Secondary raw materials ‘are recycled materials that can be used in manufacturing processes instead of or alongside virgin raw materials. The use of secondary raw materials presents a number of advantages, including increased security of supply, reduced material and energy use, reduced impacts on the climate and the environment, and reduced manufacturing costs.’
In the European Union, legislation and policies related to secondary raw materials play a significant role in promoting the reuse, recycling, and recovery of resources to minimize environmental impacts and conserve natural resources. Here are some examples:
- The Circular Economy Package, adopted in 2015 and revised in 2018, includes a set of directives and regulations aimed at promoting a circular economy. It establishes recycling targets for various materials, encourages waste prevention, and promotes resource efficiency. The package sets specific recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste and includes measures to increase the use of secondary raw materials in products and processes.
- The Waste Framework Directive establishes a legal framework for waste hierarchy principles, with prevention as the top priority, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal. The directive also places responsibility on producers for the life cycle of their products, including the management of waste.
- WEEE Directive: The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive addresses the proper disposal and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment waste and promotes the recovery of valuable materials, including metals and plastics, for reuse in new electronic products.
Bibliography
European Commission. (2023). Circular economy action plan. Retrieved from European Commission Environment – Strategy: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en.
European Parliament. (2023). Strategies for Secondary Raw Materials. Retrieved from the European Parliament Legislative Train: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-new-boost-for-jobs-growth-and-investment/file-strategy-for-secondary-raw-materials.
Written by Marina Scelta
Born in Palermo (Italy), passionate about learning languages since a very young age, she studied Interpreting and Translation for English and French in her hometown, then moved to London for a Master’s Degree in the same domain (University of Westminster), eager to earn some first-hand experience in an international environment. In 2020, she decided to move back to Italy, where she applied for her second Master’s Degree in Foreign Languages for International Communication (Università degli Studi di Torino). In 2021, she had the opportunity to move to Strasbourg as an Erasmus student for almost one year, at the end of which she made of that city her new home. Currently in the process of writing her master’s thesis, in her free time Marina enjoys travelling, singing, walking in the nature, solving crosswords puzzles, and mostly looking around for vegan food.