Brussels, June 3-5, 2025 — Green Week 2025 has opened with a powerful message: a circular economy is not just about waste reduction or resource efficiency, it is central to Europe’s strategic vision for health, sustainability, and competitiveness. For projects like IMPTOX, which confront the growing threat of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in food, water, and air, the momentum around circularity represents a vital opportunity to align scientific insight with systemic change.

Held in Brussels from 3 to 5 June, this year’s Green Week is emphasizing how circular approaches can reinforce Europe's resilience and economic autonomy, especially as environmental and health risks become more interconnected. The event began with a high-level session placing circular economy goals within the EU’s broader strategic and industrial policy. DG Environment highlighted that tackling pollution and securing natural capital is no longer a standalone environmental concern but a matter of economic and public health security.

In this context, the IMPTOX project’s mission to map and mitigate MNP exposure gains greater relevance. As the European Union works toward circularity, preventing the proliferation of harmful substances, like persistent plastic fragments, must be a top priority.

Produce, Protect, Reduce, Restore: A Circular Economy That Protects Health and Planet

One of the headline announcements at Green Week 2025 is the proposed Circular Economy Act (CEA), which will integrate circularity into the forthcoming Clean Industrial Deal. This act builds on the growing body of work highlighting the unintended health and ecological consequences of current material cycles. The CEA aims to dismantle barriers that prevent the uptake of secondary materials, support market incentives for non-toxic product design, and align with initiatives targeting the removal of hazardous substances from circulation.

Health-centric circularity was a core theme throughout the event. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) underscored the importance of prioritizing permanent, non-toxic materials, such as glass and aluminium, which offer true recyclability without degrading quality or releasing pollutants. These materials are central not only to reducing waste but also to eliminating sources of micro plastics.

Two showcased case studies demonstrated how science-policy integration is already reshaping real-world practices. The first emphasized eliminating single-use plastics in favour of permanent material systems. The second focused on reimagining bottle design to prevent pollution before it starts, initiating circularity and toxicity reduction at the design phase.

Regulatory frameworks such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are increasingly being seen as platforms for reducing health and environmental exposure to plastic-derived toxins. IMPTOX and similar research initiatives are vital in informing such policies, particularly regarding the risks posed by MNPs that persist in current packaging and recycling systems.

As the Green Week continues, one of the most critical challenges under discussion is how to level the playing field between virgin and circular materials. Tax reforms, market incentives, and industrial investment strategies are all being explored to make safer, circular alternatives both viable and scalable.

Ultimately, Green Week 2025 reaffirms that a truly strategic circular economy is one that integrates health, environmental protection, and innovation at its core. With emerging legislation such as the Circular Economy Act and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation paving the way, Europe is moving decisively toward a circular future that is not only greener, but also cleaner, healthier, and more resilient.

For more information about the Green Week 2025 Programme: https://green-week.event.europa.eu/index_en