The chemical industry lies at the heart of nearly all value chains and plays a vital role in supporting Europe’s transition to a circular economy. By designing materials and products for durability, reuse, repair, and recyclability – and by converting low-value resources into high-impact solutions – the sector enables circularity not only within its own operations but also across industries such as automotive, construction, electronics, textiles, agriculture, and retail. In its latest position paper, Cefic outlines key policy requirements to scale up circularity within the chemical industry to ensure a competitive, sustainable, and more strategically autonomous EU.

Findings from the recently published Cefic-UNITY study, 'Accelerating the Circular Transformation: Insights, Challenges, and Pathways for the Chemical Industry and Beyond,' show that although the chemical industry is making progress, circular economy projects continue to face significant financial barriers. These include a lack of competitiveness, regulatory clarity, and public funding support. Alignment of all relevant policies with the EU’s strategic objectives is therefore essential to foster a thriving European chemical industry that is both circular and competitive.