RoHS 2 addresses the waste hierarchy’s highest priority, waste prevention. Waste prevention includes measures that reduce the content of harmful substances in materials and products. Decreasing the amount of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic waste benefits the management of such waste as a result.
Kružno gospodarstvo
EGSO se intenzivno bavi tranzicijom prema kružnom gospodarstvu kao jednim od rješenja za suzbijanje klimatske krize i zaštitu našeg planeta. To je ujedno i odlična prilika za civilno društvo, koje može pridonijeti u sljedećim područjima:
- povećanje konkurentnosti europske industrije;
- promicanje održivog gospodarskog rasta;
- stvaranje novih radnih mjesta.
Model proizvodnje i potrošnje koji funkcionira prema načelu „uzmi – proizvedi – baci”, i koji i dalje prevladava u našem gospodarstvu, ne samo da rezultira traćenjem resursa već i ugrožava borbu protiv klimatskih promjena. Za razliku od linearnog gospodarstva, kružno gospodarstvo temelji se na regeneraciji i obnovi s naglaskom na stvaranju i zadržavanju gospodarske vrijednosti, čime se hvata u koštac s globalnim ekološkim izazovima kao što su klimatske promjene, gubitak biološke raznolikosti i onečišćenje, dok se istovremeno ostvaruje ekonomska korist.
Dobra je vijest da se tranzicija prema kružnom gospodarstvu na terenu već odvija. Dionici iz civilnog društva, uključujući poduzeća, sindikate, akademsku zajednicu i zajednice znanja, organizacije mladih te nevladine organizacije i druge interesne skupine osmišljavaju i provode brojne kružne inicijative na lokalnoj i regionalnoj razini. Olakšavanje primjene kružnih rješenja i preuzimanja vodstva relevantnih dionika najbolja je mogućnost za Europu da ubrza tranziciju prema kružnom gospodarstvu.
Europska platforma dionika kružnog gospodarstva, zajednička inicijativa EGSO-a i Europske komisije, uspostavljena je 2017. godine kako bi se okupila zajednica kružnog gospodarstva u Europi. Platforma, u kojoj vodeću ulogu imaju dionici, podupire tranziciju Europe prema kružnom gospodarstvu promicanjem dijaloga te razmjenom znanja i najboljih praksi.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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" .
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.
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.