The European Commission launched a call for evidence on August 1, 2025, to prepare a new Circular Economy Act, planned for adoption by the end of 2026. Led jointly by DG ENV and DG GROW, the initiative aims to “reinforce the single market for waste and secondary raw materials, increasing the supply and demand of quality secondary raw materials at competitive prices.” The Commission cites limited progress on developing a circular economy in the EU over the last 15 years as a major motivating factor; EU circularity rose by only 1.1% (from 10.7% to 11.8%) between 2010 and 2023.
The Commission proposes that the Act’s ‘interventions’ come under two pillars. The first refers to e-waste, since it is growing at a rate of 2% a year but only 40% gets recycled annually. The second pillar is “a mix of interventions to foster the single market for waste, secondary raw materials and their use in products.” It will consider interventions to foster a true single market for waste and secondary raw materials. Potentially included are a reform of the end-of-waste criteria, a simplification and digitalization of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, and targeted mandatory criteria for public procurement of circular goods and services.
According to the call, existing regulations such as the Waste Framework Directive (FPF reported), Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (FPF reported), and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (FPF reported), “cannot unfold their potential unless the barriers to circularity in the single market are removed and there is sufficient and cost-effective supply of high-quality, verifiable secondary raw materials.”
In a joint letter, European civil society organizations welcomed the Act as a chance to put the EU’s resource use on a “sustained downward path” while boosting competitiveness and strategic resilience. They urge the Commission to set “ambitious and economically feasible science-based targets to keep material and consumption footprints within the planetary boundaries”. The groups call for a clear hierarchy that prioritizes waste prevention, reuse, repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing to be supported by fiscal and public procurement incentives covered by EPR schemes. To enable safe circulation of secondary materials, the organizations ask to integrate Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability principles across product and waste law (FPF reported). Further they call for improving traceability and access to information on substances of concern, swiftly removing the most harmful chemicals from consumer products, and strengthening controls on imported recyclates (FPF reported).
The public consultation for the Circular Economy Act is open until November 6, 2025.
References
European Commission (August 1, 2025). “Circular Economy Act: Call for evidence.”
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, et al. (August 1, 2025). “The EU Circular Economy Act: A key opportunity for sustainable resource use, long-term competitiveness, and strategic resilience.” European Environmental Bureau. (pdf).
