The Circular Economy Act (CEA), highlighted in the European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal unveiled in February 2025, is set to transform the European market by establishing a Single Market for waste and secondary raw materials. By promoting circular economy principles, the CEA aims to reduce dependency on scarce resources, enhance economic resilience, lower production costs, and minimize waste and CO2 emissions. This legislative framework will be focusing on ensuring a level playing field for circular materials, products, and services, underpinned by reliable information and strategic policies.
A key priority of the CEA is the diligent implementation of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, ensuring that product design fosters extended life cycles, improved resource efficiency, and enhanced recyclability. Furthermore, the Act aims to boost high-quality recycled products, incentivise recycling over landfill, and facilitate the free movement of secondary raw materials within the EU.
A practical solution for circular industries
The ICARUS Project, in alignment with the objectives of the Circular Economy Act, is leading the way in upcycling waste materials to create a more sustainable and circular industrial model. Focused on increasing the use of secondary resources in the process and construction industries, ICARUS aims to significantly improve resource efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions across the value chain.
By proving the technical and economic feasibility of using secondary resources, ICARUS ensures that recycled materials maintain identical quality and performance as primary raw materials. This innovation not only reduces landfill waste but also fosters new business opportunities – particularly for SMEs operating in the recycling sector.
ICARUS is also instrumental in Europe’s ambition to lead the digital and climate-neutral circular economy transformation. By linking industrial players, recyclers, public authorities, and standardisation bodies, the project paves the way for a sustainable, digitalised, and resource-efficient future. Through its strategic efforts, ICARUS supports the CEA’s vision of a competitive, resilient, and environmentally just Europe.
The Circular Economy Act could benefit projects like ICARUS, shaping the future of sustainable consumption, production, and construction, driving Europe towards a greener, more circular economy.
