EU appoints first circular economy Commissioner

For the first time, a single EU Commissioner has been given responsibility for guiding the bloc's transition to a circular economy that can reduce pressure on natural resources, create sustainable growth and jobs, and meet carbon-neutral targets.

Jessika Roswall of Sweden has been named EU Commissioner for the environment, water resources, and circular economy competitiveness following the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission last month. Previously, responsibility for the circular economy agenda was split across multiple commissions.

From Sweden's ruling centre-right Moderate Party, Roswall previously served as the country's minister for EU affairs. In her appointment letter, von der Leyen said the circular economy elements of her brief will include measures to create market demand for secondary materials and to establish single markets for waste, notably in relation to critical raw materials, and sustainable products.

The EU aims to double its use of recycled material, in terms of its share in the total amount of material used by the economy, between 2020 and 2030. The current circular material use rate in the EU is around 1 per cent.

A recent report focusing on the Netherlands only predicted shortages in essential raw materials for packaging by 2050 unless a circular economy for primary materials like plastic, cardboard and aluminium is introduced, noting that only 7 per cent of consumer packaging is currently recycled.