The circular economy implies reducing waste to a minimum as well as re-using, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products. What used to be considered as 'waste' can be turned into a valuable resource.
In December 2015 the European Commission presented an action plan for the circular economy, as well as four legislative proposals amending the following legal acts: Waste Framework Directive; Landfilling Directive; Packaging Waste Directive; Directives on end-of-life vehicles, on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
In February 2020 the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan as one of the main blocks of the European Green Deal, Europe’s new agenda for sustainable growth.
Considering that the construction equipment are high value and long-life capital goods, main circular economy principles have been integrated naturally in the sector. Construction machinery is characterised by a high level of reparability, re-use and remanufacturing.