Circular Economy Act : EUREFAS calls for Reuse prioritization to unlock $15BN+ market and drive EU competitiveness

Brussels, November 10th, 2025 – The European Refurbishment Association EUREFAS presents its position on the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, recognising the legislation as a significant opportunity to establish a comprehensive and future-proof legal framework for a circular economy within the EU.

EUREFAS highlights that reuse, among that refurbishment, stands as the most environmentally efficient solution to reduce waste and strengthen the EU’s sovereignty on materials as commended by the CEA. In consequence, the Association calls for a full integration and prioritisation of reuse within the Circular Economy Act (hereafter CEA), aligning all policies with the EU Waste Hierarchy.

EUREFAS's four priority recommendations for the CEA

To unlock the sector's full potential, EUREFAS concludes that the CEA acts simultaneously on four fronts to transform the EU into a global leader in the circular economy :

Securing the supply chain through "Reuse First" collection systems and mandatory professional diagnosis of all used products to assess reuse potential before waste classification and premature recycling
Ending planned obsolescence through strengthening the Right to Repair, extending software lifespan, and banning anti-repair practices (such as parts pairing)
Opening the single market for second-hand products through eliminating double taxation (EPR fees and private copy levies) and clarifying the legal status of refurbishment as well as streamlining EPR systems through a One-stop-Shop to reduce administrative burden
Mandating investment in Reuse through EPR governance reform granting co-decision power to reuse actors and requiring a minimum of 30% of PRO revenues (Producer Responsibility Organizations) to be allocated to funding national reuse development strategies.

“The Circular Economy Act is a pivotal moment, not just another piece of legislation. It's the critical juncture to forge the comprehensive legal framework needed for a robust, competitive EU circular economy. By enshrining reuse at the very heart of the CEA strategy, the EU is seizing an opportunity to strengthen its sovereignty against escalating global resource competition." says Augustin Becquet, Chairman of EUREFAS.

The role of reuse in Circular Economy

Reuse activities, among them refurbishment, is a direct strategic driver for achieving the core objectives of the CEA concerning EU competitiveness and resource sovereignty.The professional process of refurbishing devices retains most of the resource value and integrity, immediately supporting the CEA's aim to strengthen the EU's sovereignty on materials. By displacing the need for new, imported products, it builds resilient, local value chains and creates high-quality jobs, boosting EU competitiveness. Moreover, as the preferred step in the waste hierarchy, reuse is the most environmentally efficient solution to reduce waste and the carbon footprint of ICT consumption, a primary environmental mandate in the CEA. Crucially, reuse is complementary to recycling, serving as the logical precursor in the waste hierarchy for products that retain functional value.

The Circular Economy Act represents a critical juncture for EU industrial and environmental policy. EUREFAS urges policymakers to seize this opportunity by embedding the Reuse First principle into the legal foundation of the CEA. By doing so, the European Union can unlock significant economic value, secure vital resources, substantially reduce its environmental footprint and cement its global leadership in the circular economy.

About EUREFAS:

The European Refurbishment Association (EUREFAS) aims to guide European institutions in shaping legislation towards more sustainable consumption of consumer electronics. EUREFAS works in a united front of 25 companies with the common goal of minimising overall environmental impact and ensuring long-term sustainability of the electronics industry by achieving a circular economy.

Find out more at www.eurefas.com.

EUREFAS has signed the transparency register of the European institutions under the number 332404341982-26 and is thus committed to fully comply with its code of conduct while engaging vis à vis the EU officials.

Media relations : press@eurefas.com