The BDI Initiative Circular Economy was created in April 2021 by the Federation of German Industries.
It is a network of more than 50 members that defines the potential of the circular economy and the necessary framework conditions through practical discussions. To this end, they are in close dialogue with policymakers in Berlin and Brussels and with the scientific community.
Biorefine Cluster Europe (BCE) links up projects and people in the area of bio-based resource recovery, with a view to contributing to more sustainable and circular resource management.
It focuses on the biorefinery sector, i.e. chemicals, materials, energy and products from bio-based waste streams:
Bio-based (waste) streams as an input for the circular economy
Bioprocesses
Sustainable bio-energy production in its various shapes, and
Resource recovery: extracting minerals, chemicals, water and materials from biomass.
Its main objectives:
Strengthening interaction between projects
Fostering dissemination and stakeholder outreach
Enhancing research
Identifying gaps in knowledge.
BCE aims to build its community and promote knowledge exchange.
C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis.
These mayors are committed to cutting their fair share of emissions in half by 2030. Waste and sustainable materials management can help cities reduce 15-20% of their emissions through reduction, avoidance, recycling, treatment and offsetting.
C40 helps mayors to do this by:
Raising climate ambition through 1.5°C climate action plan support
Building equitable and thriving communities via global and regional programmes
Building a global movement through robust international advocacy and diplomacy
Scaling up climate action and sharing good practices across high-impact sectors
Facilitating access to finance for investment in projects boosting resilience.
The Center for Circular Economy in Coffee (C4CEC) is the first precompetitive platform for enhancing the circular economy in the coffee sector.
Coffee production generates substantial biomass at every stage. Instead of becoming waste, this biomass can be turned into valuable products using circular and regenerative agricultural practices. Every part of the coffee plant, from the cherry's skin to the spent grounds, contains unique compounds that are suitable for various industrial applications.
C4CEC aims to make know-how related to circularity in the coffee sector accessible to a diverse group of stakeholders. It will enhance the environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability of the coffee value circle and offers customised member support for developing ideas.
Catalunya Circular was launched on 9 May 2018 in Barcelona. It aims to become a benchmark for the circular economy in Catalonia.
As well as providing useful knowledge and information on the circular economy, Catalunya Circular helps raise awareness about the work done by Catalan businesses and society. These initiatives are geolocated on an interactive map and can be selected using a search engine that allows users to look for projects by keyword and/or type of economy.
The website also provides information on circular events and publications.
The Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) initiative is a collaboration of over 180 European companies, associations and organisations representing the entire value chain of flexible packaging. It wants all flexible packaging to be designed for easy collection, sorting and recycling, with valuable new markets and applications created for the recycled materials.
CEFLEX stakeholders represent the full value chain including: raw material producers (plastics, paper and aluminium foil), ink, coating and adhesive suppliers, film producers and flexible packaging converters, brand owners, waste management companies, recyclers, extended producer responsibility organisations and technology suppliers.
With funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Circular Economy Initiative Deutschland (CEID) was initiated in 2019.
In three working groups on Circular Business Models, Traction Batteries and Packaging, 130 experts from more than 50 institutions from science, industry, politics and civil society discussed how to enable and establish circular economic systems.
Recommendations were summarised in the Circular Economy Roadmap for Germany. The roadmap was published on 11 May 2021 and officially handed over to the BMBF.
Given the growing demand for electric vehicles, CEID is currently engaged in the Battery Pass project. This focuses on the sustainable production, use and recycling of lithium-ion batteries and the digital battery passport.
The ITENE Research Centre is a Knowledge Transfer Office, set up in 1994.
ITENE provides companies with cutting-edge knowledge and technology to build a safer, more sustainable future. It aims to generate scientific and technological knowledge that it transfers to companies through R&D and innovation projects and consultancy, testing and training services.
It delivers solutions in four main areas:
sustainable materials and technologies for the circular economy;
design, safety and functionality in packaging;
chemical exposure and air quality monitoring;
logistics and smart mobility.
Current projects include FLEXIZYME: Flexible and adaptable enzyme biotechnology platform for the sustainable industrial production of bio-based fatty amines from waste.
CER Sustainable Business Network Slovenia is the largest sustainable business network in Slovenia, on a mission to strengthen ambitions and activities to achieve a climate-neutral economy faster.
They bring business leaders together to share experience and good practices, advocate for change, influence policy and accelerate the green transition using collective action. They raise awareness, grow ambition, build capacities, promote green tech and foster partnerships to boost the transition to climate neutrality.
They bridge the gap between stakeholders, offering them a safe space for open discussion about systemic barriers to reach climate neutrality. The circular economy is one of its areas of interest.
CER is involved in the EU's DESIRE project on Designing the Irresistible Circular Society.
CERC promotes the key objectives of the Circular Economy Action Plan in Romania, encouraging the development of new markets and business models, and contributing to economic growth and job creation.
It does this by:
producing studies on waste management
setting up partnerships with national and international bodies with a view to establishing programmes geared to implementing circular principles
organising events to promote the exchange of knowledge and good practices
communicating with local and central authorities on how the circular economy can benefit Romania's economy
promoting compliance with waste management rules, including the fields of recycling, reuse and alternative fuels
promoting the EU recommendations on green public procurement
