During a webinar entitled "Circular Economy beyond energy: recycling and reducing waste", ECR Member Tjisse Stelpstra, emphasized the "urgent need to begin improving the circularity of materials and systems". Existing linear economies have proven to be "environmentally damaging" as we continue to be more and more dependent on "globalised supply chains and cheap raw materials".

"This is nothing new", added Mr Stelpstra, who also serves as Regional Minister for the Drenthe province in the Netherlands, and whose opinion on the New Circular Economy Action Plan was adopted by the European Committee of the Regions on 14 October 2020. However, the COVID-19 crisis has very much exposed that dependency.

Mr Stelpstra continued by saying that a shift in mindset should be the first step in further developing the Circular Economy. This mindset of "there is no waste" is not something we only want for governments but also for citizens and businesses. "Everyone has a role to play". To promote the principle of zero waste, we need to stop labelling what are essential resources as waste – "there is no waste", he reiterated.

"With the resilience and resourcefulness" we have seen in the current pandemic situation on behalf of citizens and businesses, "we can achieve results", encouraged Mr Stelpstra. He concluded by calling on Member States to devise their national recovery plans from the crisis with long-term investments for environmental progress. "It is our duty to show our children that the transition to a Circular Economy is not only about the environment but about welfare".

Mr Stelpstra was invited to take part in the webinar, which is part of FEDARENE's Circular Economy Webinar Series.