The Life Sciences Manufacturers’ Association (LSMA), representing key suppliers to the life sciences industry, supports the Commission’s goal of accelerating the transition toward a circular economy to boost the EU’s economic security, resilience, and competitiveness. Developing better end-of-life and waste-management solutions is a top priority for the sector, so it is important that it also be recognised as a topic of political importance. To align circular economy policy with competitiveness, the Commission should focus on incentives. The life sciences sector is already making significant efforts to develop more resilient and sustainable supply chains, so the Circular Economy Act should endorse ongoing industry efforts through value-signalling and reward mechanisms, but not pre-empt solutions currently being developed by mandating specific supply-side standards and approaches. We also urge the Commission to consider the unique characteristics of the life sciences industry, and the potentially disproportionate impacts prescriptive new legislation could have if it imposes additional burdens on this critical sector.
