The European Recycling Conference 2023 will take place on 28 September in Brussels.
This year, EURIC is teaming up with DENUO, the Belgian waste management and recycling federation, to shine a spotlight on car recycling. Why? The automotive industry is going through a major revolution. By 2035 - practically tomorrow in terms of industrial value chains - combustion engine vehicles will be phased out and replaced by electric vehicles (EVs). This transition will have a significant impact on all the players involved, considering that the industry provides 12.6 million direct and indirect jobs in the EU. Recycling is no exception.
The European Commission has launched a new call for tenders under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) which will be particularly relevant to stakeholders working on ship recycling.
The call will finance a study providing the European Commission with an up-to-date analysis of the economic dynamics and effects of the use of controversial open registers for vessels, including the impact on the environment.
The boating industry in Europe, represented by EBI (European Boating Industry), has developed a roadmap for solving the roadblocks to end-of-life boat recycling. It sets ambitious targets and policy recommendations to reach by 2030. The boating industry also commits to phasing out unsustainable recycling practices.
The roadmap and recommendations were developed by EBI following the work of the Stakeholders’ Group on end-of-life recreational boats. The Group is co-chaired by the European Commission's DG MARE and EBI and includes national authorities of the Member States and key stakeholders (industry, users, academia and related industries).
The European Commission has launched an open public consultation to offer users of imaging equipment and stakeholders involved in all areas of the value chain (original equipment manufacturers, component suppliers, users, repairers, remanufacturers of cartridges, recyclers, etc.) the opportunity to express their views on how to best address the policy challenges outlined in the call for evidence for this initiative. The initiative aims to ensure that:
imaging equipment, such as printers, is designed to be energy- and resource-efficient
consumers have the information needed to use their devices sustainably, including through maintenance and repair
the generation of waste through the use of consumables (e.g. ink cartridges) is minimised.
On 3 July, the Court of Auditors issued a special report on the roll-out of the circular economy in the EU, entitled "Circular economy: slow transition by member states despite EU action".
The report provides recommendations on monitoring and investments. These are currently being addressed by the Commission which will take them into account when developing future circular economy policies.
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.
CircEUlar is a four-year European Research and Innovation Action that will develop new modelling approaches for analysing circularity from a systems perspective.
On 27 June 2023, the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform (ZPSP) will host the first in a series of Zero Pollution Talks. The launch event on "Zero Pollution & the European Year of Skills" will be held online on 27 June at 15:00 – 16:00 CEST.
These online events are intended to foster stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange with a view to raising awareness and tackling a wide range of issues related to zero pollution, including circularity. The Talks will bring together a diverse set of stakeholders, including experts and policymakers, for an hour-long, online interactive discussion. The sessions will be recorded to create a zero pollution knowledge base.
The Circular Republic Festival will take place from 15 to 18 November 2023. Join top circular economy visionaries for innovation, networking and inspiration. Showcase initiatives, meet relevant players and be inspired by good practices. Experience keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops and online collaboration. We want to accelerate the circular economy together!
In view of the ongoing regulatory developments in the field of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, this in-person event on 4 July will discuss the potential of using chemical recycling technologies as part of an ecosystem of solutions for increasing circularity of plastics.
