This report explores whether there are limits to robustness of a socio-economic system as the result of a linear metabolic structure, and how those limits could theoretically be affected by its transition to a circular economy.
First, it looks at how the economic openness of the EU27 would affect the value of its circularity rate theoretically. Then it develops a conceptual framework based on regenerative economics and indicators from ascendency analysis and ecological network analysis.
This framework is used to assess a theoretical future case where the EU27 manages to successfully transition to a CE within its given linear material flow metabolism.
The results show that there are limits to robustness, and which do not necessarily correspond to a maximum circularity rate.
Tarkett is pioneering post-use flooring recycling in Europe. It is working with IKEA to transform used Tarkett flooring from the IKEA Kungens Kurva store into new flooring.
Tarkett worked with the Swedish environmental company Ragn-Sells to develop carbon negative mineral fillers for vinyl flooring using Estonian oil shale ash.
Tarkett, a worldwide leader of innovative flooring, has launched a new thorough - yet easy-to-use - Carbon Calculator to offer customers, across all sectors, transparency on the carbon footprint of Tarkett’s flooring collections, to help them make informed purchasing decisions. Tarkett's carbon calculator is supporting low carbon footprint in building and construction projects.
The Ocean Package UG is a young and sustainable company from Munich with the goal to make e-commerce more environmentally friendly and sustainable. For this purpose, they have designed reusable packaging made of recycled polypropylene, which contains a proportion of collected plastic from the North Sea. Their product can be used 20 times more often than conventional cardboard packaging.
Reducing the negative environmental impact caused by building processes and materials is an important element of circular construction. Sustainable construction applies to both public spaces (as it pertains to civil and hydraulic engineering) and the built environment (the construction of residential and non-residential buildings).
Circular design is gaining momentum as regards creating both a sustainable built environment and public spaces. Circular design makes buildings more adaptable and facilitates the high-value reuse of a structure’s materials once they have reached the end of their life. This toolbox article summarises the circular design of buildings in eight core principles.
Flanders DC and Circular Flanders have developed a tool to guide fashion entrepreneurs through the basics of a more sustainable way of working. With this online platform they want to encourage the industry to steer clear of a linear system (take-make-waste) and to embrace a more circular approach instead (with a focus on durability and avoiding waste).
CIMPA, an EU-funded H2020 project, aimed to develop a recycling chain for post-industrial and post-consumer multilayer films from food and agricultural applications. This complex approach combines innovative compositional sorting, mechanical and physical recycling and an advanced decontamination process.
In March, the European Commission released its Circular Economy Package which includes a proposal for an Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The ESPR identifies a Digital Product Passport (DPP) as key, enhancing the traceability of products and their components.
