This study commissioned by the EEA assesses the potential to enhance the circularity of bio-based waste within the framework of the 2025 update of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy.
It focuses on identifying opportunities to move bio-based waste streams up the waste hierarchy, retain technical and economic value and minimise environmental impacts.
The study maps waste generation, collection, treatment and reporting practices across the EU and the technologies for managing biowaste.
It finds that better separate collection and development of high-value recovery pathways could reduce environmental pressures, greenhouse gas emissions and import dependence, though technological feasibility and scalability remain uncertain.
This report supports the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation within the framework of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan 2.0.
Prepared by the Joint Research Centre for the Directorate-General for Environment, it draws on contributions from external contractors, over 25 000 EU citizens and more than 250 expert stakeholders. The study addresses the fragmentation of waste-sorting labels across Member States, a key barrier to efficient recycling and the functioning of the internal market.
The technical proposal sets out a harmonised system of waste-sorting labels for packaging and receptacles across the EU, geared to removing market barriers while ensuring that consumers receive clear, consistent and actionable sorting instructions.
Fibenol transforms forestry and wood industry residues into sustainable biomaterials used in the biomaterials and biofuels, packaging, construction, and food, feed and pharmaceuticals industries.
REkrabička offers a returnable packaging system designed for restaurants, cafés and canteens. Their sturdy reusable food and drink containers can be used 400 times, replacing 400 single-use items.
Eco Bio® Croatia has developed an innovative biopolymer made from fruit and vegetable waste. It is an environmentally-friendly, non-toxic alternative to single-use flexible plastic which can be composted at home.
Cupffee cups are designed to replace single-use plastic and paper ones. They are made from plant-based material and using a zero-waste production process.
Brazil’s mining sector has underpinned national growth and is a major global supplier of iron ore, bauxite, niobium and copper. However, the linear model is producing declining ore grades, rising waste volumes and growing environmental and social pressures.
To remain competitive, Brazil must shift to a circular model. Strategies such as reprocessing tailings, recovering by-products, designing for reuse and establishing closed-loop partnerships can unlock significant economic and environmental value.
This report looks at circular solutions being implemented in the mining sector and how designing urban renewable energy systems for reuse will turn cities into urban mines.
Growingpaper's printed material is made using biodegradable inks on paper made from recycled paper or cotton waste - with flower seeds in it. Once you've finished with it, put it aside until spring then plant it and help biodiversity!
Waste To Resources Latvia - boosting regional sustainability and circularity is a Lifeproject which provides a framework for coordinating, testing and scaling up circular economy solutions at national level, involving multiple partners and thematic implementation areas.
So far, it has launched national digital platforms for reuse and industrial symbiosis, improved data availability and decision-support tools for the waste management sector, and enhanced quality assurance of secondary materials through an accredited polymer testing laboratory.
The EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles calls for policy interventions to reduce waste and overconsumption in this sector. However, future policies may have unintended impacts.
This study examines the unintended effects of past and future textile policies, with the goal of evaluating scientific tools for improving ex ante impact assessments and so mitigating unintended effects in future.
It finds that the unintended impact of a policy can be just as important as the impact that it was designed to achieve. Stakeholder engagement, combined micro- and macro-economic modelling, extended consideration of the EU's resilience and the inclusion of a behavioural and social component are all key to reducing unintended impacts.
