What role can circularity play in the EU meeting its growing demand for CRMs? This event explores the gaps between the EU ambition for domestic CRMs recycling and the pursuit of a circular economy.
8 November 2023 – Hybrid / Press Club Brussels, Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels (10.30–12.00 CET)
Delivering a net-zero Europe by 2050 requires an accelerated transformation of the EU’s industry to support the growing demand in clean technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries, solar panels and wind turbines. Accordingly, to scale up and deliver domestic production of clean technologies to meet the expected future demand the EU will need a substantial amount of critical raw materials (CRMs).
In this context, on 16 March 2023, the European Commission published its proposal for a European Critical Raw Material Act (CRMA) to safeguard the green and digital transitions by securing a stable and strategic supply of CRMs for domestic production. The CRMA proposal sets out four main targets to be achieved by 2030 regarding the origin of EU consumption of strategic raw materials (SRMs):
However, ensuring that 15% of CRMs in the EU are sourced through domestic recycling by 2030 will require substantial efforts given the low current-day recycling rates for many CRMs. Meeting this proposed target whilst satisfying the EU’s growing demand for clean technologies and remaining within planetary boundaries will require circular economy policies to be scaled up throughout clean technology supply chains.
During the event IEEP will share insights from recent research on the “circularity gaps” of the CRMA and facilitate an engaging panel discussion with experts working on CRMs, sustainability and circularity. Questions this event aims to answer include:
- What circular economy-related elements are integrated into the CRMA?
- What are the major gaps concerning recycling of CRMs in the EU?
- What measures could close the gaps and increase domestic recycling rates of CRMs?
- What circular economy policies could support the wider delivery of the CRMA objectives?
Speakers
- Antoine Oger Research Director, IEEP
- Emma Watkins Senior Policy Analyst, IEEP
- MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen
- Edoardo Bodo, RREUSE
- Tahmid Chowdhury, Programme Manager, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
- Justyna Balbier Inetas, Senior EU Affairs Manager & Head of EU Office, Hydro
For more information about the event, please contact: eblot@ieep.eu
Download the agenda here.
Download the briefing here.
Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash
