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.
Ambition4Circularity is a platform collecting circular commitments by large French companies. It is supported by the French Association of Large Companies (AFEP) that reflects their growing commitment to move towards a more sustainable production model.
Companies have been mobilising since 2017, with a wide range of commitments to activate the seven pillars of circular economy as defined by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) and based on their specific activities.
The commitments listed on the platform primarily involve the company’s internal stakeholders, along with suppliers, partners and customers. All aspects of the circular economy are leveraged in these commitments, from the supply of sustainable resources to the repair and recycling of the end product.
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.
Delivering a just and successful circular economy transition requires engaging a multitude of stakeholders at the nexus of several areas of expertise, including digitalisation, agriculture, business management, governance and policy, innovation and finance.
This autumn, on 18 and 19 October, UNECE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, will organise the first in-person Regional Policy Dialogue under 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.
Gravity Wave is a social start-up based in Spain. It focuses on working with small-scale fishermen to collect as much as possible of the plastic waste fouling the Mediterranean, from water bottles to a whole load of discarded fishing nets.
Re-think Circular Economy Forum is an event designed to present a vision on macro-trends, possible evolutionary paths, and main projects concerning the Circular Economy on a local, national and international level. It wants to encourage the development of Circular Economy in Taranto and in the rest of Apulia territory.
