Global biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, giving rise to a sixth mass extinction and constituting one of the core challenges of the triple planetary crisis. Biodiversity forms the foundation of life on Earth and its loss presents a systemic risk to future human survival. To reverse the biodiversity crisis, transformative systems-wide change is required.
This paper addresses an existing research gap by exploring whether the circular economy can play a role not only in halting biodiversity loss but also in regenerating it and thereby contributing to a nature-positive future. To unlock the regenerative potential of the circular economy, a coherent strategy is needed that provides incentives for all actors, notably policymakers and businesses.
This Sitra memorandum focuses on providing building blocks to help the next European Commission address the ecological crisis while maintaining Europe's competitiveness and resilience.
The renewed European Commission will take office in 2024 and must keep up the European Green Deal, ensuring that it centres on nature and mainstreams the circular economy across the EU single market.
The key recommendations include:
ecosystem accounting
biodiversity offsets
circular single market
leveraging nature as a business opportunity
using data for the green transition
addressing Europe's global biodiversity footprint, and
reforming the common agricultural policy.
Stakeholders are encouraged to contribute to the ongoing debate, ensuring the strategy's success.
Bioremediation, the process of using living organisms to break down environmental pollutants, has real potential for the circular economy. It could help address environmental pollution while promoting resource recovery and sustainability.
The process also supports more circular use of resources, minimises waste generation and reduces the need for resource extraction.
On 12 September, the ECESP Leadership Group on Bioeconomy will bring together an expert panel to discuss ways to clean up the environment using this nature-based solution and achieve zero-pollution. Participants will learn how to reduce microplastics and pharmaceutics contamination in the soil and water.
Our experts will present innovative bioremediation solutions and how to implement them sustainably.
Knof is a Slovenian social enterprise with a focus on circularity and sustainability. It operates reuse boutiques, a circular laboratory and a programme for individuals and entrepreneurs supporting sustainable companies.
Re-think Circular Economy Forum is an event designed to present a vision on macro-trends, possible evolutionary paths, and main projects concerning the Circular Economy on a local, national and international level. It wants to encourage the development of Circular Economy in Taranto and in the rest of Apulia territory.
Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled! An International E-Waste Day to shed light on ‘invisible’ electronic waste
This year International E-Waste Day will operate under the slogan “You can recycle anything with a plug, battery or cable!”, thus highlighting the issue of invisible e-waste – the electronic items that often fall under the recycling radar of those disposing of them, because they are not seen as e-waste.
While often associated with discarded gadgets and devices, a significant amount of electronic waste remains hidden in plain sight.
At the Handelsblatt Circular Economy conference, the central role of industry, business, politics and science in implementing the circular economy will be discussed under the motto "reverse thinking".
The conference brings together top thinkers, decision makers and experts who already have experience in implementing circular economy solutions.
The European Commission is hosting a webinar on 27 July on the implementation of Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint methods. Find out about these methods, a tool for assessing, reporting and achieving circularity throughout the life cycle.
The Materials & Products Taskforce will be hosting a hybrid event centred around the launch of a new policy briefing on the Critical Raw Materials Act.
The boating industry in Europe, represented by EBI (European Boating Industry), has developed a roadmap for solving the roadblocks to end-of-life boat recycling. It sets ambitious targets and policy recommendations to reach by 2030. The boating industry also commits to phasing out unsustainable recycling practices.
The roadmap and recommendations were developed by EBI following the work of the Stakeholders’ Group on end-of-life recreational boats. The Group is co-chaired by the European Commission's DG MARE and EBI and includes national authorities of the Member States and key stakeholders (industry, users, academia and related industries).
