The UK government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has today (21 May) launched a new inquiry to assess “the progress of the UK government in bringing about a more circular economy, and the work of key regulators to ensure waste is sustainably managed.”
The committee will call for evidence on a regular basis and produce iterative and focused reports throughout the inquiry. Topics for scrutiny in the inquiry may include:
- Packaging reforms - Extended Producer Responsibility, Deposit Return Schemes, Simpler Recycling and the plastic packaging tax
- Reducing the use of single use items and encouraging more ecological product designs
- International cooperation and waste exports
- Encouraging more sustainable product imports
- Growing domestic reuse, repair and recycling industries
- Developing circular economies across different sectors, including agriculture and organic wastes such as food
- Efforts to lessen the environmental impact and use of landfill and incineration
- Tackling waste crime
Commenting on the inquiry, Diane Crowe, group sustainability director at international circular economy specialist, Reconomy, said: “We welcome the EFRA Committee’s decision to examine the UK’s circular economy progress. The global economy remains overwhelmingly linear, with just 6.9% of resources making their way back into the economy - leaving a staggering circularity gap of 93.1%. Addressing this requires bold reform, industry cooperation, and urgent action across supply chains.
“At Reconomy, we’re seeing growing momentum from businesses seeking to reduce waste and adopt circular models - but this must be matched by policy certainty and effective regulation. Implementing and aligning circular reforms such as Extended Producer Responsibility, Deposit Return Schemes, and Simpler Recycling with international frameworks will be essential to accelerating progress.”
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