In recent years, plastic waste generation has become a prime concern in the global political arena.

A dedicated strategy on plastics was adopted at EU level, leading to the Single-Use Plastics Directive. Nonetheless, plastic waste management data show that achieving a circular economy for plastics in the EU is still a long way off. Available studies suggest that plastic waste generation may stay high in the future or even increase without ambitious circularity policies.

This report looks at the challenges associated with plastic waste generation and discusses the potential for using chemical recycling technologies as part of an ecosystem of solutions for increasing the circularity of plastics. It is based on evidence collected through desk-research.

Accumulating environmental and climate pressures and impacts are bringing unprecedented sustainability challenges. These problems are largely caused by unsustainable consumption, and require a fundamental shift in production and consumption systems in Europe and beyond.

Pressures and impacts from consumption can be reduced by:

1. consuming differently by shifting to less material-intensive options and using renewable or recycled materials,
2. consuming less through, for example, longer product lifespans or sharing models that can reduce the demand for new products, and
3. scaling up circular product design that enables circular consumption and reduces environmental impact.

Europe and the world face unprecedented sustainability challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion and pollution. These challenges are largely caused by unsustainable consumption as countries strive for economic growth and people pursue well-being.

Environmental and climate pressures and impacts from consumption accumulate over the years, and many ecosystems are now under pressure beyond their regeneration capacity. Scientific evidence suggests that the pressures associated with Europe's consumption are so high that the planet's ability to recover from them is seriously compromised.

Academics are studying the challenge of including the informal recycling sector (IRS) in the circular economy.

This review explores the direct and indirect contributions of the IRS to various circular economy fields, drawing on relevant literature.

1. The modi operandi of different recycling value chains are captured in a typology.
2. Information on reported forms of collaboration, tensions and challenges in urban waste management is summarised in a conceptual framework to facilitate the transition to circular and inclusive wise-waste systems.
3. Important aspects related to circular business models and approaches to the IRS are discussed and avenues for further research proposed.

Biodiversity is both vital for healthy ecosystems and the foundation of our well-being and economy. However, it is under severe threat. The root of the problem is our current unsustainable production and consumption systems. The circular economy is key to transforming these systems.

This briefing explores how the circular economy can reduce the impacts of production and consumption on biodiversity, with a focus on reducing primary resource demand, preventing pollution and biodiversity-friendly sourcing.

This article unpacks the idea of cycles, loops and flows by analysing what socio-ecological cycles are most relevant for sustainability and circularity.

It thus finds a set of seven cycles that are key to better understanding the circular economy and its relation to human and planetary well-being (biogeochemical, ecosystem, resource, power, wealth, knowledge and care cycles).

The article then analyses how and whether dominant circular economy discourses currently address these cycles. It proposes the idea of a circular society as an umbrella concept that can help us better address the critical ecological, social and political implications of a circularity transition.

Moreover, this article develops a set of interrelated strategies to operationalise the circular society concept.

The EU has set ambitious targets to improve municipal waste management. EU Member States need effective strategies and policy instruments to achieve these targets.

This briefing provides an overview of some of the main instruments used across the EU and the performance of Member States so far.

Economic instruments can be useful policy tools for waste prevention and sustainable waste management. This is because they can make preferred management options, such as recycling, cheaper than or at least cost-competitive with their alternatives.

Like economic instruments, well-designed separate collection systems for municipal waste are a key enabler of high recycling rates and the collection of recyclables of adequate quality.

Europe aims to become a circular economy. To encourage this, the EU has set targets for the 27 Member States to increase recycling and reduce landfilling. Specifically, by 2025, 55% of municipal waste and 65% of packaging waste must be prepared for re-use or recycled.

This briefing assesses Member States’ prospects of meeting these targets and its findings constitute the basis of the European Commission’s 2023 early warning report.

The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam (MRA) aims to achieve 70% circular textiles by 2030. This report provides a clear vision and a plan on how to successfully transition to a regenerative and circular textile system.

This research is provided by the Circular Innovation Collective (CIC), a squad of three impact-driven organisations: Metabolic, Impact Hub Amsterdam and Bankers without Boundaries. It is supported by the Municipality of Amsterdam, DOEN, and Goldschmeding.

This report proposes a new framework for monitoring waste prevention. The framework consists of three clusters of indicators:

1. the system where prevention is implemented
2. policy enablers focusing on waste prevention measures, and
3. waste prevention outcomes.

Given that waste prevention occurs over time, this report seeks to assess longer term trends in waste prevention.

This comprehensive monitoring framework allows for a broader understanding of waste generation and prevention. However, the data collected were not sufficient for an in-depth analysis of waste prevention progress or for assessing the effectiveness of specific prevention measures. For a deeper analysis, more specific data and information need to be collected across EU countries in a systematic and harmonised way.