The conditions are now in place to involve consumers in the development of the circular economy in Europe by empowering them to make sustainable purchasing choices in their daily lives, according to a report adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in July.
In this own-initiative report, the EESC calls for a strategic change to put consumers at the centre of public policy in the circular economy at all levels of government in the EU.
He recalled that consumers have so far been reduced to the role of urban agents who recycle household waste, with the Commission targeting regulation and production with a focus on businesses, which have begun to adopt new business models.
“Now it is time for the Circular Economy 2.0 to tackle the consumer end”, according to the rapporteur, Carlos Trias Pintó, who urges the Commission to drive change through its future initiatives (see EUROPE 12295/7).
According to him, consumer information will be crucial in this second stage of the transition to the circular economy. Education, lifelong learning and self-learning must be put in place and consumers must receive the most objective information possible, avoiding “greenwashing” and social “make-up”.
The EESC advocates voluntary labelling as a step towards mandatory labelling, indicating the social and environmental footprint of the product - reduction of emissions, conservation of biodiversity, resource efficiency or avoidance of components with a high environmental impact, estimated lifespan, availability of spare parts and repair options.
It wants the social and environmental footprint of products to be calculated using reliable, comparable and verifiable indicators, in particular those relating to chemical substances.
The EESC considers that taxation and public procurement are effective tools for piloting a reward-based approach to responsible production and consumption. It also stresses the urgent need to improve eco-design. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)