Less waste, more value

The European Green Deal aims to pave the way for the EU to become carbon neutral by 2050. The EU Green Deal also wants to separate economic growth from resource use.

This decarbonisation of the energy sector is expected to occur relatively quickly in the next decades. But it is also expected that, without proper action, a quarter of 2050 residual carbon emissions may come from the production of materials.

The importance of a circular economy

JRC research focuses on assessing how a circular economy, with less waste and more recycling (and this way less need for primary raw materials), can help secure a future resource-efficient low-carbon economy. A circular economy can contribute to delivering a competitive EU economy, with lower resource dependencies. Moreover, a circular economy can be more resilient to external shocks and respectful of nature and people's health.

The circular economy action plan (CEAP 2.0) is an important element of the European Green Deal. It lists a number of crucial actions to be implemented to reach such objectives.

Understanding socio-economic and environmental impacts

Elaborating the actions in the circular economy action plan requires sound scientific insights, as well as a clear understanding of the possible socio-economic and environmental impacts at stake. At the same time, the world around us is evolving. Legislation on waste and secondary raw materials needs to be updated to keep pace with the latest technological and societal developments.

Here is where JRC provides indispensable scientific support to policy making, with its state-of-the-art assessment methodologies and involvement of stakeholders, based on the Sevilla process, as well as intensive collaboration with other European Commission departments.