Maersk: designing ships that can be dismantled and reused
Maersk has been developing ways to build recyclable ships that can be dismantled and reused.
Maersk has been developing ways to build recyclable ships that can be dismantled and reused.
Aerocircular provides green, service-only, economical end-of-life aircraft recycling and upcycling services to fleet owners.
RiVending is an innovative cycle of recovery and recycling of polystyrene cups, stirrers and PET bottles for vending machines in Italy.
The partnership between Herning and DFD has led to a new circular business model for the work clothing used by the municipality’s technical operations department.
The Danish State procurement authority has signed an exclusive procurement contract with the furniture brand Duba-B8, whereby all office furniture must be able to be disassembled into parts and reused several times.
Marealis uses discarded prawn shells from the seafood industry to make a natural supplement that can lower blood pressure.
RecyOuest is a green economy start-up that recycles contaminated filamentary thermoplastics such as agricultural nets and twines.
PURROT is a filter that can mechanically separate organic matter and nutrients from liquid, without using chemicals.
The Croatian project titled "Responsible Business for a Clean World" involves collecting unused soap in hotels and sending it to a soap factory, where it is cleaned, sterilised and recycled into new soap products, which are then offered back to customers at the hotel.
Purified Metal Company can responsibly process contaminated steel scrap into a high-quality raw material.
This publication sets out the state of play of the circular economy concept in Serbia and identifies the main obstacles that may hamper the shift to the circular economy paradigm. It also includes circular economy initiatives in Serbia and an analysis of linkages between the circular economy concept and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Addressing the circular economy only through waste management shows that the circular economy concept is still in its infancy in Serbia. According to the conclusions, the circular economy goes beyond
The circular economy and the Covid-19 recovery published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation shows how policymakers can pave the way towards a low-carbon and prosperous economic recovery. The paper highlights 10 circular investment opportunities across five key sectors:
Addressing the growing calls for a recovery response that is in alignment with other global challenges, these specifically selected opportunities all optimise the use and circulation of assets, materials and nutrients. As governments take the critical action necessary to safeguard national economies and work towards a transformation that is resilient to future global risks, the circular economy has never been more relevant.
Following the publication of the Circular Economy Action Plan in March 2020, the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) recently released a position paper to help ensure that any future regulations reflect the needs and aspirations of the lighting design profession.
The paper also addresses the impact of changes in the value chains of the lighting sector as a result of embracing circular economy - be it by creating second-hand markets or by adopting lighting as a service business model.
In its conclusion, the paper describes how lighting manufacturers, designers, contractors and clients could work together to ensure that the benefits of the circular economy can be achieved.
This reflection paper explains how materials will enable solutions for a healthy, safe, resilient society and stronger economy to answer citizen demands. It includes strategic research agendas (SRAs), proposals, solutions, and recommendations of Alliance for Materials A4M community towards Horizon Europe in the post-COVID scenario. COVID-19 has affected the development of current strategies to face societal challenges and led to a reflection on a new global economic model where circular economy will play a prominent role.
The paper puts forward proposals for strategic research and innovation activities to the European Commission, Member States, and the European Parliament, taking into account the objectives of the Green Deal Priorities and Recovery Plan.
The Circular Cities Week report presents the outcomes of the global event Circular Cities Week including circular challenges and opportunities for cities. It represents a crowdsourced tool for cities worldwide to implement the circular model.
The report explores the association between municipalities pursuing circular economy policy and investments in circular business that create jobs. It also takes a closer look at how businesses perceive this municipal support for circular economy.
The report summarises the findings of a study by the Circular Economy Club (CEC) and the CEC local chapters. The key learnings are as follows:
Closing the Loop (CTL) and Fairphone have partnered with other circular innovators, such as the Dutch government, in a project that is likely to become a game-changer for the electronics industry - proving that scrap batteries from Africa can be used to produce clean materials for the future.
In the first-ever shipment of scrap Li-ion batteries from West Africa to Europe, CTL has taken the first step towards proving that these scrap batteries can be a sustainable source for resources.
The results of this pilot have been recorded in a white paper, available here.
NOx (nitrogen oxides) are emitted during combustion in air at high temperatures and/or pressure; if they exceed recommended levels, this has a negative impact on the population. The authors found that when moist, limestone (CaCO3) readily sorbs NO2 to form calcium nitrate, which provides the basis for developing a surface flow filter. The substrate was made from “over-recycled” cellulose fibres such as newsprint, magazines and packaging fibres which are too weak for further recycling. The substrate was coated with fine-ground calcium carbonate and micro-nano-fibrillated cellulose, which was used as a binder and essential humectant to prevent a stagnant air layer forming. Pre-oxidation countered the action of denitrification bacteria colonising the cellulose substrate.
This is the second book published by the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
It is a collection of contributions by different authors focusing on a proposal for indicators to monitor circular economy in Poland. A large part of the work consists in explaining that circular economy is more than just waste management.
The publication is in Polish, but abstracts of the different contributions are available in English at the end of the book (from page 203 onwards).
This European Environmental Agency Report presents an analysis of approaches and identifies trends, similarities and new directions taken by countries in resource efficiency and circular economy (CE). It is based exclusively on data provided by 32 Eionet members.
Its main objective is to stimulate exchange of information and good practice between countries and to support capacity building within Eionet.
Another objective is to contribute to various policy processes, including work carried out by European Commission, European Parliament and International Resource Panel.
The report addresses 6 elements:
The electrical and electronics industry has been contributing to Europe socially and economically for almost 100 years. However, its production, use and disposal are resource- intensive activities resulting in significant environmental and climate impacts.
This European Environmental Agency (EEA) briefing describes how increasing product lifetime and improving ‘circularity’ are essential steps towards reducing impacts from electronics.
Case studies of 4 different electronic product groups show there is potential for significant increases in their actual lifetime use. Extending the lifetime and delaying the obsolescence of electronics can significantly reduce impacts and contribute to meeting EU environment, climate and circularity objectives.
The New European Bauhaus is a way to implement the EU Green Deal with due regard for sustainability, inclusion and esthetics. However, red tape and legal obstacles will make success impossible. Therefore, companies in particular are being asked to brief the European Commission on obstacles as well as possible solutions at this event.
Lors d’un colloque organisé à l’ESCP, le 29 juin en présence de Florent Menegaux, président de Michelin, l’association française Entreprises pour l’Environnement (EpE) dévoile le fruit de trois ans de réflexion de sa commission «Ressources Naturelles» sur l’économie circulaire. Illustrée de 27 démarches concrètes mise à bien par des entreprises, la publication insiste sur l’importance des partenariats, décrit leurs principaux objectifs et, en collaboration avec la Chaire Economie Circulaire de ESCP-Deloitte, propose une analyse de la diversité des principaux modèles de gouvernance observés.
The EU has put forward several ambitious initiatives that support the transition to a circular building sector. These initiatives include the EU Action Plan for a Circular Economy, the Renovation Wave, the New European Bauhaus and the framework for lifecycle assessment of buildings. Regions and cities have a crucial role to play in the transition to a circular economy and the implementation of these EU initiatives.
Going the extra mile on the road towards a climate neutral and circular economy is a must to achieve the targets set by the European Green Deal - and tyre recycling is key. Tyres are complex products made from the very best quality raw materials, such as rubber, steel and textile fibres.
Recyclers have invested heavily in recovering more materials from end-of-life tyres while creating non-outsourceable jobs and contributing to environmental sustainability. However, there is still considerable room for improvement in the European Union with a view to optimising tyre recycling.
Join Recyclers’ Talks #4 | Boosting Tyre Recyclers - Essential to the European Green Deal on 16 June to discuss what is needed to achieve more circularity in tyres and a more sustainable value chain. Find out how different players in the tyre value chain can contribute to this goal.
The textile industry has also been identified as a priority sector for the EU’s move towards sustainability in the European Green Deal and the New Industrial Strategy for Europe, due to its high use of resources and high impact on the environment. The upcoming EU Strategy for Sustainable Textiles aims at shifting the European Union to a circular economy where textiles are designed to be more durable, reusable, repairable & recyclable.
On 6 July 2021, EuRIC, RREUSE, RVO, SMEunited and the ECESP are organising a #EUCircularTalks policy Q&A. Registrations are now open.
The European Commission is organising a series of targeted stakeholder workshops to gather input on challenges and gaps as well as opportunities for the textile sector in the transition towards sustainability.
On 16 June 2021, Circular Fashion Partnership Event "Policy Gaps and Opportunities for circular fashion in Bangladesh" (10:00 a.m - noon CEST) will present the opportunities and discuss identified barriers to accelerating the transition to a circular fashion business model in Bangladesh. The event will bring together prominent policy makers and industry executives to discuss potential solutions for Bangladesh to become a leader in circular fashion.
The University of Turin, the Leadership Group on Food waste, food systems and the bioeconomy and the ECESP will be holding a #EUCircularTalks event on the role of cities in boosting the circularity of food systems. The event aims to share insights and best practices on how we can help design and build circular food systems that foster the Urban Food Transformation.
Understanding today's deconstruction practices is crucial to understanding the challenges and opportunities of the renovation wave. Join us on 19 July at 3 p.m. CEST for the #EUCircularTalks on the relevance of deconstruction design to enable the renovation wave.
As the Horizon 2020 research programme becomes Horizon Europe, what better time to witness how great ideas turned into real projects? LOOPS is the opportunity to show what cutting-edge research has been produced, and which changes it can bring to our communities.
On 10 June at 9:30 CEST, Alessandra Bianco Prevot and Simos Malamis will present their incredible projects - Project Ô and Hydrousa - aimed at addressing one of the current most pressing problems in water management: water scarcity in remote places.
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a challenge called 'Innovating a Circular Economy for soft plastic in Ireland' under Enterprise Ireland’s Small Business Innovation Research programme. The challenge focuses on reducing/eliminating soft plastic waste generated through the provision of school meals in Ireland.
WCEFonline - the first fully virtual event as part of the World Circular Economy Forum - will dive into why and how a circular economy can help reboot and build resilience in the economy.
The European Commission is launching an impact assessment for its new initiative: Empowering the consumer for the green transition, and would be keen on some stakeholders' and citizens' feedback until 1 September 2020.
The European Commission Joint Research Centre's (JRC) EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria for Road transport is now open for revision. Be part of the process, register as interested stakeholder and comment on the draft Technical report and draft criteria proposal.
Following the adoption of the Taxonomy Regulation, the European Commission has launched a call for applications to select members of the Platform on Sustainable Finance. The deadline is 16 July.
The European Commission's roadmap on the requirements on packaging and packaging waste in the EU is now open for feedback. Dealine 06 August 2020.
Public consultation on boosting the renovation of buildings across the EU launched by the European Commission in order to gather views and input from a broad range of stakeholders, including national, regional and local authorities, businesses, unions, civil society organisations, education organisations, consumer groups, research and innovation organisations, as well as individual citizens.
AIMPLAS - a consortium member of the OCEANETS project - has developed a material that ensures the traceability of fabric made from end-of-life fishing nets. When exposed to infrared radiation, the material changes colour and so helps identify where it came from.
As part of the European Vocational Skills Week, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment has launched Excellence Awards to celebrate the good practices and innovative work of Vocational Education and Training providers, trainers, tutors, companies, apprentices, etc.
Take five minutes to answer to few questions on the possible bio-based impact to the circular economy transition and green recovery.