The URBAN WASTE project focuses on urban strategies for waste management in tourist cities. It involved stakeholders from 11 pilot areas and studied the challenges inherent in waste management so that appropriate strategies responding to real-world needs can be devised and implemented.
Varusteleka, a webshop selling military surplus and outdoor gear in Finland, buys back products it has sold to customers and resells them as second-hand products.
The Serbian company Feplo manufactures waterproof eco-boards from recycled beverage cartons.
Tabor is a marketplace initiative introduced in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Tabor was designed as a second-hand market, where people can participate by selling their goods to others.
SCALITE® is a material produced by SCALE and is made completely from fish scales, a by-product of the fishing industry. The material is manufactured in stone-like blocks which are suited to many applications in interior design and decoration for the hospitality and retail sectors, offices and homes.
The RiceRes research project, launched in 2016 by the CNR (National Research Council) and the Universities of Milan and Pavia and financed by the Cariplo Foundation, aimed to make the most of waste materials from processing Italian rice.
Remix is a shop based in Bulgaria, which sells second-hand and outlet clothing online to nine countries.
The Danish company GHform produces outdoor furniture and inventory, such as benches, waste bins and street lights. The company is now also offering municipalities the chance to lease its cast iron lamp posts.
The FORCE project is an EU-funded project seeking to promote the shift towards the circular economy. Running from September 2016 to January 2021, the project identified four main focus areas: plastic waste, wood waste, used electronic and electrical equipment, and food and biowaste.
Grown is a biotechnology company that has developed an innovative use for mycelium - the network of mushroom roots - as binding agent for agricultural waste to create fully biodegradable and toxic-free packaging or insulation material.
As an impact leader and frontrunner promoting resource circularity, TOMRA has extensively explored, analysed and collaborated with value chain partners to address the ever-increasing global problem of waste. This white paper presents the challenges, projections and opportunities involved in managing post-consumer waste in developed and developing countries. It describes how society can speed up the transition to a circular economy by collecting and recycling waste, especially plastic packaging and other carbon-intensive materials.
The white paper can be downloaded from TOMRA's website, but this requires registering in a third party's data base and submitting your email address.
This joint position paper from the Wardrobe Change coalition contains recommendations for the EU Strategy for Sustainable Textiles. It has been signed by 25 civil society organisations. The paper sets out recommendations structured around four overarching principles:
The COVID-19 may have hit the pause button on tourism, but it also highlighted the need to switch to the circular economy.
This report summarises the findings of a two-year policy dialogue with the city of Granada in Spain, and provides recommendations and a vision to transition to a circular economy. It draws on Granada’s own experience with the transformation of a wastewater treatment plant into a bio factory in 2015, which contributed to increased water reuse and the production of new material from waste. The report argues that the city of Granada can play a role as a promoter, facilitator and enabler of the circular economy. This will require a collective and coordinated approach across all stakeholders and levels of government.
The circular economy promises a move away from a linear model of growth (extract, make, dispose) to a sustainable model (recycle, reuse, remake, share). This report, Safe Jobs in the Circular Economy, commissioned by the European Public Service Union (EPSU), focuses on the role of labour in the transition to a circular economy and, in particular, the health and safety of workers operating waste and wastewater management systems.
An increasing number of countries consider implementing a deposit return system for single-use beverage containers to address today’s challenges, i.e.:
TOMRA shares lessons learnt from its 45+ years’ experience of innovating and managing deposit return systems globally in a new white paper including:
The white paper seeks to contribute to an educated discussion on recycling best practice – including what can be learnt from the past and what the future may look like.
Romania’s recycling rate of 13% is one of the lowest in the EU with most waste going to landfill. The publication explains how the city of Sălacea, in the north-west of Romania, not only managed to quickly rise from almost no waste recycling to 40% in 3 months, but also how the community reduced its overall waste by 55%.
The case study also explains how political will, commitment from local waste operators and involvement of the community were key to the success of the strategy. The municipality introduced door-to-door household separate collection for 5 types of waste (paper and cardboard, plastic and metal, glass, bio-waste, residual waste) and implemented a four-week education programme with citizens before changing the collection infrastructure.
This study explores developments in the field of the circular economy in the Arab States of the Gulf region to identify areas where the EU and the GCC countries can strengthen their collaboration. Focusing on two GCC countries with recent policy developments in this area: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the study first examines the current framework conditions that would shape prospects for a circular economy and then explores emerging business opportunities.
The research concludes that there are three main areas where the EU and GCC countries could further collaborate on the circular economy:
The report was first published on the European External Action Service’s website.
More than ever during the COVID-19 crisis, the circular economy has asserted itself as the model that can accompany recovery and enable a higher and better growth, through a systemic vision that makes it possible to tackle the most relevant challenges nowadays: the climate crisis and the environmental impact.
Companies must heighten their ambitions over the next Decade of Action, to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), by adopting a production and consumption model by 2030 that allows societies to keep growing economically, but under planetary boundaries and in the light of societal challenges.
This, in brief, is the content of the report Máxima Ambición Circular para la Década de la Acción (in Spanish) published by Foretica.
ACR+ is launching a publication on the development and implementation of circular bioeconomy strategies in different contexts, focusing on three detailed regional case studies in Navarre, Bayern and Flanders.
Under a cooperation agreement with the French Pays de la Loire region, ACR+ has set up a working group on the circular bioeconomy, with a focus on governance. The working group aims to support the development of local and regional roadmaps for the circular bioeconomy, as public authorities steer and support the development of the circular bioeconomy on their patch.
The publication is the result of activities implemented by ACR+ through the working group.
Commissioned by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), which advises the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and co-authored by Circle Economy and Shifting Paradigms, this report uncovers the range of socio-economic and environmental co-benefits that circular mitigation interventions can bring to GEF countries of operation.
The report supports strategic advice by the STAP to the GEF and its implementing partners, and helps carve out a role for these bodies in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon circular economy. Its findings will be highly relevant to the development of future GEF projects and programmes across its different focal areas.
The CirQuality OWL project is funded by the EU (ERDF) and the Federal State North-Rhine Westfalia (NRW) with the aim of fostering the circular economy in the area.
Seven regional partners from the different fields (from energy to technologies to food to universities and associations) teamed up to use the circular economy to get the region off the ground in an innovative, crisis-proof, resilient and sustainable way. Together they are jointly striving for the following goals:
Circular Economy Forum Austria is a learning and dialog platform, initiating and promoting the exchange and further development of knowledge, ideas and implementations and identifies potential synergies among companies, politics, science, research and design.
The Forum:
Launched in November 2019, Sporos aims to become the first platform for impact investment and collaboration that adds value to SMEs in Greece and Southeastern Europe, on the basis of the Circular Economy.
Sporos utilises mezzanine sustainable financing tools, combined with consultancy services and environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainable development goal (SDG) metrics.
CIRCLE is a transnational cooperation project aimed at promoting circular economy solutions in SMEs in rural areas.
The project comes under the EU's LEADER programme and its objectives are as follows:
The project partners have agreed to organise one programme in each country with visits to enterprises, farms and organisations implementing circular economy or innovative environment-friendly solutions.
The Circular Economy for the Data Centre Industry (CEDaCI) aims to enable trans-sectoral and transnational learning and develop circular economy solutions for the Data Centre Industry in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK by:
By joining this network you will receive innovative insights into circularity solutions and share ideas within a multi-professional network.
To become a member, you may apply by 30 September 2020.
The textile industry needs to innovate for the sake of the industry and its people, the healthcare sector and the environment.
It can create clothes that monitor health conditions and measure body movements, as well as technologies that recycle/reuse textile fibres.
Since its creation in 2006, Smart Textiles has developed over 500 research/business projects. Visit its Showroom to find out about new materials/prototypes/products, or its Technology Lab at the University of Borås, where technological advances are achieved thanks to inter-disciplinary cooperation.
The circular project Re:textile has launched the F/ACT Movement, focusing on new sustainable choices without sacrificing the passion for clothing and fashion.
Initially designed as The Circulars Award program - which received 1,500+ applications from 70+ countries over 5 years - the initiative has evolved to a six-month program connecting innovators and entrepreneurs with industry leaders and circular experts for tailored mentorship.
The program aims to catalyze circular innovation and unlocks opportunities for accelerator participants to work directly with cross-industry leaders to scale their circular solutions.
Application categories include:
The Circulars Accelerator is led by Accenture in partnership with Anglo American, Ecolab and Schneider Electric, and run in collaboration with UpLink and the World Economic Forum.
The Netherlands Institute for Circular Construction (Nederlands Instituut voor Circulair Bouwen):
Its key areas are modular construction, high-quality recycling, circular business models and circular contracting.
Cities and entrepreneurs are expected to be full of inspiring and sustainable ideas but they often have a lot of questions before they can implement those ideas. How do you set up a product-as-a-service business model? How do I protect my logo? How can you support cititzens initiatives? How can the financiers be involved...
To get an answer to all these and other questions, you can ask experts at CircleAid. They have all their specific experience with circular economy: in business models, procurement, governance, financing...
These experts are mentors who can guide you through your circular questions. Consultants who want to become part of this database can apply if they have experience or knowledge in Circular Economy.
For the moment this platform is only available in Dutch.
The OCCE is a Brussels-based federation that provides support for European investors, territories and innovators in the field of circular economy.
For investors, the OCCE can provide a link between investors/investment companies and the EU/EIB with a view to accessing funding. For territories, the OCCE supports regions, communities and local actors in becoming promoters of innovation, which can then be transformed into CE investments, jobs and industrial success stories. For SMEs, start-ups and project leaders, it can provide support and knowledge, primarily with regard to the EU's financial support mechanisms. And for its members, by sharing its international networks, the OCCE allows them to integrate an international dimension into their projects.
A week of meetings and discussion on the economic transition in the Brussels-Capital Region. Come and find out more about the Brussels economy of the future, talk to other economic players and get inspired by innovative initiatives during the events that will take place throughout the week in the four corners of the region.
We need to rethink urban development, production and consumption models so that they respond to environmental and social challenges, both regional and global. The Brussels-Capital Region is beginning its transition to a local, circular, social and democratic economy in line with these overarching principles.
For one week, renowned speakers and inspiring contributors will take it in turn to present the regional transition and invite Brussels' actors to join the movement!
Lack of standards in meeting sustainability goals may open the door to greenwashing or misallocation of assets and could lead to a lack of trust in progress towards SDGs. At the webinar on Standards4SDGs on 17 November, you will get an overview of how international organisations have already developed standards that can be linked to policies related to the circular economy, resource efficiency, environmental management and social responsibility, providing a level playing field for standards adopters.
With emissions rising and dwindling time to reach the 1.5-degree target, it is paramount to increase the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and accelerate their implementation. The circular economy (CE) offers vast potential for GHG emission reduction on a global scale.
On 9 November, from 11:30, The NDC Partnership and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) will host a COP26 side event on integrating circular action into climate strategies and present findings of a new study published by GIZ on behalf of BMZ.
The study outlines a roadmap for NDC coordinators and decision-makers to clarify the envisioned CE transition measures and design CE-smart NDCs. The event aims to provide policymakers and NDC coordinators with a practical guide to raise their ambitions.
A webinar series connecting the dots between EU decision-makers and recyclers. It will provide an opportunity to discuss the building blocks required to speed up the transition towards a more circular economy and achieve Europe's climate neutral agenda.
Recyclers’ Talks #6 will focus on the challenges and opportunities for the automotive value chain.
Circular procurement is one of the answers to the changing functional needs of users within an organisation. It is also an essential tool for promoting a circular economy in the procurement process by stimulating the market for circular products and services.
On 25 November 2021, at 10.00-12.00 CET, the ECESP Leadership Group for Circular Procurement invites you to join the #EUCircularTalks on circular procurement. The debate will centre on the policies to drive circular procurement, thereby accelerating the transition to a circular economy within the EU. From policy levels varying from the European Commission to cities, speakers will share their experiences with circular and green procurement policies. These will set the stage for an interactive dialogue.
Although there is a well-established body of literature on measuring the circular economy and its implications, most monitoring frameworks focus on measuring materials and waste production. However, the multi-dimensional aspect of the circular economy and the range of objectives underpinning circular economy strategies mean that we need to identify new targets and indicators.
ACR+, Zero Waste Scotland, EEB, ICLEI, EIT Circular Economy Community, Circular Regions and the ECESP invite you to discuss the implications of measuring circular economy actions in cities and regions on 17 November at 10:00 CET.
The hybrid event Addressing the Textile Microplastics Challenge on 16 November is introducing ongoing developments and plans concerning the evaluation of microplastic shedding. The event is organized by TUV Rheinland together with HKRITA, HKUST and GIZ GABRIC with the support of the German Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Invest Hong Kong.
A high-level debate & presentation on Smart Villages, organised under the auspices of the 2021 Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will take place on 1st November in Dubai. It will focus on the "smart village" concept, co-initiated and co-created at EU and world level, which is about citizens taking ownership and responsibility.
ICESP will be present at ECOMONDO 2021 with a beacon conference on "The Italian platform of circular economy actors (ICESP): initiatives within the European circular economy action plan", organised in collaboration with the Ecomondo Scientific Technical Committee and ENEA, on 29 October from 10:00 to 13:30 CET.
RREUSE's Annual Conference on “The evolution of social enterprises in the circular economy. Past, present and future” is part of its 20th anniversary celebrations and will take place on 16 November 2021 from 10:00 to 13:00 CET.
"Innovative Business Practices and Economic Models in the Textile Value Chain" (InTex) is a three-year UNEP project funded by the European Union. The InTex project has five components, two with global reach and three focusing on national implementation in three African countries: Kenya, South Africa and Tunisia.
The 2021-2027 programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) will become the EU’s most ambitious climate and environmental programme. It will enter into force retroactively from 1 January 2021.
A new partnership led by the UNIDO is looking for interested organisations to express their interest in joining ‘SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains’ - a five-year European Union-funded project that aims to accelerate the transition to more circular value chains (namely textiles and garments, and plastic packaging) in developing countries.
Five consortium partners, including Ecopreneur.eu, have kicked off an EU-COSME funded project “Fashion For Change”. Over the next 3 years, they will help SMEs, designers and start-ups from the European fashion sector scale-up and accelerate their sustainable businesses while increasing awareness about circular fashion among stakeholders, including consumers. Share your views in the quick poll.
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 towards sustainability.
The first workshop on 26 May 2021, at 13.30-17.30 CEST, focuses on “management of used textiles”.
The European Commission is working to ensure that the EU is the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Here's a video setting out their vision.
Every day, it is clearer that we cannot lose any more time in switching away from a linear economy. The climate emergency together with the economic crisis bringing the region to its knees are basically a perfect storm: to avoid being hit by it, we need to make an eco-innovative transition a priority if we want a more sustainable future for the Mediterranean.
Brupartners invites you to La Semaine de l’Économie Circulaire de Brupartners, from 26 to 30 April 2021 to highlight the progress made by the Brussels Region in the field of circular economy.
Spain manufactures 14% of all agricultural plastics in Europe. To optimize recovery of mulch films in the form of quality compost, AIMPLAS is developing the AGRO+ Project with funding from the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI)
The New Consumer Agenda provides for the establishment of a Consumer Policy Advisory Group. There are still several seats to fill, and the European Commission would encourage environmental organisations and individual experts to apply. The deadline for applications is 20 May 2021.
