Open letter urges EU to embrace a holistic vision on circular economy

ACR+ and several partners have published an open letter to the newly elected Members of the European Parliament, advocating for an ambitious, holistic approach to advancing the EU's circular economy. While acknowledging progress made through the Circular Economy Action Plan, the letter highlights that Europe's Circular Material Use Rate has only marginally improved over the past decade, rising from 10.7% in 2010 to 11.5% in 2022. The signatories call for more binding and targeted policies to address resource use directly and accelerate the shift toward a regenerative, resource-efficient economy.

Key proposals outlined in the letter include setting EU-level resource-use reduction targets, improving fiscal tools to shift tax burdens towards raw material extraction, and integrating circular economy criteria within trade policy. Additionally, the letter stresses the importance of empowering local and regional authorities, who play a crucial role in implementing Green Deal goals, and ensuring adequate funding is channelled towards prevention, reuse, and recycling efforts. The letter serves as a strong call for a more ambitious legislative framework to support Europe's transition to a sustainable, circular economy.

Read the whole letter.