New set of goals for circular economy enables better steering…
In the update of the NPCE, three new goals have been formulated for saving, replacing, and retaining resources. These new goals better reflect the complexity of the circular economy, which cannot be captured in a single number. The goals formulated in the update align with the so-called circularity strategies and provide more steering information than the former generic halving target for the use of primary abiotic resources in 2030, from which the NPCE update now departs.
To steer more effectively on goal achievement, it is crucial that there is a translation of the goals into product groups, such as textiles, electronics, and housing construction. This clarifies what contributions product groups can make to the national policy task.
…but plans and resources still insufficient to accelerate the transition
The NPCE update outlines the enticing perspective of a competitive, innovative, circular economy and contains many plans and proposals. However, these do not yet provide the conditions to substantially stimulate market demand for circular products. It is also noticeable that after 2025, structurally less money has been reserved in the national budget for circular economy, while this does not go hand in hand with the simultaneous introduction of more normative and pricing policy instruments. Thus, the NPCE update is not yet the gamechanger to actually accelerate the transition to a circular economy. In light of the urgency for circular economy that the update outlines, this is concerning.
The PBL reflection was presented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to the members of the House of Representatives simultaneously with the NPCE Update.
