Members' Research Service By / March 17, 2021

Living in the EU: Circular economy

Circular economy is a production and consumption model that involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products to keep materials within the economy.

Trade in recyclable raw materials (Million tonnes and %, 2019)

Written by Giulio Sabbati (Members’ Research Service, EPRS) and Igor Tkalec (GlobalStat, EUI),

Circular economy is a production and consumption model that involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products to keep materials within the economy. It implies that waste becomes a resource, consequently minimising the actual amount of waste. The circular model is generally the antithesis of a traditional, linear economic model, which is based on a ‘take-make-consume-throw away’ pattern. This paper looks at the job creation potential and added value produced by the circular economy and illustrates the generation and treatment of waste in the EU.

© European Union 2021, EPRS

Read this ‘at a glance’ on ‘Living in the EU: Circular economy‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

 


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