The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK charity which aims to speed up the transition to the circular economy. Since it was set up, the charity has emerged as a global thought leader, putting the circular economy on the agenda of decision makers across business, government and academia.
Carsten Wachholz joined the Foundation in 2020 after spending two years working for the European Investment Bank on Corporate Responsibility and another four years working for the European Environmental Bureau on the first EU Circular Economy Action Plan. Carsten leads the Foundation's newly established Brussels-based team supporting the development of circular economy policies at EU and international level (e.g. G20, OECD), in close collaboration with the Foundation's systemic initiatives on plastics, fashion and food.
This online session on 2 June 2023, from 10:00 to 12:00 (GMT+2), explores how cities worldwide can unlock the potential of the circular economy at the local level, while promoting biodiversity and nature conservation.
Many consumer products pose significant waste management challenges and end up in landfill or incinerators. Using findings from an European Environment Agency study, the event "Headache fractions in mixed municipal waste" on 11 May will discuss these issues and what needs to change to increase recycling and promote circularity.
The event "Consumer electronics retail: Facilitating the green and digital transition", at Scotland House, Brussels, on 27 April 2023, will cover the key trends that are shaping the sector, including consumer empowerment and digital education. The discussion will focus on the Single Market and its current state and address the importance of the human touch.
65% of electrical and electronic appliances put on the market must be collected after use when it turns into Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). One key step in achieving that 65% is to map e-waste streams, reliably and at every stage. The BeWeee tool is designed to help companies in Belgium do so.
The World Circular Economy Forum 2023 will be held in Helsinki from 30 May to 2 June 2023. This global collaboration forum is co-organised by Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and Nordic Innovation, with international partners. It will attract more than 2 000 leading circular economy players in the world to Finland to find circular solutions that can help our economies fit within the boundaries of nature. Part of the programme will also be accessible online.
Rare earth elements are strategically important for the EU to sustain and accelerate its green and digital transition, particularly due to their use in permanent magnets. Rare earth permanent magnets are critical components in wind turbines and electric vehicles, as well as home appliances and consumer electronics.
However, faced with an expected surge in demand, limited domestic manufacturing capacity, high import dependency and rising geopolitical tensions, the EU’s ability to meet the future demand for rare earth magnets is at risk.
This report examines the barriers hindering the establishment of a viable magnet recycling chain in the EU, whilst estimating the extent to which recycling could offset the coming increase in demand for rare earth magnets.
The Circular Navarre Catalogue 2022 is an update of the showcasing booklet published in 2020 and in 2021. This new edition includes 50 organisations - based on circular business models - in the Spanish Navarre region, looking for international cooperation.
Article 15 of Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive) requires producers to provide information free of charge about preparation for re-use and treatment for each type of EEE placed on the market.
To better respond to recyclers’ needs, APPLiA and DIGITALEUROPE created I4R, the Information for Recyclers Platform, where recyclers can access recycling information at product category level.
The WEEE Forum, an international association of producer responsibility organisations and a centre of competence, hosts and maintains the platform. EuRIC is on the advisory board.
Recycling information is linked to the presence and location of materials and components in electronic waste that require separate treatment. There are now 47 product fiches in six product categories.
