Circulaire economie

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De overgang naar een circulaire economie staat hoog op de agenda van het EESC om de klimaatcrisis te bestrijden en onze planeet te beschermen. De circulaire economie is een geweldige kans voor het maatschappelijk middenveld, aangezien zij kan helpen om:

  • de concurrentiekracht van de Europese industrie te vergroten;
  • duurzame economische groei te stimuleren;
  • nieuwe banen te creëren.

Het lineaire productie- en consumptiemodel dat nog altijd de toon aangeeft in onze economie leidt niet alleen tot verspilling van hulpbronnen, maar ondermijnt ook de strijd tegen de klimaatverandering. In tegenstelling tot de lineaire economie is een circulaire economie regeneratief en herstelgericht en heeft zij als doel om economische waarde te creëren en te behouden, mondiale milieu-uitdagingen zoals klimaatverandering, verlies aan biodiversiteit en vervuiling aan te pakken, en tegelijkertijd voor economische voordelen te zorgen.

Het goede nieuws is dat de circulaire transitie in de praktijk al een feit is. Op lokaal en regionaal niveau worden tal van circulaire initiatieven opgezet en uitgevoerd door belanghebbenden uit het maatschappelijk middenveld, waaronder bedrijven, vakbonden, de academische wereld en kennisgemeenschappen, jongerenorganisaties, ngo’s en andere belangengroepen. Vaart zetten achter circulaire oplossingen en leiderschap van relevante belanghebbenden bieden Europa de beste kans om de overgang naar een circulaire economie te versnellen.

Het Europees stakeholdersplatform voor de circulaire economie, een gezamenlijk initiatief van het EESC en de Europese Commissie, is in 2017 dan ook opgericht als trefpunt voor de gemeenschap van de circulaire economie in Europa. Dit door belanghebbenden gestuurde platform ondersteunt de transitie van Europa naar een circulaire economie door een dialoog te bevorderen en kennis en goede praktijken uit te wisselen.

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  • Towards a sustainable batteries industry in the EU

    Published in
    Thematic paper
    2 pages
    Position paper – May 2021

    The European Commission has published a proposal for a new regulatory framework for batteries and waste batteries, aiming to establish minimum sustainability requirements for all batteries placed on the EU internal market. The EESC supports the proposed measures, however, it calls for more precise and workable governance instruments to implement the new regulation, with the involvement of all stakeholders.

  • Critical Raw Materials: civil society calls for firm and fast action to secure supply and maintain a strong industrial base in the EU

    Published in
    Thematic paper
    4 pages

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) believe that the present and future of critical raw materials resilience is of essential concern to EU's organised civil society. For this reason, and because the Commission's Action Plan represents a step forward by providing a clear roadmap with initiatives and actions to be taken at EU level, overall the EESC recommends that the European Parliament and the Council support this approach. 

  • European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform

    Published in
    8 pages

    The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform is a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), launched in March 2017. The two institutions are working closely together to promote the Platform as a space for the exchange of ideas and a growing body of information, and to make the circular economy happen faster to the benefit of all. At the EESC, the Platform is spearheaded by three Members: Anders Ladefoged (Group I: Employers), Maria Nikolopoulou (Group II: Workers) and Cillian Lohan (Group III: Diversity Europe).

  • Recycling food packaging & food waste in plastics revolution

    Published in
    Study
    61 pages

    The use of single-use plastics in packaging has grown significantly in the last decades, and with it, the pollution of our environment. There is an urgent need to improve the sustainability of our food systems, which includes also the development of more sustainable food packaging. The objective of this study is to identify and examine successful examples and approaches to food packaging in the EU and beyond, considering consumer safety, environmental, economic, social, legal and food waste reduction considerations.

  • Circular economy strategies and roadmaps in Europe: Identifying synergies and the potential for cooperation and alliance building – Executive summary

    Published in
    Study
    7 pages

    Circular economy strategies have been under development in European cities, regions, and countries in the last few years.  In the evolving context of the transition to a circular economy, strategies are valuable endeavours which draw attention to the topic, kickstart initiatives and bring stakeholders together. This publication is the executive summary of the study reviewing existing circular economy strategies across Europe, highlighting the different degrees of inclusiveness in terms of consultation.

  • Circular economy strategies and roadmaps in Europe: Identifying synergies and the potential for cooperation and alliance building – Study

    Published in
    Study
    88 pages

    Circular economy strategies have been under development in European cities, regions, and countries in the last few years.  In the evolving context of the transition to a circular economy, strategies are valuable endeavours which draw attention to the topic, kickstart initiatives and bring stakeholders together.  This study reviews existing circular economy strategies across Europe, highlighting the different degrees of inclusiveness in terms of consultation.  The findings include a call for stronger involvement of civil society organisations in earlier phases of strategy deve

  • Recent Evolutions of Social Economy - Study

    Published in
    Study
    124 pages

    The general objective of the Report is to study the recent evolution of the social economy in the European Union. It focuses on three areas: firstly, the social economy and the emergent concepts/movements related to it, secondly, the public policies adopted in both the EU and the member states in recent years to enhance the social economy sector and thirdly, measuring the weight of the social economy in each EU member country.

  • Recent Evolutions of the Social Economy in the European Union - Executive summary

    Published in
    28 pages

    The general objective of the Report is to study the recent evolution of the social economy in the European Union. It focuses on three areas: firstly, the social economy and the emergent concepts/movements related to it, secondly, the public policies adopted in both the EU and the member states in recent years to enhance the social economy sector and thirdly, measuring the weight of the social economy in each EU member country.

  • Civil Society Organisations' Bulletin - July 2025

    Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU

    In this issue:

    • Our members write about their expectations and proposals for the Danish Presidency
    • Guest articles by Simon PRAHM (GAME), Per BACH (Social Entrepreneurs in Denmark) and Daniel VOCES DE ONAÍNDI (Europêche)
    • Interview with rapporteur Joe HEALY on 'Ensuring sustainable food production and a fair income for European farmers' (EESC opinion NAT/939)
    • Interview with the CEPS co-authors of the new EESC study 'Mapping civil dialogue practices in the EU institutions'
    • Reports on recent activities of the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group
    • Civil Society Organisations' Bulletin - July 2025
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