On 16-17 May, the EU-China Workshop on “Transition to a Circular Economy - EU and China’s approaches and the role of the plastics sector” was jointly held by the European Commission’s Directorate for Environment and the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC). The workshop, held in Beijing in hybrid format with both online and in-person participation, was organised with the support of the EU-China Circular Economy Project, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Mr. Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director for Circular Economy at the European Commission’  Directorare General for Environment in and Mr Wen Hua, Deputy Director General at NDRC’s Department of Environment Protection and Resource Conservation opened the workshop and introduced the EU and China’s state of play of their respective circular economy policies and plastics strategies. The two-days workshop included dedicated sessions promoting open exchange on:  practice and design for a circular economy from a life cycle approach; and on policy developments and measures on single-use plastics, bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. The urgency to jointly step up action at international level was highlighted and the EU and China’s positions in the ongoing negotiations for an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution were discussed. Both sides agreed to intensify and deepen their exchanges on this subject in view of the final meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee  to be held in Busan, RoK in November 20024.

Representatives from industry, academia, civil society and Member States’ Embassies in China were in attendance and contributed to the discussion.

Plastic pollution is one of the prioritised topics included in the Circular Economy Roadmap agreed by the EU and NDRC in April 2024. The Roadmap supports the implementation of the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding. Activities in 2024 focus on plastics, including the ongoing negotiations for a plastics treaty, battery value chains and remanufacturing.

Background  

Against the background of the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and environment pollution, China and the European Union have a mutual interest and important role in promoting alternative pathways for development and prosperity that do not contribute to the depletion of our environment.  

Circular economy is a central feature of the EU’s drive to achieve a zero-carbon economy by 2050 and is key to halting biodiversity loss and delivering zero pollution. China has a long-standing interest in circular economy and has developed specific legislation supporting its transition. 

Commitment to this cooperation was confirmed at the first High-level Policy Dialogue on Circular Economy, chaired by Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and Vice-Chairman Zhao Chenxin, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Both sides agreed to extend the Memorandum of Understanding for 5 years, and to jointly develop a Circular Economy Roadmap supporting its implementation.  The Roadmap was jointly endorsed in April 2024 and includes three workshops on plastics, batteries value chain and remanufacturing.