Did you know that 37.5% of total waste generated in the EU comes from construction and demolition? And that that amount is predicted to increase by 70% compared to current levels by 2050?

A study by Deloitte aims to boost the application and measurement of circular approaches in the construction industry ecosystem across Europe.

Cities are hubs of humanity, often fuelling a country’s economic growth and innovation. However, they are also resource and energy hungry. As a result, cities are critical when it comes to helping societies shift to a circular economy.

The 2022 Circular Cities Declaration Report is a very important milestone. Not only is it the first progress report for the Declaration, it also features statements from 40 signatory cities. This makes it the broadest ever assessment of circular economy practices across European cities.

On 31 January, the Commission launched an online public consultation on what the new product priorities under the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) should be.

The aim is to make products on the EU market increasingly sustainable, by enabling far-reaching performance and information requirements – known as "ecodesign requirements" – to be set on a wide range of them to improve their circularity, energy performance and other environmental sustainability aspects. 

 

Following the success of the sixth European Food & Beverage Plastic Packaging Summit which brought 100+ senior industry professionals to Antwerp in February 2022, the event will be returning to Belgium. The seventh Summit will take place in Antwerp on 15-16 February 2023.

Save the date for this year’s EU Green Week: Europe’s largest annual environmental event will take place from Saturday 3 June to Sunday 11 June 2023. As part of the European Year of Skills, the EU Green Week partner events will focus on skills for sustainable, resilient and socially fair communities. 

Registrations for organising an EU Green Week partner event will be open from 1 to 15 March 2023. 

Following the success of Lignofuels 2022 which brought 150+ senior industry professionals to Helsinki in June 2022, we are pleased to announce that the 2023 conference will be taking place in Helsinki again on 8-9 February 2023.

The European Commission is conducting a survey on possible new legislation on the management of plastic pellets, with a view to reducing the amount which ends up in the environment.

This survey is only for companies handling plastic pellets in the European Union, in particular small and micro-companies. It will close on Thursday 23 February. 

On Day 2 of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Annual Conference (28 February), a Networking Village will showcase a selection of good practices, initiatives and circular business models. Twenty online and ten on-site exhibitors will bring their work to an audience of around 500 participants. A unique opportunity to pitch projects and matchmaking opportunities. Interested?

On 1 December 2022, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel launched the largest public consultation ever held on the past, present and future of the Horizon Framework Programmes 2014-2027.

The consultation will be open until 23 February 2023.

This initiative will provide selected households with a cost-free circular economy advisory service. Firstly, all available knowledge about measuring and calculating households' greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts will be screened and consolidated. A simple and robust method for quickly comparing environmental impacts will then be established, drawing on product environmental footprint expertise.