Brussels, 27/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - Ideas for a “circular economy” will be discussed in June during Green Week 2014 organised by DG Environment at the European Commission in Brussels (3-5 June) on the theme of the circular economy, resource efficiency and waste. Legislative proposals are due to be unveiled by the European Commission in this connection on 18 June.
At a conference on deforestation, climate change, development and loss of biodiversity on Monday 26 May, EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said: “In the coming weeks I will present a package of initiatives for circular economy systems where virtually nothing is wasted, we get far more value from resources by designing sustainable products that last and that can be easily repaired, re-used, re-manufactured and eventually recycled or safety returned to the environment”.
He said of the initiatives he will be presenting: “We want to develop an enabling framework for the circular economy in the EU, with measures combining smart regulation, research and innovation, encouraging investment and attracting financing. The package will also include a communication on food waste” because the food industry is responsible for 60% of deforestation caused by massive wood product imports into the EU.
“Over the period 1990 to 2008, the EU member states imported and consumed as raw commodities or finished products the equivalent of nine million hectares of land (that is three times the size of Belgium) - land that was previously forested and then converted to other uses. This widescale 'import of deforestation' into the EU mainly takes the form of crops and livestock products, with the food industry contributing 60% of our 'imported deforestation'. (…) Circular economy systems are essential to delivering the levels of resource efficiency that will enable us to decouple economic growth from resource use and its negative environmental impacts, including deforestation and the degradation of forest ecosystems”, argued the commissioner. The European Commission will also unveil updates to the three EU directives on waste. (AN)