Overview
- The federal cabinet approved the 12‑point Aktionsprogramm on June 3, 2026 to turn the 2024 National Circular Economy Strategy into an operational plan with milestones through 2027 and funding through 2030.
- The program lists measures such as a multi‑stakeholder implementation platform, a digital product passport initiative, promotion of AI and industrial data spaces, legal workstreams and grants for recycling technologies.
- Berlin set short‑term funding of about €260 million and plans a further €305 million for 2027–2030, bringing the expected public support to roughly €565 million by 2030.
- Business groups and environmental NGOs criticized the plan for leaving out binding public procurement quotas, for lacking concrete targets and for offering limited investment incentives to scale markets for recycled materials.
- Research cited by coverage shows a clear business case for circular measures — the IW Köln found firms that adopt circular practices perform better — and the next phase will test whether the program turns money, digital tools and coordination into lasting market demand.