In a joint initiative, knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are working together to achieve the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which will be part of the third pillar of Horizon Europe, has created various KICs to foster innovation in specific areas. Six of them, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing and EIT Urban Mobility, launched a cross-KIC action with the aim to strengthen collaboration related to activities in achieving the Circular Economy Action Plan as part of the European Green Deal.
The European Union (EU) updated this action plan and added new measures to achieve a circular economy. The new action plan seeks to make sustainable products the new norm in the EU, empower consumers and buyers and ensure that the economy produces less waste. Moreover, it aims to lead efforts on circular economy globally and create circularity work for people. In general, the EU plans to focus on sectors with the highest resource consumption and with the biggest potential for circularity e.g. batteries, ICT, and vehicles.
Circular economy models keep resources within the economy and thus eliminate waste. Products are reused repeatedly and waste products are used as a new resource and integrated back into the economy. This is vital because most resources are finite and the competition around them is increasing the pressure on the environment. A transition towards a circular economy requires fundamental changes throughout the value chains. The economy needs new business and market models, product designs, and consumer behaviour.
The cross-KIC initiative’s goal is to open a discussion in the EIT communities and create collaborative solutions to achieve a circular economy. Additionally, the cross-KIC wants to improve coordination with the European Commission (EC), strengthen ties with relevant stakeholders and assist the EIT in its discussion with the Directorate-General for Environment of the EC.
Cliona Howie, Head of circular economy development and transition in the EIT Climate-KIC, was appointed to the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform Coordination Group. Howie will attend to the coordination group as a representative of the Circular Economy Cross-KIC action. The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform connects various organisations, which focus on circular economy in Europe. The stakeholders can share new ideas and scale-up effective solutions to specific challenges in the transition to a circular economy.