The European Commission is working on a new and more ambitious circular economy strategy to turn Europe into a more resource-efficient economy. In this context, DG Environment launched a consultation on circular economy to which Cerame-Unie replied and delivered the following general messages:

• Priority should be given to home appliances and office equipment;
• CU supports CEN/TC350 voluntary standards for assessing the sustainability of buildings;
• Relevant energy savings can be obtained through a proper design of buildings;
• Safety considerations should be included;
• The durability of construction products is an important factor in the resource efficiency of buildings and should be appropriately reflected in European policy;
• Policy needs to be designed from a full supply chain perspective whereby the economics of recycling are weighed against the environmental and social impacts;
• More innovation is needed through EU financing.