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.
Cirkulär ekonomi
Omställningen till en cirkulär ekonomi står högt på EESK:s dagordning som ett sätt att bekämpa klimatkrisen och skydda vår planet. Omställningen utgör ett utmärkt tillfälle för det civila samhället eftersom den kan
- förbättra EU-industrins konkurrenskraft,
- främja en hållbar ekonomisk tillväxt,
- skapa nya arbetstillfällen.
Den linjära produktions- och konsumtionsmodell som fortfarande dominerar vår ekonomi i dag leder inte bara till bortslösade resurser, utan undergräver också kampen mot klimatförändringarna. Till skillnad från den linjära ekonomin är en cirkulär ekonomi regenerativ och återställande till sitt väsen samt inriktad på att skapa och bevara ekonomiskt värde. Den tar itu med globala miljöutmaningar såsom klimatförändringar, förlust av biologisk mångfald och föroreningar och ger samtidigt ekonomiska fördelar.
Den goda nyheten är att den cirkulära omställningen redan äger rum på fältet. Berörda aktörer från det civila samhället, däribland företag, fackföreningar, den akademiska världen och kunskapsgemenskaper, ungdomsorganisationer samt icke-statliga organisationer och andra intressegrupper, skapar och genomför många cirkulära initiativ på lokal och regional nivå. Att katalysera cirkulära lösningar och ledarskap från berörda aktörer är Europas bästa möjlighet att påskynda omställningen till en cirkulär ekonomi.
Europeiska plattformen för berörda aktörer inom den cirkulära ekonomin, ett gemensamt initiativ av EESK och kommissionen, är en plattform som inrättades 2017 för att sammanföra aktörerna inom den cirkulära ekonomin i Europa. Den aktörsdrivna plattformen stöder Europas omställning till en cirkulär ekonomi genom att främja dialog, dela kunskap och utbyta bästa praxis.
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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).
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.
The EESC Employers' Group strives for a business environment that contributes to sustainable development, while keeping the EU's economy resilient and resourceful in an ever-changing world. Our Political Priorities beyond 2020 explain how to achieve this goal by fostering EU values, strengthening the EU's economic foundation, bringing the EU to the digital forefront and seizing opportunities provided by proactive climate action.
The transition to the Circular Economy will impact businesses, workers and consumers in different ways/varying degrees across the economy. The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector is crucial for this transition. In 2016, the consumer electronics sector alone produced 44.7 million tonnes of e-waste, with mobile phones accounting for 435 thousand tonnes, and a mere 20% being recycled. This study presents the opportunities and challenges arising from implementing a circular approach, using the mobile phone sector as an example.
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 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
Sustainable development with its economic, social and environmental dimensions is an inevitable approach to the future. Enterprises play a crucial role as generators of sustainable development. A favourable business environment is needed to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of sustainability. This document summarises the views of the Employers' Group on sustainable development.
The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform was launched as a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in March 2017. The two institutions are working closely together to develop 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.
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.