In recent years, the concept of green jobs has been the focus of increasing attention. The principles of green jobs and green employment are grounded in a variety of evolving concepts such as green economy, green growth, sustainable development and circular economy, which are multi-dimensional and their understanding evolves in both academic and political contexts.

At the EU policy level, the green transition is seen as an opportunity to create jobs in existing and emerging economic sectors. A large number of different approaches to how green jobs can be defined and classified have been put forward. Differences and gaps identified in these existing definitions and frameworks have exposed the need to create a novel, integrated taxonomy for green jobs, which is developed in this report.

Denmark is already excelling in many areas of sustainability, positioning itself as an ambitious frontrunner in the race to net-zero. It already boasts mostly renewable electricity generation, with targets to achieve 100% green electricity by 2027 and entirely renewable energy by 2050.

The Circularity Gap Report on Denmark reveals that the country’s economy is 4% circular. This figure is defined by very high material consumption - 24.5 tonnes of virgin materials per person per year. This puts the country above both the European average of 17.8 tonnes per capita and the global average of 11.9 tonnes per capita.

The report also lays out five circular pathways for Denmark that have the potential to cut its material and carbon footprints by roughly 40% each.

Zero Waste Europe, Reloop, and TOMRA, with the contribution of  Eunomia Research & Consulting Eunomia, have published a study on reusable take-away packaging and its potential for significant greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to single-use alternatives.

The study examines various packaging types (cups, burger boxes, bowls, pizza boxes, sushi containers, etc.), highlighting emissions reduction potential with efficient return, washing and redistribution systems, with a view to 2030.

The study involved modelling to measure the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from reusable takeaway packaging compared to single-use ones.

The results indicate that reuse has potential to yield greater environmental benefits than recycling or discarding take-away packaging in Europe.

Europe and the world face unprecedented sustainability challenges, largely as a result of unsustainable consumption. Since similar consumption patterns are expected to continue, technological and efficiency gains are likely to be insufficient to keep environmental and climate pressures within sustainable limits.

A more circular economy in Europe has the potential to reduce environmental and climate pressures and impacts from our consumption, but will require reshaping our consumption and production systems. This report presents trends in European household consumption and its environmental and climate pressures, and explores conditions for and pathways to a transition towards more sustainable and circular consumption patterns in Europe.