Leveraging waste wood as a sustainable resource is central to meeting Europe’s rising demand for wood-based products without compromising forests, biodiversity and the climate through virgin wood harvesting. To advance the circular economy and transform waste wood valorisation to meet future demand, digital product passports (DPPs) are an important digital tool for improving waste wood flows.
This CEPS In-Depth Analysis explores the challenges and opportunities for advancing waste wood valorisation and the circular economy using DPPs. After consulting with experts, some of the challenges and opportunities identified include data availability, access and integration, harmonised DPP content, limited stakeholder capacity and the costs of implementing DPPs.
Shifting to a circular economy, which is nature-positive by design, can build prosperity while tackling climate change and other global challenges. This study shows that a targeted set of investable and scalable actions in the built environment sector represents a significant economic opportunity for Europe, increasing resilience, competitiveness and the vibrancy of its cities. It also aims to show that circular and nature-positive strategies can be applied across sectors.
To illustrate how the benefits of a nature-positive, circular economy can be realised in a tangible, high-impact way, this study focuses on the built environment using new analysis drawn from quantitative modelling and interviews with expert practitioners.
The Horizon Europe project INBUILT aims to bring about a shift in the European construction industry by integrating circular economy and digitalisation. It focuses on scaling up and demonstrating 10 innovative products and systems designed to make building practices more sustainable.
These innovations fall into two key categories: Reused and recycled materials which will reduce waste through the smart repurposing of materials from existing sources, and low-carbon building products developed using bio-based or geo-sourced materials to significantly lower the environmental impact of construction.
This booklet presents a series of factsheets outlining each innovation developed by INBUILT. They will be updated when the project comes to an end.
SOPHIA is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project that aims to implement advanced digital solutions in end-of-life solar panels, involving the full value chain in order to increase their current reuse, repair and recycling rates. The end goal is to foster a more circular, innovative and competitive Europe.
While circular economy practices offer substantial environmental and economic benefits along with local job creation, their implementation requires significant adjustments in working conditions and practices.
This briefing dives into two of the circular building pathways identified as having high social impacts in the Circular Buildings Coalition’s 2024 Four Pathways Report: 1) Build with the Right Materials; and 2) Build Nothing.
These pathways are explored, along with their regulatory and market-level drivers, barriers and the measures needed to safeguard workers.
Mexico Circular Hotspot will take place on 5-6 November. It will focus on bringing together stakeholders from business, governments and knowledge institutions to advance the circular economy in Mexico and the Americas.
Germany's National Circular Economy Strategy adopts a strategic vision focused on reducing the consumption of primary raw materials. This approach is guided by the proposal from the International Resource Panel, under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which sets a global target of 6-8 tonnes of raw material consumption per capita per year by 2050.
The strategy considers every stage of the cycle: product design, material selection, production, maximising the use phase and, finally, reuse and recycling. It aims to prevent waste from being created in the first place. This can be achieved through smart product design, efficient manufacturing, extended product lifespans, easier repairability and maximising the recycling of all materials.
The aim is to boost circular construction in Noord-Holland, use fewer raw materials and thus contribute to the region's objective of switching to a fully circular economy by 2050 and reducing the use of primary raw materials by 50% in 2030.
The deal stipulates that all Participating Parties will:
apply circular harvesting as standard;
where possible, disclose how much released material has been processed in a circular manner and by what means;
share knowledge and collaborate on creating new circular chains and identifying and linking up existing chains, platforms and circular raw material hubs.
See also the Dutch and German versions of the deal.
This webinar brings together experts and representatives of EU institutions and local initiatives to discuss the latest policy developments and practical solutions. It will spotlight how territorial cooperation helps drive innovation and sustainability across Europe.
Come and see how cooperation across borders can deliver tangible impact - and how these efforts can shape the future of EU environmental and economic policies!
