The Download - The tech sector: circularity in action

In this edition of ‘The Download’: The digital industry has invested significant efforts to improve the sustainability of its products, such as by practising the ‘R principles’ – refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, repurpose and recycle – throughout the product lifecycle.

Digital technologies also play an important role in improving the sustainability of various other industries like energy, transportation, or agriculture, and enabling them to implement circularity strategies and circular supply chains.

Demand for sustainable products is growing, whilst raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce. This evolving reality makes the shift to a circular economy even more crucial. The EU should seize this momentum to unlock the potential of the single market and enable an economically viable circular industry.

DIGITALEUROPE has been very supportive of the Green Deal’s ambition to improve the sustainability of products, operations, and processes whilst stimulating the EU’s competitiveness. However, this goal is being undermined by fragmented, overly prescriptive, and inconsistent implementation of legislation. It is estimated that the Green Deal initiatives resulted in an additional administrative burden on businesses and citizens of €2 billion per year.[1]

[1] European Commission, 2022 Annual Burden Survey.