Circular Economy Roadmap: EU and China

In April, the EU and China agreed to further their cooperation on the circular economy via a memorandum of understanding which lays out a joint Circular Economy Roadmap.

Under the memorandum, the parties agree to the following:

• dialogue on design, planning and implementation of strategies, legislation, policies and research
• strategic exchanges on management systems and policy tools, such as eco-design, eco-labelling, extended producer responsibility and green supply chains
• strategic exchanges on best practices in key fields such as industrial parks, chemicals, plastics and waste, and
• exchanges on investment and financing of the circular economy

China and the EU will hold annual high-level dialogues with broad participation from both sides, and organise capacity building, training programmes, workshops and people-to-people exchanges.

The first workshop, “Transition to a Circular Economy – EU and China’s approaches and the role of the plastics sector” took place on 16 and 17 May, and included dedicated sessions promoting:

• open exchange on practice and design for a circular economy from a life-cycle perspective, and
• policy developments and measures on single-use, bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Both sides agreed to intensify their exchanges ahead of the final meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Busan, South Korea, in November 2024.

It is not only about recycling processes and compliance, it is also about networking. ERP shares knowledge, insights, and news so that together we can promote the sustainable agenda.