Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPEEEA briefing highlights urgent need for reducing material consumption
The latest briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that Europe is still far from a sustainable pattern of material use. Despite growing policy efforts, only 11.5 percent of materials used in the EU come from circular sources, while total material consumption continues to increase, putting additional pressure on ecosystems.
The EEA stresses that improvements in recycling alone are not sufficient. Sustainable material systems require products that last longer and can be more easily repaired, reused or recycled into high-quality secondary materials. Furthermore, economic development must be increasingly decoupled from resource consumption to stay within ecological limits. Efficient resource use and improved secondary material quality are key elements in this transition.
Overall, the briefing highlights that circular material use is a crucial enabler of transformative change in Europe. Only a systemic shift will make it possible to meet rising material demands sustainably.
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), Circular use of materials, 2025.