We are delighted to invite you to an in-person event which will be held on Tuesday, 18th of March 2025.
This event will consist of an afternoon of discussion on the role of the circular economy principles in enhancing the EU’s sustainable competitiveness and achieving climate neutrality. The event will also be a timely opportunity to discuss how circular economy principles will fit in the Clean Industrial Deal.
Speakers and further details will be announced in the coming days, however, we are publishing this event now to ensure you save the date.
This event is public and will be held onsite.
Due to a limited number of seats, please await final confirmation from us after registration.
This event is organised in partnership with
About the debate
As the new legislative mandate is about to start its course, and as European institutions are about to navigate the complexities of the Clean Industrial Deal announced in the political guidelines of the European Commission and anticipated by the Antwerp Declaration at the end of the previous mandate, the European Union stands at a critical juncture as it seeks to enhance its competitive edge and achieve climate neutrality, whilst remaining competitive on the global stage. Central to this endeavour is the adoption and promotion of the circular economy principles, a transformative model that redefines how resources are used, reused and recycled . Unlike the traditional linear economic model of “take, make, dispose”, the circular economy model focuses on closing resource loops, thereby minimising waste and fostering a more sustainable use of both raw and recycled materials.
Released after the European elections, the Draghi Report remarked that this paradigm offers the EU a unique opportunity to enhance its sustainable competitiveness by proposing a set of measures to integrate circular principles into various sectors. These include, among others, considering secondary raw materials, notably derived from waste, as often more expensive than primary ones, also due to unaccounted environmental externalities in extraction and processing.
In addition, the report emphasises the role of product design, which can mitigate up to 80% of environmental impacts, calls for investments in infrastructure to support reuse and recycling whilst emphasising the role of harmonisation of waste regulations across EU member states, as well as the removal of barriers that hinder scaling recycling efforts. Moreover, the report advocates for strengthening demand for secondary materials through measures such as digital product passports to facilitate minimum content requirements and, under a larger perspective, points to circular economy principles as a lever for Europe’s strategic autonomy.
However, achieving the full potential of the circular economy requires active participation from all the actors involved in the process, namely companies, institutions and citizens alike. In fact, while several stakeholders have called European institutions to define a new legislative framework for waste and bio-sourced raw materials and to integrate the circular economy into EU trade agreements, empowering consumers with reliable environmental information and developing innovative circular economy education programmes are also topics of primary importance.
The circular economy principles are increasingly emerging as a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to achieve sustainable competitiveness and climate neutrality. Indeed, by embracing them, the EU can reduce its environmental footprint, enhance economic resilience and foster innovation, whilst positioning itself as a global leader in sustainability. Nevertheless, it has also clearly emerged that the transition towards a new, sustainable model of production and consumption requires coordinated efforts across institutions, industries and the wider society alike.
This is a public event, hence the Chatham House Rule will not apply.
The event will start at 17.00, while the onsite welcoming at the premises of ACE events will begin at 16.30. The discussion will last around an hour and a half.
Due to a limited number of seats, please await final confirmation from us after registration
The audience will be able to ask questions both in person and through sli.do #CircularEU
We look forward to hosting you on the 18th of March 2025.
