Circular snapshots: Competitiveness, critical minerals & textiles EPR

Welcome back to The Circular Economy Show and another episode of Circular Snapshots, where we unpack the headlines shaping the transition to a circular economy.

This month, Seb explores the EU’s upcoming Circular Economy Act and its shift toward positioning circularity as industrial strategy, not just environmental policy. We look at new global data revealing rapid growth in national circular economy roadmaps, and why implementation is now the real test.

We also dive into the growing link between circular economy and critical mineral supply chains — from insights at the World Economic Forum to new analysis on EV batteries and material security. Finally, we examine a major UK industry push for a mandatory textiles Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, and what it could mean for transforming one of the economy’s most linear sectors.

From policy to supply chains to industry coalitions, this episode highlights one clear trend: the circular economy is becoming central to competitiveness.

Stories referenced in today’s episode:

EU Circular Economy Act

https://www.brusselstimes.com/1937610/europes-new-circular-economy-act-getting-the-basics-right-for-eu-competitiveness

National Circular Economy Roadmaps

https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/unido-publications/2026-01/Stocktake%20CE%20Roadmaps%202025.pdf

Critical minerals and the circular economy

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/circular-economy-clean-energy-supply-chain-critical-minerals/

Circular economy and EV batteries

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehailstone/2026/01/27/circular-economy-could-prevent-an-ev-battery-minerals-bottleneck-study-finds/

Textiles and EPR

https://resource.co/article/uk-textiles-industry-group-publishes-10-point-blueprint-mandatory-epr-scheme