Materials and Products Taskforce - Business perspectives on EU Circular Economy policy
Channel: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Date: 2023-10-20

On 17 October 2023, as part of London Circular Economy Week, CLG Europe’s Materials and Products Taskforce hosted a webinar setting out EU Circular Economy Policy.

The European Union is one of the global leaders in fighting climate change and promoting a sustainable economic growth. In December 2019, the EU launched the European Green Deal, which aims to reform a broad range of European policies and mandates full climate neutrality by 2050.

Whilst the most prominent legislation has been on climate, there has also been a growing focus around building a more circular European economy. In 2020, the European Commission presented the second Circular Economy Action Plan – a policy instrument which aims to mainstream circular economy as a strategy that will drive a decrease in GHG emissions and benefit nature, society, and the EU economy. The EU Council, in endorsing the Action Plan, highlighted circularity as one of the key principles that must drive the economic recovery of the European industry.

The stories of European companies that have incorporated circularity in their daily operations prove that it is a viable economic strategy which helps to derisk business operations and opens up new possibilities for growth. The Corporate Leaders Group Europe and its Taskforce for climate neutral and circular materials and products, both convened by the CISL, have published a number of reports showcasing the advantages of circularity.

Speakers include:

Anthony Abbotts, Director Group Public Affairs & Sustainability, ROCKWOOL Group

Jørgen Hanson, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Norsk Hydro

Krisztina Zálnoky - Senior Research Project Manager, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Moderated by Tahmid Chowdhury, Programme Lead, Materials and Products Taskforce, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership