THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- stresses that a circular economy is not only good from an environmental point of view, because it saves raw materials and produces less waste, but it also increases the EU’s strategic autonomy by reducing dependence on and the need for new imports of products and primary resources, and by making our territories and growth model more sustainable, competitive and resilient, leaving no one and no place behind;
- emphasises that the bulk of EU Green Deal policies are implemented at local and regional level, which puts further strong pressure on their capacities to engage and empower local businesses, communities and civil society;
- warns that shifting from a linear and extractive to a circular and regenerative economy will require a significant amount of investment, at a time that cities and regions report inadequate financial resources;
- notes that many EU Member States already recognise the decarbonisation potential of the circular economy. Nevertheless, neither in circular economy plans, nor in national climate and energy plans (NCEPs) reporting does there seem to be a consistent way of assessing the impact of circularity measures on climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- stresses the relevance of mandatory circular procurement criteria in creating better conditions for using procurement as a catalyst for the circular economy;
- recognises the need to better integrate bioeconomy and circular economy strategies since enhanced synergies of bio-based products, the sustainable use of renewable natural resources and nature-based solutions are key to addressing the triple planetary crisis;
- emphasises how social economy organisations have played pioneering roles for decades in shaping and expanding circular economy practices through activities such as electronics and textile recycling, reusable consumer goods, and repair and remanufacturing activities.