Science Insight: Science for Environment Policy – News Alert Issue 625 – Explained

The EU aims to transition to a circular economy to make Europe cleaner and more competitive. The circular economy will reduce the consumption of natural resources and lessen negative impacts on both biodiversity and the environment at large, whilst at the same time creating sustainable growth and jobs. To support the EU’s transition to a circular economy, the European Commission adopted the circular economy action plan in March 2020, and plans to adopt the Circular Economy Act in November 2026.  

The importance of this transition is evident given that: 

• 90% of biodiversity loss is caused by resource extraction and processing; 
• Up to 80% of products’ environmental impacts are determined at the design phase;  
• And the current circular material use rate in the EU is just 11.8%. 

This Themed Alert highlights a selection of scientific studies relating to topics that are instrumental for a circular economy, including: consumer behaviour and governance, product lifespans and life cycle assessments (LCA) as well as material waste and recycling, with a focus on products such as batteries, buildings and textiles. For each of these topics, we have chosen an article previously published by the Science for Environment Policy (SfEP) News Service, each reporting on an individual study.   

Please note that plastics, another topic that is highly relevant in this context, will be the subject of a future dedicated Themed Alert.