The importance of the circular economy model. Accelerating the transition to a circular economy model is not an option, but a mandatory decision

Abstract

An industrial transition to a well-functioning economic system in which materials are sustainably extracted, reused and recycled is essential to limit the amount of primary raw materials that enter and eventually leave the cycle. At European level, a 30% improvement in resource productivity by 2030 would already lead to an increase in GDP of almost 1%, create more than 2 million additional jobs and set us on the road to a more resource-efficient Europe, benefiting from the environmental, economic and social benefits it brings. The new closed-cycle package is a key instrument for environmental protection, the competitiveness of the European economy and the promotion of sustainable reindustrialisation.