Orgalime comments on the Commission Roadmap regarding the development of a monitoring framework for the Circular Economy

Following the recent publication of a roadmap towards developing a monitoring framework for the Circular Economy, the European Commission has invited comments on its proposal. Orgalime was glad to have the opportunity to respond: we support developing this kind of framework at EU level, and generally agree with the aim of measuring progress at EU and Member-State level through a limited number of indicators that capture the main elements of the Circular Economy. In order to meet this goal, it is important that indicators be meaningful, measurable, and capable of appropriately informing stakeholders of trends – and that they can provide a comprehensive picture about resource use and resource efficiency in the European Union and in Member States.

With this in mind, we welcome that the Roadmap explicitly states that all indicators included in the framework will meet the ‘RACER’ principle (data availability, fitness for purpose to guide regulators in their policy making, consistency, completeness or timeliness). However, issues remain regarding data availability and a need to improve reliability of databases and standardisation processes on data measurement. Moreover, as the resource efficiency agenda combines the economic and environmental spheres, so should indicators. They should depict resource use, while also considering technological developments. As outlined in previous position papers, Orgalime remains convinced that indicators should help to steer European environmental policy to maximize resource efficiency and competitiveness alike.

An effective system of indicators that takes these considerations into account could serve as a helpful information tool, supporting understanding in areas such as: the link between economic growth, industrial competitiveness and resource efficiency; the case for resource efficiency as an economic agenda; trends in resource use and their environmental impact; and identification of potential improvements for resource use in a Circular Economy. To this end, we suggest structuring the dashboard along the following four categories: economy, environment, technology and (environmental) policy implementation score. This comprehensive approach could provide insights into achieving the best of both worlds – maintaining a strong industry in Europe that creates jobs and growth, within an overall sustainable, low-carbon, resource-efficient and competitive economy.

Download the position paper to read our response in full.