The circular economy - a transformation for all?
Channel: GreensEFA
Date: 02/12/2015

The European Greens believe that the EU's economy needs to work for both people and planet. The circular economy can contribute by creating jobs, protecting the environment and promoting growth in Europe, but like any other paradigm shift, it needs to have citizens' interests at its core. 


See more: www.circular-economy-now.eu

Full Text:
 
Today's economy: materials are extracted, products manufactured, used and thrown away at as low a cost as possible. 

This cycle is not only polluting, it is unsustainable in a planet with limited resources. 

But, it can be improved. 

Have you heard about the circular economy? Products stay in the economy for longer, and at the end of their life they are reused, repaired, remanufactured, upgraded or recycled.  

Truly creating a circular economy could give a €1.8 trillion boost to the European economy.
That's the same amount as Italy's entire economy. 

It would also be good for the environment: reducing the damaging extraction of raw materials, improving air quality by reducing incineration and preventing toxic residues leaking into the soil through landfill waste sites. 

But what about people?

It is estimated that for every 10,000 tonnes of waste: 1 job can be created if that waste is incinerated, 6 jobs if it is landfilled, 36 if it is recycled and 296 if it is reused. 

Examples from all around Europe show that when people and social enterprises are able to get involved in the circular economy, the social, environmental and financial benefits are enjoyed by all. 

[show a repair café, a lending shop, a social enterprise that collects textiles, a tool library, people saving money because of longer-life or reuse of products,  etc]

On 2 December, the European Commission published the circular economy package, which places people at a secondary level. 

The Greens are calling for a better integration of people's interests in the circular economy, such as stronger support for citizen's initiatives and social enterprises and a stronger focus on green job creation. 

This is why the greens are calling for 5 things to change in the package. 

See more at www.circular-economy-now.eu