AC-TRA
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    France

    In this opinion, the EESC calls for society to begin an economic transition from over-exploitation of resources and a throw-away culture to a more sustainable, job-rich era, based on quality rather than quantity. In order to cope with the fundamental shift to a new economic model with major systemic consequences in many areas, it is recommended that a new cross-cutting and permanent body be set up in the EESC to analyse these developments.

    Download — Dictamen del CESE: The functional economy (own-initiative opinion)
  • Aprobados on 13/07/2016 - Bureau decision date: 26/04/2016
    Referencia
    NAT/691-EESC-2016-03054-00-01-AC-TRA
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Ireland
    Download — Dictamen del CESE: The making available on the market of CE-marked fertilising products
  • Aprobados on 27/04/2016 - Bureau decision date: 07/10/2015
    Referencia
    NAT/676-EESC-2016-00042-00-01-AC-TRA
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Ireland

    The EESC fully backs the objective of switching to a greener, resource-efficient and circular economy. It is happy to see that the Commission has come forward with a broader set of proposals covering all the stages of the product lifecycle compared to the previous circular economy package; however, it raises concern over the lower level of ambition, which is likely to lead to lower economic and environmental benefits.

    Download — Dictamen del CESE: Circular Economy Package
  • Aprobados on 11/12/2014
    Referencia
    NAT/652-EESC-2014-05003-00-00-ac-tra
    Employers - GR I
    Italy
    Plenary session number
    503
    -

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) believes that the prospect of a European circular economy should bring a major boost to the systemic competitiveness of the EU, a driver for growth and a generator of new green jobs and skills.

    Download — EESC opinion: The circular economy: job creation and the Green Action Plan for SMEs
  • Aprobados on 11/12/2014
    Referencia
    NAT/651-EESC-2014-05002-00-00-ac-tra
    Workers - GR II
    France
    Plenary session number
    503
    -

    The Committee welcomes the two communications and the package of amendments to the waste directives and supports the campaign to make all businesses and consumers aware of the need to phase out the current linear economic model of "take, make, consume and dispose" .

    Download — EESC opinion: Circular economy
  • Aprobados on 17/10/2013
    Referencia
    CCMI/112-EESC-2013-1904
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    France
    Employers - GR I
    France

    Planned obsolescence is associated with a form of industrial production that relies on a minimum renewal rate for its products. Although product renewal is necessary, certain abuses need to be addressed. The EESC would like to see a total ban on products with built-in defects designed to end the product's life.

    • Infopack CCMI/112
    Download — Towards more sustainable consumption: industrial product lifetimes and restoring trust through consumer information
  • Reference number
    30/2026

    During a plenary debate at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera stressed the strategic importance of the Circular Economy Act for Europe’s future. This point was underlined by the EESC members who called for circularity to be put at the heart of Europe’s competitiveness and resilience agenda. It should be seen not only as an environmental objective but also an economic and geopolitical strategy. 

  • An interview with Maria Nikolopoulou, member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) from the Workers' Group, representing the Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras. She is currently one of the Vice Presidents of the NAT Bureau and member of the Steering Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform.