Today the European Commission presented a package of proposals in the context of the European Green Deal, to make sustainable products the norm in the EU, to promote circular business models and empower consumers in the green transition. Henrike Hahn, Bavarian MEP of the Greens/EFA and member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and industrial policy spokesperson of the German Delegation, comments:
"In the field of tension between rising raw material prices, Putin's attack of the Ukraine and the climate crisis, the Commission's Circular Economy Package is an important milestone towards green transformation. The core building blocks of the circular economy - reducing our resource and energy consumption - and energy efficiency are key measures on the way to a climate-neutral economy in Europe. Today's Commission proposal on the circular economy weaves these measures into key economic sectors such as the construction and building sector and the textile sector.
The construction and building sector in particular has a high potential for a circular economy. There is still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to resource efficiency and energy savings - currently, the sector still accounts for almost 40 percent of greenhouse gases in Europe.
A circular economy with functioning markets for recycled products is a double win: for the climate and the environment by saving valuable resources, but also for the benefit of Europe's independence from raw materials. With Putin's attack of the Ukraine it has become clear that high dependencies on third countries can have fatal consequences for the EU's independence and economic ability to act.
In order to achieve our climate targets as quickly as possible, we must also involve consumers in particular and facilitate responsible consumption through information, transparency and strong consumer rights. The right to repair now enshrined in the Commission's proposal is an important step towards making products more durable and sustainable through a circular economy."
My team and I are at your disposal for any further questions.