This document, adopted on March 11, 2020, is the cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, integrating it as a fundamental pillar of the European Green Deal. The plan updates and expands the 2018 Circular Economy Package, with more ambitious targets and concrete actions for key sectors, including the recovery of agro-industrial waste for use in construction.
Main Objectives of the 2020 Action Plan:
- Reduce the environmental footprint of EU consumption by promoting sustainable and durable products.
- Prioritize circular value chains, particularly in construction, textiles, plastics, and food.
- Ensure less waste and greater resource recovery, including agro-industrial residues.
- Boost innovation in circular business models, such as material leasing and advanced recycling.
Key Highlights for Agri-Industrial Waste in Construction
- Construction Sector as a Priority
The plan identifies construction as one of the most resource-intensive sectors, responsible for nearly 50% of all raw material extraction in the EU. Specific measures include:
- Sustainable Construction Initiative:
- Promotion of circular materials, including bio-composites made with agricultural waste
- Implementation of material passports to track recycled content and material performance
- Revision of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) to include circularity criteria
- Agro-Industrial Waste as a Valuable Resource
- Agriculture and food industry: The plan supports the use of by-products from these sectors in construction materials, with a focus on:
- Bio-based materials
- Substitution of virgin raw materials
- Industrial symbiosis: It encourages collaboration between the agro-industrial sector and the construction industry, aiming to create closed-loop value chains that increase efficiency and sustainability.
