The new circular economy action plan (CEAP) announces initiatives along the entire life cycle of products. It targets how products are designed, promotes circular economy processes, encourages sustainable consumption, and aims to ensure that waste is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible.

It introduces legislative and non-legislative measures targeting areas where action at the EU level brings real added value.

Objectives:

Measures that were introduced under the new action plan aim to:

• make sustainable products the norm in the EU
• empower consumers and public buyers
• focus on the sectors that use most resources and where the potential for circularity is high such as: electronics and ICT, batteries and vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction and buildings, food, water and nutrients
• ensure less waste
• make circularity work for people, regions and cities
• lead global efforts on circular economy

Actions:

The Commission proposes 35 actions listed in the action plan. 

Monitoring framework:

In 2023, the Commission revised the circular economy monitoring framework, previously adopted in 2018. The revision adds new indicators on

• material footprint and resource productivity - to monitor material efficiency
• consumption footprint – to monitor if EU consumption fits within planetary boundaries

The Circular economy action plan was linked to relevant policy areas linked to agri-food: 

• Chemicals
• Circular economy
• Circular economy at the global level
• Industry
• Plastics
• Sustainable development
• Waste and recycling

Related legislation:

Communication COM/2020/98 A new Circular Economy Action Plan For a cleaner and more competitive Europe