This EC GPP Helpdesk webinar on 27 September will analyse how public procurement can be used as a strategic tool to support the upskilling and reskilling of the construction workforce and help futureproof the European construction sector.
After Pazardzhik, Barcelona and Naples, the Biocircularcities partners are coming to Brussels on 28 September. Come and be inspired to bring the Biocircularcities approach to your garden by learning more about the project and its results. Discuss the future of a circular bioeconomy in Europe and exchange notes with your peers.
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.
With the EU striving to achieve circularity and climate neutrality by 2050, this publication explores the Netherlands' target of reducing primary raw material consumption by 50% by 2030. This is all the more impressive given that the current global circularity rate is 7.2%.
The brochure showcases over 20 best practices from the Netherlands, with an emphasis on the transformative applications of chemical recycling. The toolboxes and strategic approaches presented serve as a pragmatic blueprint for implementing effective and sustainable chemical recycling initiatives.
This white paper examines China's transition to a circular economy.
A new plan for China’s circular economy (CE) was set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan 2021-2025. Circular Innovation Lab's previous paper on China’s Circular Economy Policies: Review and Reflection argued that there has been significant improvement in environmental aspects in China. It also identified challenges in the implementation of past five-year plans, such as coordination challenges, uneven and unsustainable development, and lack of research.
This paper builds on those findings to address the way forward in China's CE transition, including challenges and opportunities.
More than 140 million SMEs make up a significant part of China's economy and technological innovation.
However, they are also responsible for significant environmental issues, with most environmental regulation violations in China being incurred by SMEs. This paper investigates how SMEs can help China transition to a circular economy by harnessing their potential for technology innovation and flexibility in adopting circular practices. By looking into the development characteristics of Chinese SMEs, it highlights the implications for SME-related policies and management and emphasises the need for collaboration between businesses, NGOs and individuals.
By tapping into their strengths, SMEs can play a vital role in delivering the successful transition to a circular economy in China.
The circular economy was introduced in China’s policies in 2002 and has evolved into a national strategy and a fundamental pillar of the economy. However, while the efforts so far are worth celebrating, issues such as coordination challenges, uneven development, unsustainable success, and a lack of research are still undermining China's circular development.
This paper builds a primary framework by reviewing the development of China's circular economy policy. The paper consists of a policy review, the implementation and the corresponding outcome, challenge identification, framework establishment and application.
Selling or buying reconditioned items? Learn what the process involves in France!
To be recognised as reconditioned in France, an item has to follow a series of compulsory steps.
Sellers must be fully transparent about the source(s) of the product they are selling, reconditioning must take place on the premises where the product is sold or very close by. The product warranty must be extended to two years. Reconditioners should preferably use green transport and must be aware of their Extended Producer Responsibility and provide recycling bins for batteries, electrical appliances, etc. The original packaging should be preferably be used for packing the reconditioned goods.
These are just some of the rules that must be abided by in order to sell reconditioned items in France.
Realizing a just and successful circular economy transition requires engaging a multitude of stakeholders at the nexus of several areas of expertise, including digitalization, agriculture, business management, governance and policy, innovation, and finance.
This autumn, on 18 and 19 October 2023, UNECE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, will organize the first in-person Regional Policy Dialogue in the framework of the Stakeholder Engagement Platform - Circular STEP.
The conference on Green PLM 2023 - We enable the shift to sustainability will feature presentations and discussions on data management and digital solutions for product carbon footprints, secondary material rates and circularity.
There is a fee to take part in this conference, which will be held in Berlin on 9 November 2023. The event will be partly in German and partly in English.
