Ecopreneur.eu calls for Circular Economy Action Plan with increased economic incentives
Brussels, 20 January 2020: Ecopreneur.eu, the European Sustainable Business Federation, welcomes the European Commission’s plans for a European Green Deal with a Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). We particularly welcome the inclusion of the circular economy and the recent endorsement of a long-term strategy for climate neutrality by 2050. Depending on its realisation, in particular by introducing strong economic incentives, it can generate strong traction to low-carbon circular products and services.
Ecopreneur.eu’s 3000 green companies are ready to face the challenge. To enable them, they call upon the EU to launch a strong CEAP to transform our economic model into one realising sustainable production, distribution and consumption, with increased welfare for low-income citizens and fostering “regenerative champions”: companies that are generating positive externalities for the climate and the environment. By implementing green business models, our companies have identified limits and barriers to this transition, which deter creation of a supportive business environment and investment climate. One major barrier is a lack of demand for circular products and services.
We therefore call on the EU to create a general regulatory framework fostering circular models including the launch of Green Deals on circular procurement in all member states; increased CO2-pricing, tax measures and extended producer responsibility (EPR) to make circular products and services cheaper, and polluting ones more expensive; assist SMEs, larger companies and municipalities with circular design via the funding of public-private partnerships; strong interconnection between DG ENVI and DG GROW; a clear signal to all Member States to begin preparing their own roadmaps and action plans if they have not yet done so; prevent the use of EU funds for investments in residual waste incineration; harmonised transparency and traceability; minimum requirements for circular design; and increased enforcement of regulations.
More detailed recommendations and successful examples at the country level can be found in Ecopreneur.eu’s recent Circular Economy Update 2019 report. In addition, our well-received report “Circular Fashion Advocacy” about a creating circular textiles industry presents five policy pillars can serve as a starting point for other sectors.
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