Published 2025 – Europe needs a circular economy that reduces demand for natural resources, not one focused mainly on recycling and waste. In its submission to the European Commission’s public consultation on the EU Circular Economy Act, the Materials and Consumption Taskforce proposes three priorities to make resource reduction central to Europe’s climate, nature, economic and security goals.
Why does Europe need to reduce its material footprint?
A material footprint measures the raw materials extracted to meet a country’s consumption, including materials used outside its borders to produce imported goods. The Taskforce argues that Europe’s material use is too high to remain within planetary boundaries and leaves the region heavily dependent on resources imported from elsewhere.
Reducing material demand can also strengthen European competitiveness and resilience. Using fewer primary resources can reduce exposure to volatile global supply chains while creating demand for circular products, services and technologies.
What should the EU Circular Economy Act do?
The submission sets out three recommendations:
- Establish EU material footprint targets. The European Commission should develop science-based targets for reducing Europe’s material footprint, with targets for 2035 and 2040 developed by 2028. The Taskforce also calls for an expert committee to advise on targets, indicators and monitoring.
- Focus on the systems that meet people’s needs. Circular economy policy should look beyond individual products and address the systems that provide food, housing, mobility and energy. These systems should meet people’s needs while using fewer resources and supporting wellbeing, innovation and new green markets.
- Strengthen global governance of resources. Europe’s resource security cannot be separated from the countries where materials are extracted. The Taskforce calls for stronger international governance of material flows and critical raw materials, based on transparency, justice and equity
Why does the circular economy need to go beyond recycling?
Recycling is important, but it cannot eliminate the environmental impacts of extracting and processing new materials. The submission argues that circular economy policy must move further upstream by reducing demand, improving how resources are used and redesigning the systems that provide essential services.
This approach can help Europe address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution while reducing resource dependency and supporting a more socially just economy.
About the Materials and Consumption Taskforce
The Materials and Consumption Taskforce was established by the Club of Rome and the Hot or Cool Institute to examine how materials and consumption influence the global economy, the environment and human wellbeing. Its members include experts from the Club of Rome, International Resource Panel, Wuppertal Institute, Earth4All Initiative and other research organisations. The taskforce is co-chaired by Lewis Akenji and Anders Wijkman.
Read the full submission to explore the evidence, policy proposals and recommendations for a just and competitive circular economy.
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