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How to capture the value of the circular economy with Gate C
The French management consulting firm Gate C helps clients map the benefits and capture the value of the circular economy.

The transition to the circular economy needs collaboration. That’s why the first German Circular Economy Festival is an open social innovation event, calling on all relevant actors to pool their efforts to speed up the transition. For a societal endeavour of this scale, stakeholders from civil society, academia, policy making, industry and more need to be actively engaged. The festival aims to spur on stakeholders and serve as a platform for open social innovation.
rhinopaq: reusable and recyclable shipping packaging as a B2B service
rhinopaq provides reusable shipping packaging boxes made of polypropylene, which can be reused up to 20 times.
Marc
Study on circular economy principles for buildings’ design
Study on circular economy principles for buildings' design: Final Report

This study aims to assist the European Commission to identify policy options that support the uptake of circular economy principles for buildings’ design in European, national and local policies.
The goal is:
- to increase the service life of buildings
- to facilitate the use of secondary materials and
- to improve resource efficiency across the building life cycle.
The study also provides key insights and recommendations on actions for a roadmap supporting the uptake and implementation of circular economy principles for buildings’ design.
Avis sur le projet de Plan d'action fédéral pour une économie circulaire
Response to the Belgian Federal Action Plan on the Circular Economy

The Federal Council for Sustainable Development Belgium has issued a formal response to the Federal Belgian Action Plan on the Circular Economy. The council addressed issues regarding the substance and procedure of the action plan.
Procedural issues include the vagueness of the plan's exact intentions and deadlines as well as the lack of a better governance mechanism. Substantive issues include:
- more focus needed on the social challenges associated with the introduction of a circular economy
- more focus on the impact on the climate of increasing digitalisation
- recycling of critical metals, and
- importance of removing all known barriers (regulatory, fiscal, financial, etc.) to the circular transition.

Are you an entrepreneur and/or a project leader in the field of circular economy? Is your project less than three years old and are you still looking to refine your business model? Do you want your project to have a positive impact? Do you need to better understand and identify the opportunities and threats? Submit your project to Circulab!
Strengthening circularity in photovoltaics - Challenges and opportunities along the lifecycle
White paper: Strengthening circularity in photovoltaics

Every year, huge numbers of photovoltaic (PV) modules are being installed. This solar energy expansion greatly furthers the ecological transformation of the energy system. But to solve the climate crisis every aspect has to be taken into consideration. This is why this white paper wants to shine light on challenges currently occuring or to be expected in connection with used photovoltaic modules and their disposal in Germany.
To better implement the goals of a circular economy, this paper will retrace the steps in the lifecycle of a photovoltaic module and analyse problems and possible solutions along these stages. After a brief description of the occuring challenges, opportunities and solutions deemed to be effective and sensible in these matters are presented.
Laura Gessner
Innovation Deal for a circular economy
Innovation Deal for a circular economy: unlocking opportunities through public-private collaboration

By designing and enabling the use of Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries for multiple use-cycles, valuable materials are maintained, and a range of economic and environmental benefits can be unlocked.
Innovators from the automotive industry, Dutch and French public authorities, and the European Commission have collaborated to identify regulatory barriers to reusing EV batteries as energy storage devices and unlock solutions.
This case study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is part of a series of case studies that exemplify elements of the Universal circular economy policy goals (2021) in practice.
France's Anti-waste and Circular Economy Law
France’s Anti-waste and Circular Economy Law: eliminating waste and promoting social inclusion

France’s Anti-waste and Circular Economy Law is a great example of cross-sectoral collaboration. Policymakers, municipalities, NGOs and businesses worked together with the public administration to identify a richer range of needs, solutions, and policy measures. As a result, the law is ambitious and contributes to a system-wide transition towards a circular economy.
This case study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is part of a series of case studies that exemplify elements of the Universal circular economy policy goals (2021) in practice.

Since 2019, the Foundation for Future Generations has been supporting student entrepreneurs with the prototyping phase of a product, service or technique with a positive impact on society. Discover the winners in the fields of the circular economy and zero waste during a webinar on 23 September 2021 from 3.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wasted bread: New culture medium for growing starters from bakery waste in the fermented food industry

Through fermentation, bread scraps can produce chemical compounds for the pharmaceutical and food industries, fuels and enzymes. The starters (which kickstart the fermentation process) obtained by this project confirm the huge economic and technological potential of a growing substrate obtained from low-cost matrices.
The protocol includes homogenisation of the waste bread (leavened bakery products), with the addition of enzymes and final sterilisation.
The culture medium can be liquid (broth), solid (agar) or dehydrated. The substrate can be used for cultivating lactic bacteria, yeasts and moulds (for the food industry).
About 10% of the bread waste produced monthly can be used to yield a culture medium for bacterial starters.
Officina Naturae: a plastic-free choice for a plastic-free sea
All products (detergents and cosmetics) at Officina naturae are conceived to be safe and effective for humans and the environment in the name of sustainability, eco-design and circularity.

The European Investment Bank has signed a loan agreement of up to €30.75 million with Renewcell. The Sweden-based fashion innovator has devised a way to turn discarded clothing into Circulose®, a pulp from which new fabric can be made. After proving their concept, Renewcell will use the loan to build their first full commercial-scale recycling plant, able to produce 60 000 tonnes per year.
Accelerating the transition to the circular economy - Improving access to finance for circular economy projects

The transition to a circular economy is at an early stage in the EU.
Regulations, markets and investment tools, including financial risk assessment, are adapted to linear models. Generally speaking, externalities linked to linear business models are not taken into account. This poses a problem for emerging circular models, which have to contend with the challenge of accessing finance, as the financial sector sees circular projects as highly risky.
To improve the conditions for financing CE projects, the Expert Group on Circular Economy Financing identified the main areas where incentives are needed, addressing recommendations to policy makers, financial institutions and project promoters.
See also: Categorisation system and Incentives to boost the CE reports
Book in Loop, BabyLoop and UniLoop: how to bring circularity to our children's everyday lives
The Loop Company has discovered the opportunities offered by the circular economy and launched three initiatives - Book in Loop, BabyLoop and UniLoop - that bring circularity to everyday life.

The Circular Consumption Charter is the result of a partnership between Eni and 18 Italian consumer associations. It was launched on 17 June at a conference involving consumer associations, representatives of public institutions, the scientific world and the certification sector. EESC Vice-President Cillian Lohan participated in the event.

From 28 June to 9 July, join the European Commission's experts online for the Horizon Europe Info Days. This 10-day event will enable prospective applicants and other EU research and innovation stakeholders to get information and ask questions about the new features, main funding instruments and processes of Horizon Europe.
Schijvens: Circular corporate fashion
Schijvens has been producing corporate uniforms for more than 150 years now. In 2017, they began collecting customers' old clothing, shredding it and mixing the textile fibres with shredded PET-polyester ones from sportswear, fishing nets and bottles. This led to 100% recycled yarn, which is used to make new fabrics and ultimately new uniforms.
Groningen Seaports: working towards a bio-based, circular economy
Groningen Seaports is the economic operator, developer and port authority for the port of Delfzijl, Eemshaven and adjoining industrial sites. Groningen Seaports is at the forefront of the circular economy with an innovative circular cluster and ongoing sustainable investments. They facilitate mechanical and chemical recycling and specialise in recycling plastics.
Interseroh provides reusable plastic boxes for fruit and vegetables sold at Aldi Süd stores
Interseroh provides recycling solutions for plastic packaging. For instance, it has developed a pooling system of reusable plastic boxes for fruit and vegetables sold at Aldi Süd, a German supermarket network.
Forall: reducing electronic waste by refurbishing technological items
Forall Phones is a chain of stores, launched in Portugal, which focuses on refurbishing and reselling technological items.
Ecodair: refurbishing professional computer equipment for resale
For the past 16 years, Ecodair has been refurbishing professional computer equipment for resale (with warranty) at low cost.