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The transition to a circular economy is seen as fundamental to reducing pressure on natural resources, halting biodiversity loss, and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, as well as strengthening Europe's competitiveness. In this context, the EU has introduced several laws and proposals until 2026 that require companies to adopt more circular and sustainable practices. Among the main initiatives are:
Aligned with the goal of doubling the circularity rate to 24% by 2030, it will create a single market for secondary raw materials, expanding the supply and demand for recycled materials in the EU. The regulation is currently under public consultation (launched in August 2025) and is expected to standardize norms for the use of recycled materials.
- Sustainable products & ecodesign
New requirements for circular design and consumer information. Key elements include the ecodesign regulation for sustainable products (applicable since July 2024) and guidelines on the durability and repairability of goods. For example, a 2024 directive ensures that sellers provide information on durability and repairability when selling products, while another implements the “right to repair” electronic equipment. These rules oblige manufacturers to design products that are more durable, easy to repair and contain recycled content.
ntroduced under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the DPP will provide essential information about a product’s materials, durability, and environmental footprint - all accessible through a digital tag like a QR code. While implementation will vary by product category, it is set to become a key tool for transparency, traceability and circular economy compliance across EU supply chains.
- Waste and Recycling
For cross-border shipments, from May 2026, all intra-community waste shipments must use the DIWASS digital system, replacing paper forms and speeding up processes.
- Plastic Pollution and Microplastics
To prevent the loss of plastic pellets, Regulation (EU) 2025/2365 came into effect in November 2025 for all companies handling ≥5 tonnes/year, requiring them to adopt containment plans and loss reporting. Those handling more than 1,500 tonnes/year need specific authorization; smaller companies must declare compliance.
In addition, it should be emphasized that in 2023 the EU applied a restriction via REACH that prohibits the sale of microplastics intentionally added to products (restrictions extending to cosmetics, detergents, etc.). Such measures oblige manufacturers to reformulate plastic materials and prevent the loss of fragments into the environment.
These laws reflect the EU's commitment to transforming the production model into a circular one and meeting targets (such double the circularity in the economy, that should be around 24% by 2030) will require innovation in products and supply chains. To this end, the focus is on providing companies with a stable regulatory framework that encourages resource reuse, efficient recycling and waste reduction, while promoting greater sustainable competitiveness of European industries.
