Mick Wallace: Circular Economy Must Not Serve GDP Growth
Mick Wallace addressed the Commission's circular economy action plan and a pending right-to-repair legislative proposal, arguing for unrestricted access to spare parts and software and stronger support for local repair initiatives. He criticised the Commission for fixating on GDP growth and warned that the circular economy must not be used to rebrand consumption as climate action.
Right to repair
Mick Wallace said the Commission's right-to-repair legislative proposal should include unrestricted access to spare parts and software, comprehensive information and affordable repair services. He called for support for local, grassroots and community repair initiatives, cooperatives and social enterprises to avoid monopolies in relation to repairs.
Critique of Commission strategy
Wallace argued the Commission's circular economy action plan fixates on GDP growth and consumer empowerment, repeating the problems of the Commission's formulation of the European Green Deal as a new growth strategy. He warned that treating circular economy policy as a growth tool risks perpetuating the same extractive model.
Economic alternative
He said it is necessary to radically alter the economic system to move away from GDP growth, which he described as dependent on the perpetual extraction of finite resources to fuel infinite expansion. Wallace stated the aim of economies should be to satisfy the basic needs and well-being of all people within planetary boundaries, regardless of whether the economy grows.
Warning on greenwashing
Wallace emphasised that the circular economy should not be used to rebrand acts of consumption as climate action, urging clearer policy that prioritises sustainability and community-led repair over growth-driven narratives.
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The Commission's right to repair a legislative proposal this year should include unrestricted access to spare parts and software, comprehensive information and affordable repair services. The Commission should support local, grassroots and community repair initiatives, cooperatives and social enterprises. This is all important to avoid monopolies in relation to repairs. However, the Commission's circular economy action plan fixates on GDP growth and consumer empowerment, repeating the problems of the Commission's formulation of the European Green Deal as a new growth strategy. I believe we need to radically alter our economic system in order to move away from GDP growth, which depends on perpetual extraction of finite resources to fuel infinite expansion. The aim of economies should be to satisfy the basic needs and well-being of all people within planetary boundaries, regardless if the economy grows or not. The circular economy should not be used to rebrand acts of consumption as climate action.
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