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The first edition of EUobserver's Business in Europe magazine looks at business and industry in Europe.

So too could a circular

So too could a circular economy mean lower sales for retailers, whose customers may not be buying at such a frenetic pace. The commission plans to put new requirements for repairability, durability and recyclability in new ecodesign requirements. But for every cloud there is a silver lining. The commission has said implementation of their circular economy strategy could create 170,000 jobs, and bring net savings of €600 billion for businesses in the EU. According to a report by McKinsey, the policy could 2030. The commission says it can come from every stage of the process, from production to waste. The EU is making money and resources available to make this happen, and so unsurprisingly, business associations in Brussels are positioning themselves to make sure their members get a piece of the pie. “Steel is 100% recyclable - a ‘permanent’ material. This means that it is the key to the functioning of the circular Photo: voestalpine PRIMARY MATERIALS One might not think of traditional industrial products like steel, glass and aluminium as being environmentally friendly, but in fact these industries see dominance over newer, harder-to-reuse materials like plastics. Steel, for instance, can be melted and reused. The sector is also able to make by-products from the steel production process. For instance, the process gas from iron ore melting has been used since the 19th century to produce energy used in other steps of the production process, or for other industrial plants. Axel Eggert, director general of the European Steel Association (Eurofer), says the industry has been make it easier for steel to be recycled. He says this This means that it is the key to the functioning of the circular economy,” he notes. PRODUCTION The commission insists producers will not suffer from the new requirements for durable design. New design requirements create a market opening for new production technologies and materials, they insist. In addition, making products easier to disassemble means that it will be easier for manufacturers to retrieve and reuse them, saving money. Repair services could provide a Photo: John Sattar 18 — BUSINESS IN EUROPE JUNE 2016

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