SEAclic is a project developed by the German company Storopack, which has created a packaging technology suitable for temperature-sensitive food products, such as fish. The bio-based version of the Storopack SEAclic Box is made from a new, compostable plastic.
On the Asphalt (O.T.A) is a French brand that has developed sustainable and eco-friendly unisex sneakers made of recycled tyres and leather scraps from a glove factory.
The company re:newcell, together with a group of scientist from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP), have developed a technique that transforms recycled cotton into viscose rayon fibre, which is a suitable material for mass manufacturing.
The City of Helsinki has coordinated a project on the reuse of excavated soil in construction projects across the city. This project consists of improving coordination of how and where excavated soil is used.
Soeco Kontorsmöbler is a Swedish company that recycles and refurbishes office furniture. Its goal is to take furniture which would most likely be thrown away and transform it into an item that either looks like or is new.
SEA2SEE, based in Catalonia, designs and produces optical frames and sunglasses in Italy, as well as watches in Switzerland, entirely made from recycled marine plastic collected by fishermen in Spain, France and West Africa.
The Commission's DG Environment and DG for International Cooperation and Development commissioned a study on the circular economy in Africa, and eight country reports were drawn up in preparation for a continent-wide report on the prospects of the circular economy in Africa.
The Senegal report examines the scope and status of the circular economy there. It looks at the policy framework, trade and investments and the impact and benefits of the circular economy. It also explores circular economy-related cooperation between the EU and Senegal. It concludes that Senegal is promoting the green economy as a way to meet basic social needs and support sustainable development, and has adopted a national circular economy policy.
The Commission's DG Environment and DG for International Cooperation and Development commissioned a study on the circular economy in Africa, and eight country reports were drawn up in preparation for a continent-wide report on the prospects of the circular economy in Africa.
The Nigeria report examines the scope and status of the circular economy there. It looks at the policy framework, trade and investments and the impact and benefits of the circular economy. It also explores circular economy-related cooperation between the EU and Egypt. It concludes that there has been no real circular economy shift away from Nigeria's dependence on oil.
The Commission'sDG Environment and DG for International Cooperation and Development commissioned a study on the circular economy in Africa, and eight country reports were drawn up in preparation for a continent-wide report on the prospects of the circular economy in Africa.
The Morocco report examines the scope and status of the circular economy there. It looks at the policy framework, trade and investments and the impact and benefits of the circular economy. It also explores circular economy-related cooperation between the EU and Morocco. It concludes that while Morocco is committed to implementing policies in favour of the circular economy, the concept is fairly new.
The Commission's DG Environment and DG for International Cooperation and Developmentcommissioned a study on the circular economy in Africa, and eight country reports were drawn up in preparation for a continent-wide report on the prospects of the circular economy in Africa.
The Kenya report examines the scope and status of the circular economy. It looks at the policy framework, trade and investments and the impact and benefits of the circular economy. It also explores circular economy-related cooperation between the EU and Kenya. It concludes that Kenya can be seen as one of Africa's frontrunners in furthering a transition to circular economy but still has steps to make to mainstream it further in its broader economic policy framework.
The Commission's DG Environment and the DG for International Cooperation and Development commissioned a study on the circular economy in Africa, and eight country reports were drawn up in preparation for a continent-wide report on the prospects of the circular economy in Africa.
The Ghana report examines the scope and status of the circular economy there. It looks at the policy framework, trade and investments and the impact and benefits of the circular economy. It also explores circular economy-related cooperation between the EU and Ghana. It concludes that while Ghana has become one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most politically stable economies, various issues prevent it from moving to a circular model.
The European Carpet and Rug Association (ECRA) welcomes the European Circular Economy Action Plan 2.0 and believes in its ability to accelerate the transition from a linear to a circular economy.
In its support of the European Commission's strategy, the carpet and rug industry would like to present its ambition for a robust and consistent shift to a circular economy.
ECRA's strategic document “Leading the carpet industry towards circular economy – a 2030 strategic approach“ presents realistic objectives and adequate measures to guide an orderly shift to full circularity and a low carbon industry.
The European Commission's DG Environment and the DG for International Cooperation and Development commissioned a study on the circular economy in Africa, and eight country reports were drawn up in preparation for a continent-wide report on the prospects of the circular economy in Africa.
The Egypt report examines the scope and status of the circular economy there. It looks at the policy framework, trade and investments and the impact and benefits of the circular economy. It also explores circular economy-related cooperation between the EU and Egypt. It concludes that the macro-economic and structural reforms enacted recently by the Egyptian government helped the economy grow but did not improve social conditions due to high inflation rates from 2016 to 2018.
Recovery from the Covid-19 crisis presents an important and unique opportunity for the EU to accelerate its transition towards a climate-neutral and circular economy. While there is little dispute about the opportunities offered by the funds available for the low-carbon and circular economy, the longer-term impact on Europe’s decarbonisation trajectory will depend on the choices made in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans and on how the overall policy framework is adapted.
After describing the EU recovery plan, this paper discusses various policy instruments – both new and existing – to create demand for circular materials and lower-carbon products, illustrated by examples of four resource and carbon-intensive sectors, namely construction, steel, textiles and plastics.
McKinsey & Company and Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has published the report, Fashion on Climate - How the fashion industry can urgently act to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (2020). The report is an analysis of the current situation of emissions produced by the fashion industry, and presents solutions as to how the industry can intensify their efforts to meet climate targets. The report outlines the two scenarios for the industry’s abatement efforts. The first one outlines the current pace trajectory if the industry continues with the current decarbonisation initiatives, and the accelerated abatement to reduce current emissions to align with the 1,5 degree pathway. Read more here.
This UNEP report aims to apply an evidence-based value chain approach, mapping the textile value chain with its stakeholders, as well as environmental and socio-economic impacts along different value chain stages.
Based on this analysis, the report identifies associated hotspots in all sustainability dimensions. Giving examples of the many initiatives that are already being undertaken, the report outlines gaps, barriers and opportunities to work towards a more sustainable and circular textile value chain, highlighting priority actions.
The report concludes that circularity goes beyond incremental improvements and requires a system-wide approach, transforming the way textiles are designed, produced, consumed, and disposed of.
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) promotes sustainable production. The passport lists all materials and components used in a product or a building and the information on their location. Providing this information could increase the product circularity and contribute to reaching the net-zero objective.
What are the challenges ahead? What are the initiatives in place at the European level? Join us online on 8 July from 09:00 to 10:30 CEST to learn more from frontrunner stakeholders that have already conceptualised digital product passports and are operating them on the EU market.
With the EU and Japan seeing the circular economy as a key tool for achieving resource efficiency and net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, this webinar on 23 June will build a bridge between the EU and Japan to share initiatives and strategies aimed at achieving circular economies. It will focus on the circular economy of strategic metals used to decarbonise energy and mobility and will address the opportunities for EU-Japan industrial and innovation cooperation.
This event is aimed at policymakers, researchers and industry figures and will identify the EU and Japanese policy instruments and industrial innovation methods that will nurture their circular economies for strategic metals and help the EU and Japan achieve the green transition.
As the Horizon 2020 research programme becomes Horizon Europe, what better time to witness how great ideas turned into real projects? LOOPS will be the opportunity to show what cutting-edge research has been produced, and which changes it can bring to our communities.
For those who are not familiar with it, LOOPS is a live webinar series committed to spotlighting innovation in the field of circular economy. The topic of this episode on 15 June will be photovoltaics.
This Policy Dialogue will take place on 7 June starting at 14:00 CEST. It will consider the importance of strategic resources, notably critical raw materials, for achieving the European Green Deal objectives, and the role for a circular economy in enabling access to those resources.
In the frame of the Leiden European City of Science Festival, the H2020 project SUSMAGPRO will be showcased in an interactive exhibition on campus at the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) on 7 June 2022. Interested visitors can learn all about rare earth magnets, why they are essential to our modern lives, the challenges connected to them and which solutions SUSMAGPRO provides.
In addition to an interactive exhibition and hands-on activities, the team of project partner Leiden University have prepared exciting lectures on the topic and visitors will have the opportunity to see one of the SUSMAGPRO pilots in action: the automated, mobile sensing line to separate Rare Earth magnets from WEEE.
The EIT Doctoral School on Entrepreneurship in the Circular Economy brings together highly motivated PhD candidates from a variety of disciplines (science, design, economics, law, etc.) to foster entrepreneurial thinking, increase their awareness regarding circular economy opportunities and provide them with skills and tools to translate technological ideas into relevant and viable business initiatives, towards a more sustainable future. Apply now! Application deadline 6 June!
ECOFUNCO is a European research project developing new bio-based coatings for plastic and cellulose substrates. For the project's closing event, the ECOFUNCO consortium is organising the 1st Conference on Green Chemistry and Sustainable Coatings. The conference will take place on 17 and 18 June 2022 in Pisa, Italy, and will be streamed online.
The Re-think Circular Economy Forum in Naples is designed to present macro-trends, possible evolutionary paths and the main projects of the circular economy in Naples and the rest of the Campania region, as well as across Italy and at international level. The Forum was set up to promote the development of the circular economy.
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment is organising an information session on Circular Economy - Designed to last: sustainable and connected products in connection with Green Week.
A “Bach Forest” for the climate! To offset the CO2 footprint of the Bachfest, which every year draws Bach friends from all over the world to Leipzig (DE), organisers aim to plant 72 acres of mixed forest on a former opencast mining site over the next few years.
EU environmental rules aim to ensure that end-of-life vehicles are managed sustainably. They seek to eliminate hazardous substances in cars and require that most ELV parts and materials are reused or recycled.
The Commission would like to hear your views on its proposal to improve collection, treatment and recycling of ELVs. You can give your feedback on this initiative until 19 November 2020.
Your opinion matters! Tell us which priority actions would help improve circularity in the B&C value chain. Respond to the survey open till 1 November 2020, whose results will be analysed in the Workshop on Promoting circularity in the construction value chain, on 4 November, within the ECESP Annual Conference 2020.
Thank you! What a successful conference! Hundreds of you followed our conference. Given the exceptional circumstances, the conference adopted an online format.
Rendez-vous in 2021!
The webinar What will the German Presidency deliver on Circular Economy? organised by FEAD will focus on the on-going discussions under the German Presidency of the Council with regard to the new Circular Economy Action Plan and the key measures that are needed to ensure the full achievement of EU ambitions. Save-the-date: 5 November!
The European Commission is inviting all citizens and the wider community of stakeholders to express their views in a consultation on the revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive before 6 January 2021.
The International E-waste Day initiative on 14 October aims to reduce the environmental burden of e-waste and to save natural resources. TCO Development has launched an e-waste quiz to support educational and awareness-raising activities linked to this initiative.
In 2020, more than ever, we need to work towards building resilient cities which can recover from environmental, social and health crises. CEC believes that the circular economy is a model that will help cities become more resilient. Circular Cities Week will take place on 26 Oct. to 1 Nov. 2020, alongside United Nations World Cities Day.
The European Commission's DG GROW is calling for applicants to select new members for the High-Level Steering Group (and its Sherpa sub-group) and the Operational Group of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials.
Major Cities in Europe - like Budapest, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Ljubljana, Oslo, Prague and Tirana - have signed the European Circular Cities Declaration inviting peers to join them! The have committed themselves to leading the circular transition and to new models of production and consumption, whilst improving human wellbeing and reducing emissions.