Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy in the Czech Republic

Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy in the Czech Republic HIGHLIGHTS

“The Czech Republic has made a strong commitment to transition to a circular Czech economy by 2040. The national strategic framework Circular Czechia 2040 provides the direction of travel, including an analysis of the challenges as well as a set of concrete measures to address them. I expect the strategic framework to be instrumental in accelerating the transition towards circularity and greater resource efficiency in the country. The OECD has been privileged to have had the opportunity to support the government of the Czech Republic in this important endeavour.”

Rodolfo Lacy, Director of the OECD Environment Directorate

“The transition to a circular economy is a priority of the Czech Republic.

We have already achieved a number of important milestones in this regard. We adopted a new modern waste legislation, which promotes waste prevention and recycling, and significantly reduces landfilling.

The topic of circular economy is also reflected in the existing subsidy programmes. Nevertheless, the Czech Republic faces several additional challenges. We need to manage better our primary materials, make more use of secondary materials, implement changes in the areas of production, consumption, and research and innovation. Our circular economy transition also requires the implementation of appropriate economic instruments as well as the strengthening of education on circular economy. It is this strategic framework, prepared in cooperation with the OECD, which defines the priorities of the circular economy in the Czech Republic.”

Richard Brabec, Minister of the Czech Ministry of the Environment

Key messages The Czech Republic has made notable progress in decoupling environmental pressures from economic activity in the past decades. This was mainly driven by structural and technological changes in its economy.

Despite the positive trends, future material consumption in the country is projected to increase by about one third by 2050 compared to 2017 levels if no additional policy measures are introduced.

The increase in materials use is likely to have large associated environmental impacts, among others increases in greenhouse gas emissions. These, in turn, might put the country at risk of missing important environmental goals, including the long-term emission reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.

To restrain material consumption and significantly improve environmental protection, the Czech Republic needs to accelerate its transition towards a circular economy. At the same time, more stringent resource efficiency and circular economy policies are needed along the value chain, and linear business models need to be replaced by circular business models.

Circular Czechia 2040, the Czech Republic’s strategic framework for a circular economy transition, targets 10 priority areas and proposes a number of measures to: •

Improve incentives for circular product design and manufacturing;

•

Encourage consumers to purchase circular products;

•

Prevent waste generation within industry through technological innovation;

•

Decrease landfilling and stimulate the use of secondary raw materials;

•

Leverage research, innovation and digitalisation to support the circular economy;

•

Help accelerate the circular economy through effective education and knowledge sharing;

•

Implement economic instruments that facilitate a circular economy;

•

Promote bioeconomy and sustainable water management as part of circular economy; and

•

Support cities and municipalities to implement circular solutions.

The policy measures identified will help to reach the goal of the circular transition, which is to “generate less waste and more value added for the Czech Republic”. In particular, they would contribute to improving environmental protection, strengthening the competitiveness and technological maturity of the economy, creating new jobs, increasing the security of raw material supply, and enabling citizens in relevant sectors to acquire new skills and expertise.

1

There is a need to strengthen circular economy policies in the Czech Republic

Economic growth and increased consumption drive the demand for resources and materials The Czech Republic has made notable progress in

than the OECD and EU averages, with a projected

decoupling environmental pressures from economic

annual increase of over 2% between 2020 and 2050,

activity in the past decades. However, its economy

driving further demand for resources. In particular,

remains among the most energy-, carbon- and

further growth is expected to occur in sectors where

resource-intensive in the OECD and the European

the Czech Republic has a comparative advantage,

Union. This is due to a strong industrial base and

such as motor vehicles, construction and non-

significant reliance on coal as a source of energy. As

metallic minerals. This, in turn, will generate

a result, the demand for resources and materials

significant additional pressures on the environment,

is projected to increase further. Moreover, GDP per

putting the country at risk of missing important

capita in the Czech Republic will likely grow faster

environmental goals.

Non-metallic minerals are increasing at a fast rate due to the gradual ramp-up of infrastructure investments in the Czech Republic

2020

2050

Rate

15 Mt

19 Mt

× 1.3

113 Mt

111 Mt

×1

Biomass

42 Mt

54 Mt

× 1.3

Non-metallic minerals

86 Mt

156 Mt

× 1.8

Metals Fossil fuels

Structural and technological changes will partly mitigate this rise in consumption In the absence of any new policies, material use is

exception, where high infrastructure investments

projected to rise but structural changes (including

will maintain resource demand in the coming

servitisation of the economy), and technological

decades. Changes in production modes, such as

changes (such as digitalisation), partially mitigate the

the uptake of technological progress across sectors

rise in materials use driven by economic growth. In

(e.g. information and communications technology),

particular, changes towards more servitisation will

digitalisation and the increased penetration of

likely increase resource efficiency and lead to growth

renewable energy will further increase the resource

in services sectors, whilst material-intensive sectors

efficiency of production.

will show below average grow. Construction is the

4 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

Figure 1.

S tructural changes and technology developments will reduce material intensity and output per sector in the Czech Republic Growth of output 2020-2050 in % Average output growth 2020-2050 in %

Material intensity in 2020 in tonnes/USD Material intensity in 2050 in tonnes/USD 4

100%

3 75%

2 50%

1

25%

0

s

s

nic ctro Ele

cle

tor veh i

rvic es

Mo

t se

ices

por

Tra ns

ss s

erv

rvic es Bus

ine

als

ctiv e se

mic

g inin er m

Che

Col le

er m Oth

Oth

anu

fac

tur

ing

es

l

Tex til

Tot a

ltur e

ls

Agr icu

era min

No

n-m

eta

llic

ind

ust

ries

tee l &s

els

Fos s

il fu

Iron

Foo d

Ele & u ctricit tilit y ies Con stru ctio n

0%

Further policies are needed to reach absolute decoupling of material consumption from GDP The overall material consumption in the Czech

other EU and OECD averages. Besides construction,

Republic is projected to increase by about one third

the largest increases in material consumption

by 2050 compared to 2017 levels (from 0.26 Gt to

are projected to occur in manufacturing and food

0.34 Gt). In particular, non-metallic minerals – such

industries, which are amongst the most material

as construction sand, gravel and crushed rock –

intensive sectors.

are projected to increase at a faster rate than the

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 5

Figure 2.

D espite the structural and technological changes, overall material consumption in the Czech Republic is projected to increase

Mt 500

+490

400

-363 -24 300

+251 200

100

-339 0

2017 level

Convergence

Structural change

Technological change

2050 projection

Increased materials use is associated with large environmental impacts This increase in materials use is likely to have

cause rising temperatures, sea level rise, extreme

large associated environmental impacts in the

weather events, and to put an extra burden on

Czech Republic. Notably, it is likely to lead to high

cumulative energy demand as total energy use rises

acidification, to contribute to climate change as

along the production chain.

radiative forcing of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

This represents a strong rationale for the Czech Republic to accelerate its circular transition Additional policies are needed to achieve stronger

business-as-usual trends described above and

decoupling of material use from economic growth

significantly improve environmental protection

and from greenhouse gas emissions by supporting

as a result. The strategy will also strengthen the

more structural and technological changes. The

competitiveness and technological maturity of the

Circular Czechia 2040 Strategic Framework, and the

economy, create new jobs, increase the security of

circular economy transition that it will support,

raw material supply, and enable citizens in relevant

is envisaged to help the Czech Republic curb the

sectors to acquire new skills and expertise.

6 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

2

Circular Czechia 2040 proposes to target 10 priority areas

There is a need to strengthen existing policy instruments and introduce new ones to accelerate the circular transition The Czech Republic has a well-developed and

policy areas. Additionally, there are gaps in existing

fairly complete policy and legal framework related

circular economy policies that need to be addressed,

to waste and resources management. However,

particularly to support product eco-design, the use

to date, the country does not have a separate

of economic and financial instruments, consumer

strategic framework that provides a comprehensive

information, innovation and research, and reverse

and coherent roadmap for implementing circular

logistics.

economy measures across different sectors and

This requires interventions across the life cycle of products and a focus on a number of key sectors and material categories The selection of focus areas in this strategic

The strategic framework focuses both on the

framework reflects the key EU circular economy

different steps in the value chain and on a number

policies as well as the national objectives and targets.

of specific sectors and systems. It also addresses

It is also informed by extensive consultation with the

horizontal measures facilitating the circular

stakeholder working group.

transition.

The Strategic Framework of Circular Czechia 2040 sets out ten priority areas Figure 3.

Circular cities and infrastructure

Economic instruments

Education and knowledge

Research, development and innovation

Products and design

Circular Economy Strategy/ Circular Czechia 2040

Water

Industry, raw materials, construction, energy

Bioeconomy and food

Consumption and consumers

Waste management

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 7

3

Priority areas along the life‑cycle of products

Incentives for circular product design and manufacturing need to be improved Design decisions made early in the manufacturing

Ϙ

process are crucial, since they impact how products

Virgin material taxes Ѐ

are used and subsequently treated at the end of their

(extraction fees) to stimulate the use of

lives. Improved incentives in this field are central to

secondary raw materials, especially for

maximising circularity opportunities, both up- and

construction materials such as sand and

downstream of the value chain. For instance, product

gravel.

design measures can help to increase the effect of both upstream waste prevention and downstream

Increasing existing virgin materials taxes

Ϙ

waste management measures, as more reusable and

Product taxes Ѐ

Considering the use of product taxes (excises)

repairable products will remain in use for longer and

as an additional policy instrument for

better recyclability makes end-of life products easier

products difficult to collect and recycle.

and less costly to treat. In the Czech Republic, there is a large potential to improve circularity in product design and manufacturing, as the existing policy

Ϙ

Extended producer responsibility Ѐ

Improving and re-enforcing existing Extended

framework is significantly less developed in this

Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes,

upstream area than further down the value chain.

specifically for electronic waste.

Some of the key policy measures that could be taken in this field include:

Ѐ

Possibly extending EPR to additional products, such as textiles and furniture.

Did you know?

The circular material use rate (CMR) increased by 3 percentage points between 2010 and 2019, from 5.3% to 8.3%, respectively. The EU-28 average value was 11.1% in 2010 and 12.4% in 2019.

Source: Eurostat

8 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

Consumers can prevent and sort waste better, and be encouraged to purchase circular products Consumer behaviour and resulting consumption

Ϙ

Shifting consumer preferences towards more

patterns have a significant impact on resource

circularity

efficiency, and changes here can play a fundamental

Ѐ

role in reshaping the economy and in driving the

repaired, reused, refurbished, remanufactured

transition towards a circular economy. Consumers

and more generally ecolabelled products and

play a key role through the consumption decisions

services.

that they make, as well as through the way they contribute to waste collection and sorting at the

Ϙ

end‑of-life stage. Some of the key policy measures

Extending the use of pay-as-you-throw charging schemes for mixed municipal waste, implementing nudges and a wider

Waste prevention Ѐ

Recyclable waste sorting Ѐ

that could be taken in this field include: Ϙ

Promoting the uptake of second-hand,

network of door-to-door collection for

Encouraging consumers to prevent waste by

recyclables, e.g. for biowaste and electronic

imposing taxes on environmentally harmful

waste.

products, e.g. plastic bags.

DID YOU KNOW? Only 56% of surveyed Czech citizens in 2014 (the lowest share in the EU) made an effort to get broken appliances repaired before buying new ones compared to 77% average for the EU28 and 92% in Portugal.

Source: Eurobarometer Survey

Ecolabelling in the Czech Republic

193 2006 Ecolabel licence holders

40

50

12

82

32

2018

2006

2018

2006

2018

Product groups with valid ecolabel criteria

Holders of the ecolabel

Source: Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 9

More material needs to be recovered from different waste streams in order to decrease landfilling and stimulate the use of secondary raw materials Waste and materials management have become

Ϙ

an integral part of circular economy policy

Additional tax incentives Ѐ

making, since they help strengthen the security

as value added tax (VAT) and other tax

of raw material supply and mitigate the negative

reductions for products having a high recycled

environmental impacts from waste generation.

content to stimulate upcycling and demand

While the policy and legislative frameworks in

for recyclables and secondary raw materials.

these areas are well-developed in the Czech Republic,

Similar measures for repaired, refurbished and

there is still a large potential to improve waste and

remanufactured goods and services could help

resources management. The strategic framework

encourage waste prevention efforts.

suggests a number of improvements, including: Ϙ Ϙ

Landfill taxes Ѐ

Introducing additional tax incentives, such

Quality certification Ѐ

Possibly expanding quality certification of

Increasing landfill taxes and improving

reusable components, secondary raw materials

their design to substantially decrease the

and recyclable waste to help to build trust

relatively high landfill rate of municipal

and increase demand for such products and

waste and support the achievement of relevant

materials.

EU waste targets. Landfill taxes would be more effective if the revenue they generate were not allocated to municipalities, and fees for the landfilling of hazardous waste were better enforced. Ϙ

Incineration taxes Ѐ

Complementing landfill taxes with an incineration tax in the medium- to long-term, to help avoid shifting landfilled waste to incineration rather than recycling.

DID YOU KNOW? The landfill tax for recyclable/ recoverable waste in the Czech Republic is expected to increase between 2020 and 2029 under the new Waste Act, from the current CZK 500 per tonne (EUR 18.50/ tonne) to CZK 1 850 per tonne (EUR 73/ tonne).

Source: Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

10 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

4

Priority areas across sectors and systems

Circular economy investments increase the competitiveness of Czech industry and reduce costs and raw materials dependence The Czech industry and construction sector

Ϙ

have an important role to play in the country’s

Energy Ѐ

circular transition. The country needs to introduce

fossil fuels, in particular through increased

regulations which will enable raw materials to

energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy

circulate longer within the Czech economy. They

sources, as well as energy recovery from waste.

will need to focus on reducing the consumption

Ѐ

of primary raw materials, extending the product

fuels, reducing energy transmission losses,

intensity, in turn, will drive a reduction in the

improving network management, and

environmental consequences caused by material

developing energy storage solutions to help

consumption per unit of gross domestic product

decarbonise the energy sector.

(GDP) generated. A number of policy measures could

Ϙ

Industry Ѐ

Ϙ

Raw materials Ѐ

Ϙ

Construction waste Ѐ

Encourage selective demolition to support appropriate management of materials from

Promoting voluntary agreements in industry aimed at the circular economy.

Supporting R&D projects aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of appliances and

life cycle, and reducing waste. Decreased material

achieve this goal, for instance:

Reducing the consumption of energy and

demolished buildings. Ѐ

Improve the digitalisation of the construction industry.

Supporting innovation and development of new materials, processes and technologies to reduce material intensity.

DID YOU KNOW? The Czech Republic incinerates only a very small amount of municipal waste for energy recovery (around 12% of the total municipal waste generated). Across the EU, the average rate is 29% (in 2019). The Czech energy recovery rate should reach the European average by 2035.

The material intensity of the Czech economy has been declining. In the period 2000-2019 it decreased by 44.2%.

Source: European Commission and Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 11

The potential of the bioeconomy within the circular economy can be expanded and help to decrease the amount of food waste generated Biological resources are a key input to the economy and their importance will increase further in

Ϙ

Food waste and other biowaste Ѐ

the future. The bioeconomy contributes to the

to reduce food waste along the entire food

regenerative cycle in the circular economy, such

value chain and to provide information to

as conversion of bio-waste into compost, food

consumers on food waste and its prevention

waste reduction and the use of innovative bio-

in households.

based materials. A number of policy instruments

Ѐ

are needed to strengthen the link between the

application to agricultural land.

Republic as well as to reduce the amount of food Ѐ

waste generated:

Supporting an increase in the share of organic matter in the soil by opting for compost from biodegradable waste.

Bioeconomy Ѐ

Improving separate collection of biowaste, its composting, processing in biogas plants and

bioeconomy and circular economy in the Czech

Ϙ

Using a combination of different policy tools

Strengthening the link between the bio- and circular economy by developing a separate national bioeconomy strategy.

Ѐ

Encouraging the emergence of local and regional bioeconomy demonstration systems and the sharing of good practice with other European regions.

DID YOU KNOW? Recent estimates show that most food waste is generated by households. Based on the latest research, the amount of food waste varies per type of dwelling. A higher amount occurs in neighbourhoods made up of multi-apartment buildings (up to 37 kg per inhabitant every year).

Source: Mendel University in Brno

According to data from the European Commission, 386 000 people were employed across the bioeconomy sectors in 2017, with a turnover of EUR 33 billion. In the Czech Republic, the turnover across these sectors was about 40% lower than the European average.

Source: Joint Research Centre, European Commission

12 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

Did you know?

In 2019, the Czech Republic managed to reduce the amount of surface water and groundwater abstracted, as well as the amount of water discharged. The amount of surface water abstracted decreased from 1 221 million m³ to a historical minimum of 1 147 million m³.

The number of wastewater treatment plants in the Czech Republic reached 2 731 in 2019.

This represents an increase of 54 compared to 2018.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic

Water resource management is a critical component of the circular economy Water is an irreplaceable feedstock for a number of

Ѐ

Setting up appropriate sludge management

economic sectors, ranging from energy and industry

processes from wastewater treatment plans in

to agriculture and food. Circular economy solutions

the long-term.

to water management need to focus on maximising the use of wastewater and on the extraction of

Ϙ

Nutrients and energy recovery from sewage sludge

nutrients and energy, among others. Several policy

Ѐ

tools could be applied in the Czech Republic to

Implementing sustainable management

increase the uptake of circular solutions for water

of sewage sludge, focusing on phosphorus

use:

recycling and energy efficiency.

Ϙ

Water use and wastewater Ѐ

Supporting wastewater reuse and recycling projects in the industry and at the municipal level.

Ϙ

Diversification of water resources Ѐ

Encouraging the diversification of water resources by creating and building ponds, dams, wetlands.

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 13

Municipalities and cities should become drivers of circular solutions, and municipal infrastructure projects need to make use of secondary raw materials The involvement of cites is essential in scaling up the

Ϙ

circular economy. Cities account for the majority of

Municipal waste management Ѐ

consumption, waste production and greenhouse gas

improving waste sorting systems.

emissions. To date, only a few cities across the Czech Republic have developed circular economy plans.

Ϙ

Some of the policy measures that could be adopted

Transportation Ѐ

by cities include: Ϙ

Encouraging the use of recycled materials to replace primary raw materials in infrastructure projects.

Supporting the uptake of urban public transport with alternative propulsion (including bio-waste) and shared mobility.

Infrastructure projects Ѐ

Supporting cities and municipalities in

Ϙ

Green public procurement Ѐ

Supporting projects strengthening local employment within the framework of public investment, paying attention to socially and environmentally responsible public procurement.

DID YOU KNOW? A “circular scan” for cities was prepared as part of a project supported by the Ministry of the Environment. One such circular scan was prepared for the capital city of Prague. The scan first identified the important areas for the city in terms of economic and environmental impacts.

Subsequently, a material flows analysis carried out across selected sectors identified more than 20 “circular strategies” out of which the three most promising were selected as pilot projects.

Source: Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

14 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

5

Supportive policies – Horizontal priority areas

Synergies between research, innovation, digitalisation and the circular economy transition need to be strengthened Innovation and technological development, including

Ϙ

digitalisation, are important enabling factors in

Co‑ordination and co‑operation Ѐ

transitioning towards a circular economy, since

public bodies and co‑operation between the

much of the change that is required will depend

private sector and academia to maximise

on technological and organisational innovation.

synergies and accelerate the rate of

The circular economy transition is facilitated by

innovation, including a focus on the use of

the introduction of new production processes and

digital technologies.

technologies, and by the emergence of innovative, circular business models. Some of the key policy measures that could be taken in this field include: Ϙ

Coherent innovation and digitalisation strategy Ѐ

Establishing a clear link between research,

Improving co‑ordination among the different

Ϙ

Financial instruments Ѐ

Strengthening financial support instruments for Research and Development (R&D) through the introduction of dedicated circular economy innovation instruments.

innovation, digitalisation and the circular economy within a coherent strategy or programme.

DID YOU KNOW? The Czech Republic ranked 15th out of the 28 EU Member States on the 2019 European EcoInnovation Scoreboard, just 4% below the EU-28 average, an improvement of 3 positions since 2017 (when the country ranked 18th).

Source: European Commission

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 15

Effective education and knowledge sharing helps accelerate the circular economy transition In addition to R&D and digitalisation, education and

Ϙ

knowledge sharing can help to further accelerate

Education programmes Ѐ

the transition to a circular economy. The following

in education programmes in schools,

information and capacity building tools could be

vocational education and training, and

developed: Ϙ

Awareness raising campaigns Ѐ

Expanding awareness raising campaigns for

Mainstreaming the circular economy

higher education. Ϙ

Advanced digital information technologies Ѐ

Supporting the use of advanced digital

the public on waste prevention and the benefits

information technologies and digital data

of self-repair, green products, and the use and

tracking tools in businesses and by policy

application of new circular business models

makers.

(e.g. sharing schemes, reuse and repair centres).

DID YOU KNOW? The University of Chemistry and Technology Prague has been organising for several years now a comprehensive lifelong learning course for experts focused on the circular economy.

Source: Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

According to the Digital Economy and Society Index, in 2018 only 24% of Czechs had better than basic digital skills, compared to the EU average of 31%.

Source: European Commission

16 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

6

A monitoring framework to measure progress

A circular economy monitoring framework helps

indicators. To do so, the Czech Republic is drawing

understanding how various circular economy aspects

on the EU’s circular economy monitoring framework,

are developing over time and whether strengthening

which comprises a set of ten macro-level indicators

existing and/or implementing additional measures

(with 23 individual indicators in total) grouped into

is necessary in some specific areas. The monitoring

four stages and aspects of the circular economy:

and evaluation of progress also form the basis for setting new circular economy priorities and deliver feedback to strategy and planning development for

Ϙ

Production and consumption

Ϙ

Waste management

Ϙ

Secondary raw materials

Ϙ

Competitiveness and innovation for the circular

the different actors in the economy.

Monitoring the transition to a circular economy in the Czech Republic is a prerequisite for achieving the vision and objectives of the strategic framework.

economy

Since the circular economy concept cuts across

Other indicators may be considered at a later stage.

a variety of sectors, territories and has multiple

These can include indicators already proposed within

dimensions, it is impossible to capture it with

related strategy documents, such as the Strategic

a single indicator. This is why the monitoring

Framework Czech Republic 2030, the State Environmental

framework needs to include a larger set of relevant

Policy 2030, and the Waste Management Plan 2015-2024.

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 17

The OECD’s contribution Within the context of the OECD’s collaboration with the DG REFORM of the European Commission on country specific policy reform projects, the OECD has been supporting the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic in developing a strategic framework for the circular economy (Circular Czechia 2040). The role of the OECD in this project was to provide a set of key elements for the strategic framework, including the development of analytical inputs and stakeholder consultation. For instance, the OECD provided an in-depth analysis of four priority areas: consumption and consumers, waste management, economic instruments, as well as research innovation and digitalisation. It also developed 40 concrete policy measures to help implement the strategic framework, along with a monitoring framework to measure the progress made. The identified policy measures can support the Czech Republic’s efforts towards a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that are an important policy priority for the country.

This work was carried out with funding by the European Union via the Structural Reform Support Programme and in cooperation with the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Service.

18 · OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021

Further reading European Commission (2020), A new Circular Economy Action Plan: For a cleaner and more competitive Europe, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:9903b325-6388-11ea-b73501aa75ed71a1.0017.02/DOC_1&format=PDF. European Commission (2019), The Environmental Implementation Review 2019 – Country Report Czech Republic, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/eir/pdf/report_cz_en.pdf.

European Commission (2018), Communication on a monitoring framework for the circular economy, https:// eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0029&from=EN. Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic (2021), Strategický Rámec Cirkulární Ekonomiky České Republiky 2040 [Circular Economy Strategic Framework for the Czech Republic to 2040], forthcoming.

Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic (2020), Státní politika životního prostředí České republiky 2030 s výhledem do 2050 [State Environmental Policy 2030 with projections to 2050], https://www.mzp.cz/ C1257458002F0DC7/cz/statni_politika_zivotniho_prostredi/$FILE/OPZPUR-statni_politika_zp_2030_s_ vyhledem_2050-20210111.pdf.

Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic (2014), Waste Management Plan of the Czech Republic for the period 2015-2024, https://www.mzp.cz/cz/plan_odpadoveho_hospodarstvi_aj.

OECD (2021), Towards a national strategic framework for the circular economy in the Czech Republic: Analysis and a proposed set of key elements, OECD Environment Policy Papers, No. 27, OECD Publishing, Paris, http:// oe.cd/il/circularczechia.

OECD (2019), Business Models for the Circular Economy: Opportunities and Challenges for Policy, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/g2g9dd62-en.

OECD (2019), Global Material Resources Outlook to 2060: Economic Drivers and Environmental Consequences, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264307452-en.

OECD (2018), OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Czech Republic 2018, OECD Environmental Performance Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264300958-en.

OECD HIGHLIGHTS Towards a National Strategic Framework for the Circular Economy · Czech Republic | © OECD 2021 · 19

This brochure lays out some of the key elements of the Circular Czechia 2040 Strategic Framework. It presents the rationale for transitioning to a circular economy in the Czech Republic, outlines the vision, objectives and the strategic framework for the transition, providing examples of key policy measures and listing some of the indicators to monitor the progress made.

For further reading see the following publications on which this brochure is based: OECD (2021), Towards a national strategic framework for the circular economy in the Czech Republic: Analysis and a proposed set of key elements, OECD Environment Policy Papers, No. 27, OECD Publishing, Paris, http://oe.cd/il/circularczechia.

Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic (2021), Strategický Rámec Cirkulární Ekonomiky České Republiky 2040 [Circular Economy Strategic Framework for the Czech Republic to 2040], forthcoming. © OECD 2021 Visit our website: https://www.oecd.org/environment/waste/circular-economy-countrystudies.htm https://www.mzp.cz/cz/odpadove_hospodarstvi

CONTACTS Shardul Agrawala: Shardul.Agrawala@oecd.org (Head of the Economy Environment Integration Division) Jan Maršák: Jan.Marsak@mzp.cz (Director of the Waste Management Department of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic)

June 2021