Europe Goes Circular

Circular economy is reshaping the way Europe produces, consumes, and manages resources, driven in part by the upcoming Circular Economy Act, the EU’s future legislative framework designed to accelerate circular practices across the Single Market. As the CEA moves forward and prepares to set binding requirements, the need for shared concepts and a harmonized approach becomes even more critical, making the work of CEN/TC 473 directly relevant to its implementation. The Act will strengthen rules on durability, reparability, and recyclability, and it will clarify obligations for producers and public authorities.

Chaired by Dr Raul Carlsson and hosted by the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS) with Ms Laura Linnala as secretary, TC 473 brings together specialists from across Europe committed to making the transition more accessible and more actionable. The committee develops standards and guidance documents. These help translate policy objectives into practical and usable European standards and provide a shared reference point for public authorities, industry, and other stakeholders. TC 473’s work is also closely aligned with international developments through its cooperation with ISO/TC 323 ‘Circular economy’, helping ensure coherence between European and global approaches and supporting the international uptake of circular economy principles.

Within this broader landscape, CEN/TC 473/WG 3 ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ stands out as a key driver. Extended Producer Responsibility gives producers a wider role in what happens to their products at end of life, from collection and sorting to recycling, repair, and the reintegration of materials. Through standardization, TC 473 supports this value chain by providing common definitions, performance criteria that help clarify roles and responsibilities, as well as guidance on how to set up EPR schemes. As Europe raises its ambitions, a consistent and coherent framework is essential to guarantee fair and efficient EPR systems across the Single Market. The ambitions are shared globally, as the document will be developed within ISO in parallel under the Vienna Agreement.

As TC 473 prepares for its next meeting in May, it continues to increase its impact, helping shift circularity from a policy vision to a shared and practical European reality.