Organic glues and adhesives by Menichetti
The Italian company Menichetti produces organic glues and adhesives intended for sustainable packaging. The raw material is obtained from leather and tanning industry by-products.
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LENA: the fashion library
LENA is the first online and offline fashion library in the Netherlands. It has a system for borrowing clothes and provides an extended wardrobe for every occasion. Their aim is to speed up the fashion industry's transition towards a circular system.
The Waste Transformers: Turning food waste into valuable resources on-site
The Waste Transformers transforms organic (food) waste in an anaerobic digester called a Waste Transformer housed in 20-foot shipping containers into clean energy, water and high-grade fertiliser whilst also upcycling the waste into new raw materials for paper, textiles or soaps. They do this all on-site where the waste is produced. No transport, no CO2.
Nic&Mic: Upcycling waste while supporting employment
Ocean Sole takes the world's most widely worn shoe, the flip flop, and turns it into art, and the Dutch company Nic&Mic sells it in the Benelux countries. Ocean Sole is Kenya-based and began with the desire to clean up beaches that were heavily polluted with plastic and flip flops. Ocean Sole has grown to employ 90 Kenyans.
EMMA Safety Footwear: Sustainable safety shoes
Back in 1931, EMMA was founded as a social enterprise for injured workers from the Dutch State Mines. Hence, social entrepreneurship is in the DNA of EMMA Safety Footwear. Today, EMMA still employs about 100 people who need some additional support in the labour market. Making sustainable safety shoes was, therefore, a logical next step in EMMA’s journey towards a positive footprint.
Biorizon: the profitable way to bio-aromatics
Biorizon has been co-creating technologies for the production of bio-aromatics at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom since 2013. Together with industrial partners, Biorizon creates and develops innovative chemical processes for the production of renewable aromatics from residual biomass. Their aim is to enable commercial production of bio-aromatic building blocks by 2025.
SNEW Telecom – Circular telecoms and IT equipment with a social heart
SNEW has developed a circular system reusing the raw materials in existing equipment. It aims to give business telecoms and IT equipment a second life. Companies which hand over their old ICT equipment get either maintenance for their current equipment or money for the old equipment.
Arapaha: Circular goods made out of advanced bio-based materials
Arapaha is a design company which develops and manufactures sustainable, circular household and sports items and clothing. It focuses on circular processes and uses biobased composites. Goods purchased in their webshop can be returned when no longer needed so that the components can be reused.
CuRe: Low energy molecular polyester recycling
CuRe has discovered a smarter and scalable technology for creating a fully circular polyester chain. It rejuvenates any type of used polyester by removing the colour and converting it into clear pellets with the same properties as virgin grade polyester. In July 2020, a pilot plant in Emmen (Netherlands) was opened for rapid scale-up.
FIBI-buffer: a sustainable alternative for protecting products during transport
FIBI-buffer is an eco-friendly alternative to Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) or Polyurethane (PU) foam used to protect products during transport. It is a unique and patented product which offers high-quality protection, is universally applicable, is price competitive, can be reused again and again, and is biobased and 100% compostable.
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Strengthening circularity in photovoltaics - Challenges and opportunities along the lifecycle
White paper: Strengthening circularity in photovoltaics
Every year, huge numbers of photovoltaic (PV) modules are being installed. This solar energy expansion greatly furthers the ecological transformation of the energy system. But to solve the climate crisis every aspect has to be taken into consideration. This is why this white paper wants to shine light on challenges currently occuring or to be expected in connection with used photovoltaic modules and their disposal in Germany.
To better implement the goals of a circular economy, this paper will retrace the steps in the lifecycle of a photovoltaic module and analyse problems and possible solutions along these stages. After a brief description of the occuring challenges, opportunities and solutions deemed to be effective and sensible in these matters are presented.
Impacts of COVID-19 on single-use plastic in Europe's environment
Impacts of COVID-19 on single-use plastic in Europe’s environment
The COVID-19 pandemic is having an immense impact on societies across the world. It has caused millions of deaths worldwide and challenged our health systems and economies. The pandemic - and responses to it, involving lockdowns, use of personal protection equipment and stay-at-home measures - has far-reaching health and economic consequences.
This briefing deals with the less visible effects on our environment and climate originating from changed use of single-use plastics due to the pandemic.
Emerging waste streams: Opportunities and challenges of the clean-energy transition from a circular economy perspective
Emerging waste streams: Opportunities and challenges of the clean energy transition from a circular economy perspective
Renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels and batteries, are essential for Europe’s transition to climate neutrality. Deployment, maintenance and replacement of this infrastructure requires significant resources, including many substances included in the EU list of critical raw materials.
Waste arising from end-of-life clean energy infrastructure is projected to grow up to 30-fold over the next 10 years, presenting significant opportunities to reduce consumption of scarce raw materials by recycling metals and other valuable resources back into production systems.
Circular economy approaches such as repair and upgrading of equipment and recycling of end-of-life infrastructure can underpin the sustainability credentials of EU renewable energy.
Improving the climate impact of raw material sourcing
The extraction/processing of raw materials is associated with potentially significant environmental impacts, including contributing to approximately half of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. In the EU, non-energy, non-agricultural raw materials account for 18 % of GHG emissions associated with EU consumption.
Given the EU's commitment to reducing its GHG emissions, and the European Green Deal's aspiration to achieve a climate-neutral continent by 2050, mitigating climate impacts from raw material production is central to the EU's climate agenda.
All activities associated with collecting waste materials for recycling lead to GHG emissions. Especially for metals, however, their contribution to emissions is only a fraction of the emissions saved by not using primary metals.
TOP 10 Circular Materials by mass - Market study
Top 10 Circular Materials by mass - Market study
Every year, about 100 billion tons of material are taken from the planet - but only 10 billion are circularized. The results of the TOP 10 study clearly highlight the differences between the systems: the waste culture and concepts are different in the Global North and the Global South, as are the objectives of the respective legislations.
In the Global North, the goal is to decouple waste generation from consumption. In the Global South, waste increases with per capita income; here, the old consumption patterns and images of the rich Global North are often emulated.
Scorecards are used in the study to assess individual materials and their circular maturity in the region. The overall score is shown in the summary per material.
Innovation Deal for a circular economy
Innovation Deal for a circular economy: unlocking opportunities through public-private collaboration
By designing and enabling the use of Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries for multiple use-cycles, valuable materials are maintained, and a range of economic and environmental benefits can be unlocked.
Innovators from the automotive industry, Dutch and French public authorities, and the European Commission have collaborated to identify regulatory barriers to reusing EV batteries as energy storage devices and unlock solutions.
This case study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is part of a series of case studies that exemplify elements of the Universal circular economy policy goals (2021) in practice.
France's Anti-waste and Circular Economy Law
France’s Anti-waste and Circular Economy Law: eliminating waste and promoting social inclusion
France’s Anti-waste and Circular Economy Law is a great example of cross-sectoral collaboration. Policymakers, municipalities, NGOs and businesses worked together with the public administration to identify a richer range of needs, solutions, and policy measures. As a result, the law is ambitious and contributes to a system-wide transition towards a circular economy.
This case study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is part of a series of case studies that exemplify elements of the Universal circular economy policy goals (2021) in practice.
Wasted bread: New culture medium for growing starters from bakery waste in the fermented food industry
Through fermentation, bread scraps can produce chemical compounds for the pharmaceutical and food industries, fuels and enzymes. The starters (which kickstart the fermentation process) obtained by this project confirm the huge economic and technological potential of a growing substrate obtained from low-cost matrices.
The protocol includes homogenisation of the waste bread (leavened bakery products), with the addition of enzymes and final sterilisation.
The culture medium can be liquid (broth), solid (agar) or dehydrated. The substrate can be used for cultivating lactic bacteria, yeasts and moulds (for the food industry).
About 10% of the bread waste produced monthly can be used to yield a culture medium for bacterial starters.
Promotion of the circular economy in the Hotel Industry in Cyprus and Greece – Preliminary assessment of the current status of circular economy
Promotion of Circular Economy in the hotel industry in Cyprus and Greece
This report is published by the Cyprus Federation of Employers & Industrialists (OEB), the Institute of Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE) and the public policy consultancy adelphi (Germany) as part of the European project Hotels4Climate financed by EUKI.
The report aims to assess the current state of circularity in the hotel industry in Cyprus and Greece by conducting national surveys in both countries targeting hotels in order to:
- identify the priority sectors within the main services offered by hotels, the business challenges and opportunities to move to circular economy,
- create successful, flexible and resilient circular business models, and
- identify a number of internal and external barriers that raise obstacles to the transition to circular economy.
Les Partenariats, socle de l'économie circulaire
Partnerships are a cornerstone of successful circular economy initiatives, shows EpE report
The circular economy is an alternative to the dominant economic model, which causes considerable damage to the environment as it is based on the linear use of resources.
The development of the circular economy has been hindered by a number of economic, technological and regulatory constraints.
EpE's natural resources commission has spent three years identifying what makes circular economy initiatives successful. An analysis of 27 circular economy initiatives carried out by companies shows that partnerships are one key to overcoming these constraints. A closer examination of these partnerships sheds light on various forms of governance.
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Remanufacturing: promoting product life extension
The Remanufacturing platform is designed to help with the development of remanufacturing activities. It provides resources and reflection on remanufacturing and the circular economy.
Set up in 2014, Remanufacturing aims to promote remanufacturing and associated RE-activities for product life extension. Within circular economy value recovery cycles, products can be REused, REpaired, REnovated, REmanufactured or REcycled. The aim is to reuse end-of-life products and components in new or upgraded products.
Remanufacturing has created a website describing the advantages of and barriers to starting up and developing remanufacturing activities, with examples and methodologies.
Circular Economy Coalition (CERC) offers Romania a circular economy platform
Circular Economy Coalition (CERC) promotes the key objectives of the EC Circular Economy Action Plan in Romania, stimulating the development of new markets, business models, and contributing to economic growth and jobs creation. It facilitates activities for its members, becoming a key player for the domestic business community interested in transitioning towards a circular economic ecosystem.
CERC monitors national and EU policies, and is actively communicating with Romanian authorities to improve the legislative framework on circular economy. It is open to establishing strategic partnerships with similar local and international organisations and academia. The scope is to develop studies and reports on circularity and to support the implementation of circular economy programmes.
Supporting circularity across the EU and beyond
The One Planet Network is a platform that assembles information about the state of play in sectors that are particularly relevant to the circular economy and need assistance developing tools and policies to reduce waste and improve sustainability.
It aims to implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, focusing on SDG12. The network consists of stakeholders generating collective impact in public procurement, building and construction, tourism, food systems, consumer information and lifestyles and education.
Countries, stakeholders and organisations are invited to join and participate. The One Planet Network's strategy runs from 2018 to 2022 and was initiated by the UN's Environment Programme.
ReSociety
ReSociety is a global collective initiative which aims to promote and accelerate the transformation to the circular economy. It is a gathering point for circular mindsets to align, share lessons, co-create solutions and spark new innovations. ReSociety is open to consumers, educators, NGOs, journalists, enterprises, policymakers and industries from all over the world. It is founded on the belief that by working together, it is possible to scale solutions for a more sustainable future.
ReSociety was initiated by TOMRA's Circular Economy Division in early 2020 to exchange research and knowledge, establish new partnerships and share ideas on holistic waste and resource systems, which are essential for developing circular value chains.
RepaNet – an Austrian re-use und repair network
The Austrian network RepaNet represents social businesses working in the re-use sector. By preventing waste, it contributes to linking the circular use of goods/products with the creation of fair job opportunities. It promotes and anchors re-use and repair in Austrian and European policy, administration, economy and waste management and provides consulting to initiatives, enterprises, stakeholders and decision-makers.
With its almost 40 members, RepaNet connects initiatives in the DIY-repair sector, like BauKarussell for the building sector and Tchibo for social textile. It has also created RepaThek, the biggest online literature platform on re-use, repair and CE in German.
Concrete results can be found in the regular reports: 2020-2021.
CIRCULÉIRE – Ireland’s National Platform for Circular Manufacturing
CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland’s first cross-sectoral circular economy innovation network, first designated EU circular economy hotspot, and is supported by several government departments. Its goal is to accelerate the transition towards a net-zero carbon circular economy in Ireland.
CIRCULÉIRE is co-creating innovative solutions with Irish industry from the agri-food, pharmaceutical, recycling, medical devices, ICT and built environment sectors. It has a dedicated innovation fund to invest in innovation demonstration projects.
CIRCULÉIRE also engages with a wide range of stakeholders from the Irish innovation ecosystem through our open-access circular economy knowledge library and capacity building activities including annual thematic working groups and workshops.
PREVENT Waste Alliance
Initiated under the patronage of the German Development Minister Gerd Müller, the PREVENT Waste Alliance was launched in May 2019. It serves as a platform for exchange and international cooperation. Organisations from the private sector, academia, civil society and public institutions jointly engage for a circular economy.
The PREVENT Waste Alliance wants to contribute to minimising waste, eliminating pollutants and maximising the reuse of resources in the economy worldwide. Members of the platform work together for waste prevention, collection, and recycling as well as the increased uptake of secondary resources in low- and middle-income countries.
The platform focuses on waste from plastic packaging and single use products as well as waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The CircLean Network: European network of businesses and SMEs for Industrial Symbiosis
CircLean is a network of businesses and SMEs that participate in the reuse of raw materials through industrial symbiosis. The network aims at mobilising industries and relevant stakeholders to overcome the challenges of industrial symbiosis today for its increased uptake in Europe.
The network will create:
- a common methodology to measure and report on resource exchange and benefits from symbiotic exchanges;
- an online tool for matchmaking and assessment of transactions;
- and a CircLean Label to accredit members that comply with it.
CircLean is an initiative of the European Commission. It is implemented by a consortium led by Technopolis Group, involving Trinomics, International Synergies, and Arctik as partners, and supported by A’SPIRE, EIT Raw Materials and ACR+.
RCUBE - Federation of French companies active in the Reduce, Repair & Reuse businesses
RCUBE is a Federation of French companies active in the Reuse/Reduce/Repair sectors and covering a very wide range of products and services (such as smartphones, computers, tyres, toys, electronics and bicycles).
By promoting the exchange of best practices with regard to reconditioning, training and public affairs, RCUBE helps and supports companies as they shift to circular economy business models.
Join the REFLOW community to become a circular and regenerative city, business or citizen
REFLOW is an EU H2020 funded project that seeks to understand and transform urban material flows, co-create and test regenerative solutions at business, governance, and citizen levels to create a resilient circular economy.
The project aims to develop circular and regenerative cities through enabling active citizen involvement and systemic change to re-think the current approach to material flows in cities. For more info, read the Reflow whitepaper.
Hosted on the REFLOW website, the Community of Practice (CoP) houses a Forum for exchange, a Best Practice Database and a host of Circular Resources. By becoming a member of the community, you join an ecosystem that is designed to share resources, knowledge and practical solutions to accelerate the transition towards circular cities.
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20 Apr 2022 to 21 Apr 2022
The MeetingPack conference is held every two years by AIMPLAS and AINIA. This year's event will bring packaging value chain stakeholders to the Valencia Conference Centre on 20-21 April 2022 to discuss Barrier Packaging Solutions: A Challenge for the Circular Economy.
08 Dec 2021
The workshop on "Our Phosphorus Raw Materials. Our Food. Our Future - V4's resilience in the face of pandemic" is the first event organised by the PhosV4 partners. It will include a session setting out the partners' competences and the project's scope, which will pave the way towards building a Phosphorus Friends Club in the Visegrad Group.
22 Nov 2021 to 09 Dec 2021
Climate KiC has launched two training programmes focusing on the use of Circularity Thinking tools in the manufacturing and food sectors within EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries. Registration are open!
18 Nov 2021
The 11th meeting of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste will be held virtually on 18 November. This is the last meeting of the current Platform before its re-establishment with a new membership, starting 2022.
24 Nov 2021
This virtual conference focuses on Level(s), an EU assessment and reporting framework that provides built-environment professionals with a common language for assessing buildings' sustainability performance. It features objectives and indicators to measure performance at every lifecycle stage.
Level(s) is free to download and use and has been tested extensively across the EU. It's designed for projects of all sizes.
18 Nov 2021
LOOPS is an opportunity to show what cutting-edge research has been produced, and which changes it can bring to our communities. It is a series of live webinars committed to spotlighting innovation in the field of circular economy. Next event, taking place on 18 November, is about improving the life cycle of textiles.
15 Nov 2021
As part of the CONDEREFF Project, the Workshop and Exchange-of-experience visit on "Selection, permits and monitoring of C&D waste management sites and facilities" will be held online on 15 November.
22 Nov 2021 to 26 Nov 2021
A week of meetings and discussion on the economic transition in the Brussels-Capital Region. Come and find out more about the Brussels economy of the future, talk to other economic players and get inspired by innovative initiatives during the events that will take place throughout the week in the four corners of the region.
We need to rethink urban development, production and consumption models so that they respond to environmental and social challenges, both regional and global. The Brussels-Capital Region is beginning its transition to a local, circular, social and democratic economy in line with these overarching principles.
- What actually is the economic transition?
- How can we launch an economic activity that fits in with it?
- What tools is the region putting in place to help businesses?
For one week, renowned speakers and inspiring contributors will take it in turn to present the regional transition and invite Brussels' actors to join the movement!
17 Nov 2021
Lack of standards in meeting sustainability goals may open the door to greenwashing or misallocation of assets and could lead to a lack of trust in progress towards SDGs. At the webinar on Standards4SDGs on 17 November, you will get an overview of how international organisations have already developed standards that can be linked to policies related to the circular economy, resource efficiency, environmental management and social responsibility, providing a level playing field for standards adopters.
09 Nov 2021
With emissions rising and dwindling time to reach the 1.5-degree target, it is paramount to increase the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and accelerate their implementation. The circular economy (CE) offers vast potential for GHG emission reduction on a global scale.
On 9 November, from 11:30, The NDC Partnership and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) will host a COP26 side event on integrating circular action into climate strategies and present findings of a new study published by GIZ on behalf of BMZ.
The study outlines a roadmap for NDC coordinators and decision-makers to clarify the envisioned CE transition measures and design CE-smart NDCs. The event aims to provide policymakers and NDC coordinators with a practical guide to raise their ambitions.
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18 Jun 2021
This study aims to provide information about circular economy perspectives in the management of textile products and textile waste in the European Union. The report improves the understanding of current value chains in the manufacturing and retailing of apparel products in the EU and provides a detailed picture of material flows in the EU textile sector in a global context.
15 Jun 2021
The Conference on the Future of Europe is collecting ideas on how to use resources more efficiently in a circular economy. As well as sharing your own ideas, you can also find other ideas from across Europe.
11 Jun 2021
Discover the ECESP Coordination Group's work plan 2021 to advance the circular economy and bring the community together. The Group members will use their expertise and tackle issues in eight key areas identified as essential for the transition to a more circular economy.
10 Jun 2021
You are encouraged to participate in a survey that the European Food Safety Agency is launching to complement and prioritise the set of circular economy areas and practices which might pose risks to food/feed safety and the environment.
18 Jun 2021
The European Commission is organising a series of targeted stakeholder workshops to gather input on challenges and gaps as well as opportunities for the textile sector in the transition towards sustainability. The fourth workshop on 18 June 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CET will focus on “product design for sustainability in the textile value chain”.
04 Jun 2021
On 7 June 2021, the Italian G20 Presidency and the EU are organising an online workshop on Circular Fashion to inform discussions in the G20. The workshop will explore the G20’s role in promoting the circular economy in the fashion sector.
01 Jun 2021
On 31 May, it was announced that the European Commission issued guidance on the EU rules on single-use plastics and adopted an Implementing Decision on the monitoring and reporting of fishing gear. These rules aim to reduce marine litter from single-use plastic products and fishing gear and promote the transition to a circular economy.
31 May 2021
The European Commission is organising a series of targeted stakeholder workshops to gather input on challenges and gaps as well as opportunities for the sector towards sustainability.
The third workshop (15 June 2021) focuses on sustainable consumption and circular business models in the textile sector.
31 May 2021
From 31 May to 4 June, Vlaanderen Circulair will hold a Circular Building Action Week with eight open workshops, a plenary event and a circular market dialogue, entirely online. The theme of this edition is communication. Discover the offer!
01 Jun 2021
The online panel discussion organised by European Policy Centre (EPC), in partnership with Apple, on 1 June 2021 will bring together policy-makers, and representatives of industry and civil society to discuss the role of innovation and partnerships in achieving zero pollution, climate neutrality and a circular economy.
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Waste Selective Collection: a crucial factor in the Circular Economy
Abstract:
Examining the role of selective waste collection in a CE by focusing on two different waste streams (plastics and bio-waste) while also granting consideration to the future of highly selective collection streams.
Towards a circular economy and sustainable tourism on islands
Abstract:
Panel discussions around tools and methodologies to assess the impact of marine litter and to address the issue of circular economy and sustainable tourism in islands.
3rd Circular Change Conference: Unfolding Circular Economy Roadmaps
Abstract:
The first Slovenian Circular Economy Roadmap paves the way towards a circular economy in Slovenia.
The impact of the Circular Economy on the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods industry: a study
Abstract:
Study on Identifying the Impact of the Circular Economy on the FMCG industry: Opportunities and Challenges for Labour Market, Supply Chains and Consumer Behaviour
Consumer Insights into the Circular Economy (CICE)
Abstract:
The stakeholder panel discussed the issue of integrating consumer insights in the circular economy: needs, benefits and best practices.
2nd meeting of the Coordination Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
Abstract:
The second meeting of the ECESP Coordination Group was held on 18 and 19 October 2018 in Brussels to discuss the platform's activities, define objectives for the coming year and reflect on its overall implementation.
1st Meeting of the Coordination Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
Abstract:
The first meeting of the ECESP Coordination Group provided a fertile ground for discussion on how the platform will reach its objectives.
Aiming at a Circular City Portal: a one-stop shop for cities transitioning to circular economy
Abstract:
In the framework of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Circular Economy, ACR+ co-organised a workshop with its member OVAM, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and Eurocities.
Circular Futures - Austria's Circular Economy Platform
Abstract:
The Austrian Circular Economy Platform Circular Futures was launched in March 2018 at the House of the European Union in Vienna.
Coordination Group's Work Plan 2018-2020
Abstract:
The Coordination Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform plays a key role in guiding the Platform's activities: reinforcing interaction between stakeholders, facilitating the exchange of good practices and fostering a European debate on how to transition to a circular economy.