Working towards a circular economy reduces pressure on the environment and climate. It provides opportunities for businesses and reduces the EU's dependence on foreign raw materials as an economic region.
Resilience - access to materials and resources
By taking a smarter approach to what we have, we make our economy less vulnerable. We are becoming less dependent on (scarce) raw materials from abroad. For example, we are absorbing price fluctuations better, becoming more autonomous and are less subject to competition.
Growth and innovation - stronger through collaboration
More and more companies are discovering the opportunities of circular business. They work together, share knowledge and find new solutions. As such, the circular sector is growing twice as fast as the rest of the economy. Good for more resilience to shocks, more added value and better competitiveness.
Employment- jobs with meaning
A circular economy creates new jobs: from clever designers to specialised repairers. By 2030, 30,000 to 100,000 jobs could be created, including for people who are far from the labour market. At the same time, other jobs will disappear. A socially just transition must guide these workers and businesses through the transition.
Climate goals - reduced emissions and impact
Two thirds of our CO2 emissions come from how we handle materials. By taking a circular approach, we can significantly reduce these emissions - and therefore our impact on the climate. With textiles, for example, the materials footprint can be reduced by more than 50%.
Protection - better for people, environment and biodiversity.
By using fewer new raw materials, we protect nature. Because 90% of biodiversity loss comes from extracting and processing raw materials. With circular solutions, we quench our thirst for fresh raw materials, and reduce the pressure on our planet.