EU launches consultation on Circular Economy Act to double the circularity rate by 2030

The European Commission has officially opened a public consultation and Call for Evidence for its upcoming Circular Economy Act, set to be adopted in 2026. This legislative initiative aims to accelerate the EU’s transition from a linear to a circular economic model, boosting economic security, resilience, competitiveness, and decarbonisation efforts by establishing a unified Single Market for secondary raw materials and driving higher reuse and recycling rates across all member states. A central target of the Act is to double the current circular material use rate (CMUR) by 2030 from 11.8 % in 2023 to approximately 22.4 %, requiring an annual increase more than twice the pace seen over the past decade. To achieve this, the Act will emphasise improving e‑waste collection and recycling, digitalising extended producer responsibility schemes, and reforming “end-of-waste” criteria while embedding mandatory procurement standards for circular goods and services across EU industries. This initiative builds on key high‑level recommendations from the Letta and Draghi reports, the Antwerp and Budapest Declarations, and aligns with broader policy frameworks—including the Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal, Eco‑design Regulation, Packaging Waste Regulation, and the Critical Raw Materials Act—which collectively frame the Commission’s vision for circular leadership by 2030. Stakeholders from industry, environmental groups, and the public are invited to contribute their views via the EU’s “Have Your Say” portal, with feedback accepted through 6 November 2025.