On 1 August, the European Commission launched a public consultation and a Call for Evidence for the upcoming Circular Economy Act. The consultation will remain open until 6 November 2025 and seeks input from a wide range of social and economic stakeholders to identify obstacles and opportunities for implementing a broader circular economy model. The aim of the future law is to accelerate the transition toward a more circular economy and to increase the EU’s economic security, resilience, competitiveness, and decarbonisation.

To have your say, participants can access the Have Your Say portal.

The Circular Economy Act, expected to be adopted by the end of 2026, is set to create a single market for secondary raw materials, increase the supply of high-quality recycled materials, and stimulate their demand across the European Union. The law will build on the foundations laid by the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan and will be a key pillar of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, which aims to position the EU as a global leader in the circular economy by 2030.

The future law will also involve revising several existing European legislative instruments to enhance the competitiveness of circular models and increase the EU’s recycling rate. This may include the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), which regulates the collection and treatment of electrical and electronic waste in the EU. The directive aims to increase the recovery rate of materials and reduce the reliance on virgin raw materials in the production of electrical and electronic equipment.

A joint statement to embed circular economy across Europe’s economic system

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, together with six other European civil society organisations, has published a statement urging the European Commission to set science-based targets for resource use; maximise the potential of keeping products and components in use, not just materials; and accelerate safe material circulation by integrating chemical and circular economy regulations. The statement seeks to ensure that the Circular Economy Act fully embeds circular economy principles across Europe’s economic system.

The seven organisations that issued the statement are the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), Environment Coalition on Standards (ECOS), European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises (RREUSE), and Zero Waste Europe.