International Policies/Strategies in Circular Economy

Strategy: A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy Ireland’s National Waste Policy
Prepared by: The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Date: 2020-2025
Link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/4221c-waste-action-plan-for-a-circular-economy/
Objective: The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Irish Government to publish and start implementing a new National Waste Action Plan. This new national waste policy will inform and give direction to waste planning and management in Ireland over the coming years. It will be followed later this year by an All of Government Circular Economy Strategy. The need to embed climate action in all strands of public policy aligns with the goals of the European Green Deal. The policy document contains over 200 measures across various waste areas including Circular Economy, Municipal Waste, Consumer Protection and Citizen Engagement, Plastics and Packaging, Construction and Demolition, Textiles, Green Public Procurement and Waste Enforcement.

Policy: Anti Waste Law for a Circular Economy, France
Prepared by: Minister for Ecological and Inclusive Transition
 Date: January 2020
Link: https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/loi-anti-gaspillage
Objective: This French act of law contains about 50 measures providing for: New obligations with the creation of new producer responsibility sectors to include new product families in the circular economy (toys, sports and do-it-yourself equipment, building materials, cigarette butts, sanitary textiles); new prohibitions on single-use plastics and to fight waste of food and non-food unsold products; new tools to better control and sanction offences against the environment (greater power for mayors to combat littering and illegal dumping), to support companies in their eco-design initiatives (bonus/malus-type incentives) and to assist citizens in new consumption practices (repairability index, information on environment and health impacts of products, harmonisation of info on sorting, etc.).

Strategy: A Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050
Prepared by: Government-wide Programme for a Circular Economy
Policy Note Date: 2016
Link: https://www.government.nl/documents/policy-notes/2016/09/14/a-circular-economy-in-the-netherlands-by-2050
Objective: The Government-wide Programme for a Circular Economy is aimed at developing a Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050. Its ambition is to realise, together with a variety of stakeholders, an (interim) objective of a 50% reduction in the use of primary raw materials (minerals, fossil and metals) by 2030. It has as main priorities: biomass and food, plastics, the manufacturing industry, construction sector and consumer goods.  

Policy: Strategy for Circular Economy
Prepared by: Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark
Published Date: September 2018
Link: https://mfvm.dk/publikationer/publikation/pub/hent-fil/publication/strategy-for-circular-economy/
Objective: In 2018, the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food and the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs launched a Strategy for Circular Economy, based on recommendations by an Advisory Board for Circular Economy. The strategy will be implemented in the period 2018-2022. The government launched initiatives within six thematic areas:

  • Strengthening enterprises as a driving force for circular transition
  • Supporting circular economy through data and digitalisation
  • Promoting circular economy through design
  • Changing consumption patterns through circular economy
  • Creating a proper functioning market for waste and recycled raw materials
  • Getting more value out of buildings and biomass.

Policy: España Circular 2030 – Estrategia Española de Economía Circular
Prepared by: Spanish Government
Published Date: June 2020
Link: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/calidad-y-evaluacion-ambiental/temas/economia-circular/espanacircular2030_def1_tcm30-509532.PDF
Objective: At the beginning of June 2020 the Spanish Government published España Circular 2030, the new Strategy for Circular Economy in Spain until 2030. It contains circular economy objectives and a series of strategic orientations for the period 2020-2030. The strategy:

  • sets up a series of objectives for 2020-2030 which will, inter alia, allow a 30% reduction in the national consumption of resources and a 15% reduction in waste generation (as compared to 2010);
  • contributes to Spain’s efforts to transition to a sustainable, decarbonized, resource-efficient and competitive economy;
  • takes the form of successive three-year action plans providing for concrete measures to deliver on the circular economy.