Friends of the Earth Respond to Circular Economy Action Plan Conclusion

Environment Ministers from across Europe met yesterday for the conclusion of approval on the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan. Ministers have committed to supporting the implementation of the action plan, but the overall document is not binding for EU Member States. The Council has offered support for all areas including food waste, biomass, marine litter and eco-design, but encourages rather than urges Member States to adopt measures to tackle these problems.

Responding to Environment ministers’ conclusions on the Circular Economy Package action plan, George Thurley, resource use campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, said: “Ministers today missed their chance to boost the ambition of the circular economy package, and instead caved to the regulation-light ‘better regulation’ agenda, with no concrete action to tackle food waste or measure – let alone improve – resource efficiency.”