Circular Economy
Our current capitalist economies, based on the endless extraction of resources, are putting excessive strain on our planet.
Consumerism has led to harmful production methods, resource scarcity, and pollution. A fundamental rethinking of the current linear economic system is necessary to secure intergenerational justice, human rights, and planetary boundaries. To move beyond endless growth in a finite environment, it is essential to reinvent our consumption and production.
The Circular Economy Working Group advocates for the inclusion of youth voices and intergenerational justice in circular economy policies, focusing on three pillars: Food, Textiles, and Resource Justice.
Textiles
The textile industry is among the most environmentally and socially damaging sectors, driving water use, pollution, waste, and emissions. As something we interact with daily, it plays a significant role in our environmental footprint. Reforming this industry is crucial to tackling the planetary crisis and advancing a just transition that safeguards resources, workers’ rights, and future generations.
The EU is driving this transformation through its Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, aiming to make products durable, repairable, and sustainably made by 2030. New policies such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, Digital Product Passport, Green Claims Directive, and Extended Producer Responsibility are key tools in this shift.
Yet, youth voices remain underrepresented. Many young people want to act more sustainably but lack clear information about policy. The Textiles Team aims to fill this gap by informing young people and amplifying youth voices for a circular, just textiles sector in EU policy-making.
Resource Justice
The green and digital transitions require growing amounts of critical raw materials, and Europe will need to more than triple its consumption by 2050.
The implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) aims to accelerate access to these resources, but often lacks transparency and risks reinforcing unsustainable extraction and inequalities.
With key milestones in 2025–2026, it is crucial to ensure that youth perspectives shape raw materials policy.
The Resource Justice initiative focuses on
- Fostering dialogue among youth, civil society, policymakers, and industry on critical raw materials
- Improving youth understanding of EU raw materials policies and their impacts
- Advocatting for intergenerational equity, fair resource use, and sustainability in CRMA implementation
Food
Europe’s food systems face interconnected challenges, including biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and inequalities, requiring structural change for fair, resilient, climate-compatible systems.
The EU has launched key frameworks such as the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies, but progress remains fragmented and polarised.
Youth voices are essential in shaping both food policy content and decision-making processes. Recent EU reforms, including the CAP and Soil Monitoring Law, mark a key moment for a systemic and intergenerationally just food transition.
The Food Team aims to equip young people to engage in EU food policy debates and promote holistic approaches, including the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and sustainable food innovation.
Key Numbers
A circular economy is intrinsically linked with intergenerational justice. As young people we deserve to live in a world of sustainable jobs and industries, where resources are used efficiently, and waste and pollution are reduced. Circular principles ensure that our long-term economic and environmental goals are aligned and we future-proof the economy to protect both the planet and opportunities for future generations.
Alba Mullen, Project Lead Textiles
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