Lobbying Activity
Response to Circular Economy Act
5 Nov 2025
Our Ocean Can't Wait: Priorities for the EU Circular Economy Act The upcoming EU Circular Economy (CE) Act is a critical opportunity to bring our consumption back within planetary boundaries. To truly protect our blue planet, we must move beyond incremental changes and demand bold action now. 1. Slash Resource Use and Simplify Plastics Current EU material use stands at an unsustainably high 14 tonnes per citizen annually; we need binding EU-wide targets to drastically reduce this footprint. Furthermore, the explosion of poorly recyclable polymers is fundamentally unsustainable. We call for an immediate reduction in virgin plastic polymers, phasing out those that are harmful or block recycling. Ocean Reality Check: Fishing nets and traps are often made of mixed polymers, making them nearly impossible to recycle and a persistent threat to marine life. 2. A Toxic-Free Future The CE Act must guarantee clean manufacturing and toxic-free material cycles. It is time to turn the Commission's promises into reality by minimizing and substituting chemicals with chronic health and environmental effects, especially in everyday consumer products. 3. Prioritize Reuse Over Waste Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) must stop just funding waste management and start funding genuine solutions. We need EPR schemes transformed into drivers of sustainability that actively finance prevention, repair, and reuse systems. Leading by Example: Public procurement must set mandatory criteria to create predictable demand for circular goods. Member states should require minimum reuse content in tenders for sectors like catering and transport. 4. Real Recycling, No False Solutions We must redesign plastics towards mono-materials and safer chemicals to ensure high-quality mechanical recycling. Stop Greenwashing: Inefficient, highly polluting technologies like pyrolysis and gasification ("chemical recycling") must not be promoted as sustainable solutions to the plastic crisis. Safe Standards: We need well-designed EU-wide "End-of-Waste" criteria to ensure traceability and prevent toxic loops or illegal waste trade that threatens human health and the environment.
Read full responseResponse to The European Oceans Pact
4 Feb 2025
Ocean. Now! sees three major priorities for the field of fisheries: A key priority is the reinforcement of the implementation and enforcement of ocean-related laws and policies, with particular attention to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). While maintaining the integrity of the CFP without revision, efforts should focus on ensuring its effective application. Additionally, strengthening policy coherence and establishing legally binding targets are essential, particularly within the framework of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD). Enhancing these directives will contribute to more consistent and effective ocean governance. Furthermore, achieving a Just Transition towards a low-impact blue economy is critical. This requires the adoption of an EU Ocean Fund to support sustainable economic activities that prioritize environmental and social responsibility.
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