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The circular economy needs many contributors

In the future, raw materials should be kept in circulation for as long as possible, and overall raw material consumption should be reduced. Implementing the circular economy strategy across the entire value chain is essential for achieving this. From the development stage onward, product design must ensure that other users or recyclers can continue to work with the product at its end of life, thus closing the material loop. This requires close cooperation among all stakeholders along the entire value chain—not only with upstream suppliers and customers, such as other users and recyclers, but also with science and authorities. Those who give products and materials a second, third, or fourth life need data and information from earlier stages in the chain. Every link in the chain must understand how decisions at one stage affect other stages of the value chain. Digital services can support the flow of information and create opportunities for repair, reuse, second-hand use, or sharing.

Many contributors are needed to tackle these challenges. Politics, business, civil society, and science must actively engage in the transformation and work together. Policymakers must create the legal framework that enables the circular economy to develop into a viable business model, thereby contributing to the protection of the environment, nature, and climate. New business models are emerging for the economy, along with new opportunities for product design and production processes. High-quality science is essential to drive innovation, and society must be open to integrating circular product use into everyday life.