Government initiates new standardisation roadmap for a circular economy

The German environment ministry (BMU) has set up a stakeholder process to assess the status quo of standardisation and describe the requirements for future standards, in a bid to enable a more climate friendly and circular economy. Some important materials, such as recycled plastic for making new products are lacking norms and standards altogether, the BMU said in a press release. Environment minister Svenja Schulze said: "Anyone who takes the idea of the circular economy seriously must take the entire life cycle of products into account […]. Norms and standards, which must be securely and comprehensibly followed, play a major role in this.” This would help close circles and thus protect the climate and environment. The circular economy standardisation roadmap focusses on seven key topics: electrical engineering & information and communication technology, batteries, packaging, plastics, textiles, buildings & municipalities, digitalisation/business models/management. They are aligned with the focus topics of the Circular Economy Action Plan of the EU. Results of the initiative are expected in November 2022.

First attempts at the national and European level to better integrate recycling and circularity concepts into the energy transition have been dismissed as inadequate by environmental activists. But industry groups hope a bustling recycling market could also come to life without help, thanks to the immense value better recycled materials have to offer.