UtilDeco Group SRL has become Romania’s flagship work-integration social enterprise.
In 2023, it linked its textiles and coffee operations in a circular-economy pilot scheme: fabric off-cuts from uniform production and empty jute coffee sacks were upcycled into OPYA Fashion, a limited-edition collection of jackets, totes and accessories.
The enterprise is now scaling circularity through two major projects, one on digital product passports in textile products and the other on hiring workwear.
International E-Waste Day on 14 October will focus on Critical Raw Materials, the elements that are mined in only a handful of countries and are crucial to foster the green and digital transition.
Organisations, municipalities, schools, businesses and individuals are invited to get involved!
EU policies require effective data and analyses, which are provided by Eurostat. This data is extremely useful for seeing how waste and the circular economy in the EU are evolving. Eurostat data on food waste, packaging and municipal waste paint a vivid picture. Part of it is good, other parts definitely less so.
The INTERREG project Enable Digital Product Passports with Chemicals Traceability for a Circular Economy has organised a series of workshops designed to build the capacity of actors in the textile value chains to cope with the challenges of chemicals traceability.
This final workshop will feature a simulation game, where participants will try their hand at implementing traceability.
The World Summit on Renewable Energy & Green Chemistry aims to accelerate the adoption of solutions that promote environmental stewardship, energy efficiency and a circular economy.
The European Deposit Return Systems Association (EDRSA) for beverage packaging was founded in 2025.
The objective is to advance best practices, policy development and collaboration in the field of deposit return systems (DRS) in Europe.
EDRSA aims to foster innovation, efficiency and environmental responsibility in DRS programmes by bringing together key players from across the industry, including system operators, policymakers, recyclers and technology providers. The association will serve as a platform for sharing expertise, advocating for effective legislation and driving improvements in circular economy initiatives.
The members of the Association operate in 15 EU Member States plus Iceland and Norway.
This workshop will look at nutrient recycling from aquaculture sludge, nutrient optimisation in fish feed, valorisation of nutrients in seafood processing and aquaculture nutrient flows. It will contribute to the United Nations (UNEP) project uPcycle, leading to a UNEP white paper on phosphorus sustainability in aquaculture.
IFAT Munich is the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies. It offers cutting-edge solutions for water, recycling and circularity with a strong focus on innovations with a global impact.
The Motagua Circular Forum aims to be a catalyst for change in the Motagua River Basin, where circular economy, European investment and collaborative governance build bridges towards a sustainable future.
The forum will bring together local and Team Europe partners, including EU representatives, Member State organisations, financing institutions and the European private sector. It will create a platform for dialogue with the objective of generating partnerships and investment in circular economy infrastructure and value chains in the river basin.
Companies from the water and waste management sectors are invited to be part of this initiative and express their interest in participating in the forum to pitch their solutions in Guatemala.
