The Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on the Action Plan of the EU for circular economy. The Council urges the European Commission to take action in the field of ecological design and durable goods. European consumers have managed to include key demands in the resolutions adopted by BEUC (the European Consumers' Organisation), OCU belongs to BEUC.

OCU recalls that today, many consumer products fail prematurely and can not be repaired, causing a significant loss of resources. More durable and repairable products consumers can use longer or sell second-hand users. The EU Member States have opted clearly sent by this option.

The European Council sees great potential in the circular economy to achieve sustainable growth and minimize waste generation. Therefore calls for sustainable design better products, taking into account their life cycle and minimize the negative impact on human health. The Commission has not yet published a work plan Ecodesign and requires the Council to publish it without delay as OCU had requested repeatedly. OCU mphasizes that the Council has taken into account the Ecodesign Directive, urging the Commission to assess by 2018 the product groups where it would be possible to take more account of resource efficiency and the impact on the environment and Human health. It has also urged the Commission to include measures to improve the durability, reparability, reuse, upgradeability and recycling of products by 2020; and to extend the shelf life of products, addressing obsolescence. 

The Council notes in its conclusions the crucial role of consumers in the transition towards a circular economy and stresses the importance of awareness. In this sense, OCU welcomes the Council's insistence that there is adequate information about the presence of substances of very high concern in materials, products and waste; and to support the economy move and the need to meet the objectives of the 7th Environment Programme (eg in order to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals). 

Finally OCU noted as an important achievement that the Council wants to also discuss the possibilities of expanding the legal guarantees of all sales of goods, so that it is clear that the current product warranties are not sufficient to meet the challenges of the economy circular provide consumers with better designed, more durable, repairable and less environmental impact products.