The Global Electronics Association Urges EU Policymakers to Advance the Circular Economy Act for a More Resilient Electronics Industry
By Diana Radovan, sustainability policy director, Global Electronics Association
Key Summary
• The Global Electronics Association submitted consolidated industry input to the European Commission on the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
• The consultation covered seven areas including WEEE, EPR systems, secondary raw materials, and waste management.
• The Association supports balanced, innovation-focused approaches that scale secondary-material markets and provide proportionate obligations for SMEs.
• Recommendations emphasized collaboration, digitalised reporting systems, and predictable policy timelines.
• The Association welcomes continued dialogue as the Circular Economy Act develops.
The Public Consultation initiated by the European Commission (EC) on the upcoming Circular Economy Act, expected at the end of 2026, closed November 6. The Global Electronics Association consolidated and submitted industry input on November 3, in the survey format provided by the EC and in the form of an initial position paper (to be refined with additional industry input throughout 2026). The Association thanks all those who responded to the detailed survey.
The public consultation included the following parts:
• Part 1 – Information about the organisation submitting comments
• Part 2 – General Questions on the Circular Economy
• Part 3 – Waste from electronic and electric equipment (WEEE)
• Part 4 – Single-Market Barriers and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Systems
• Part 5 – Demand and Supply of Secondary Raw Materials
• Part 6 – Improving Waste Management and Circular Processes
• Part 7 – Open Comments and Trade Implications
The Association strongly supports the EC’s efforts to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy through the upcoming Circular Economy Act, specifically:
• The Association calls for balanced, innovation-driven approaches that enable scaling of secondary-material markets, harmonised regulatory frameworks, and proportionate obligations for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Key ingredients for long-term investment identified by the electronics industry: cross-sector collaboration, digitalisation of reporting systems, and predictable policy timelines.
• The Association additionally encourages Members of the European Commission to integrate competitiveness, supply-chain resilience, and climate-neutrality among the key objectives.
We included recommendations in the following areas: EU-level coordination with a flexible national implementation scheme; handling waste from electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE), as well as waste and circular processes in general; overcoming single market barriers and dealing with EPR systems; proposals for the demand and supply of secondary raw materials.
The Association continues to advocate for and embody the international alignment of electronics standards and wide participation of the industry in rulemaking.
We remain open to dialogue as the Circular Economy Act continues to develop and welcome continued industry feedback on this topic. Contact me (DianaRadovan@electronics.org) for more information.
The Association submitted consolidated industry input to the European Commission through the official consultation survey and an initial position paper.
The consultation covered seven parts, including circular economy perspectives, WEEE, single market barriers, EPR systems, secondary raw materials, waste management, and open comments.
It supports innovation-driven approaches, harmonised rules, proportionate obligations for SMEs, and measures that strengthen circularity across the electronics sector.
Recommendations addressed EU-level coordination, national implementation flexibility, WEEE management, EPR systems, and improving demand and supply for secondary raw materials.
Members are encouraged to continue sharing feedback and can contact Diana Radovan at DianaRadovan@electronics.org