Date palms are becoming ever more important globally and in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). The Khalifa Award Report, inspired by 46 contributors in 21 countries, focuses on the 5 Ps -People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships - which shape the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The bio-circular economic potential of the date palm industry has yet to be explored. In some cases, it is a necessity that can save lives in oases prone to fire hazards caused by climate change; it can also provide new green jobs in the sustainable economy transition. The European circular economy transition can serve as a model for adaptation in the MENA region.
More info on date palm recycling on pages 162-3 of the report.
Circular Change focuses on establishing and fostering dialogue between stakeholders, particularly as regards creating circular economy roadmaps. It promotes new narratives, exchanges knowledge and enables innovation.
The RECITURF project is developing new methods for recycling artificial turf so that it does not end up in landfills. New artificial turf can be manufactured using the different plastics recovered from waste turf.
Position paper on the potential use of RFIDs in packaging material in the “Modernisation of the Food Industry through Industry 4.0 and Digitisation initiative”
The GLOPACK (Granting society with LOw environmental impact innovative PACKaging) project aims to come up with food packaging which has no environmental footprint and can extend the shelf life of food products.
This paper explores the applications of Radio frequency identification (RFID), a promising technology that can identify articles much more efficiently than barcodes. One of the project's areas of interest is RFID-enabled wireless food spoilage indicators linked to food date labels.
RFID technology can help reduce waste (consumers can use it to check the quality of the food in their fridge) and increase recycling (it is good for mass identifying items quickly, which is helpful in a recycling facility).
The Fabric Sales is a designer deadstock fabric store – somewhere individuals and businesses can buy designer fabric which would otherwise be treated as waste.
Together with the students for furniture design of VOMO the CiLAB collective started a journey creating new circular concepts based on textile and furniture waste. The concepts do not only facilitate awareness but also link with the local community and the city of Mechelen.
ZWE is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. It advocates for sustainable systems; for the redesign of our relationship with resources; and for a global shift towards environmental justice, accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet.
The network now includes 35 members from 28 European countries and works with topics across the whole chain, from product design to reusability to end-of-pipe waste management solutions, and from the phase-out of plastics to waste trade and municipal zero waste strategies.
Part of its work is done in Brussels, influencing European legislation from product design to waste disposal.
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development and is active in 125+ countries. ICLEI Europe supports local governments in implementing the European Green Deal, the overarching EU strategy for climate neutrality, to build more resilient and equitable communities, and focuses onhow local governments can lead the transition to a circular economy.
ICLEI Europe supports and advocates for improved access to funding for local and regional governments to plan and implement sustainable development and so works with organisations such as the European Investment Bank to develop new financing schemes.
Its website has a library of tools and publications.
