Innovation in packaging: toilet paper products wrapped in cardboard
The project of LC Paper consists in the migration of all the plastic packaging of paper products (toilet paper, hand towels...) to cardboard packaging and folding.
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Implementation of circular economy approaches in the electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector
Circularity and the electrical and electronic equipment sector: Barriers, enablers and policy insights
The article Implementation of circular economy approaches in the electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector: Barriers, enablers and policy insights by Vasileios Rizos and Julie Bryhn aims to enrich the research in the field of circular economy business models by focusing on the EEE sector.
The study adopts a multi-case study approach and uses a sample of 31 cases developed through the EU-funded CIRC4Life project and the snowball sampling method.
The findings show that despite the various policy instruments in place to boost the CE transition in this sector, gaps exist which require policy attention.
The study suggests actions to facilitate CE practices including knowledge sharing platforms and business partnerships as well as R&D project grants.
03 Feb 2022
The project EffiSludge for LIFE has found a way to clean industrial wastewater with significant environmental benefits. The project team has developed an integrated wastewater treatment method that takes an "industrial symbiosis" approach where the waste from one sector becomes a resource for another.
SmartProSys, a research initiative for sustainable chemistry in the name of circularity
SmartProSys is a research initiative for sustainable chemistry and circular economy at the Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg, Germany (contact).
It aims to transform the linear, fossil-based process chain of the chemical industry into a sustainable, fully closed and energy-efficient cycle.
The chemical recycling process is a complex, multi-layered process with numerous components. However, this cycle should result in a final product that is dynamic, flexible, and adaptable to the environment.
05 Jun 2022 to 08 Jun 2022
The ISPIM Innovation Conference 2022, “Innovating in a Digital World”, is a three-day event that brings together world-renowned experts on innovation management.
17 Feb 2022
The Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP 2.0) brings opportunities for businesses. It encourages new business models which generate substantial material savings throughout value chains, making them more resilient and fostering industrial symbiosis. Innovative environmental technologies play a substantial role in helping companies make their business models and value chains inclusive and circular faster and more efficiently.
The EU policies and initiatives under the CEAP (such as the Green Claims Initiative, the Sustainable Products Initiative and the revision of the Ecodesign Directive) supported by sectoral policies also give businesses incentives to look for better alternatives. The webinar on 17 February aims to present the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) scheme and discuss its contribution to linking the circular transformation of industrial ecosystems with the innovation ecosystem and CEAP objectives.
01 Mar 2022
AIMPLAS organises its 1st International Seminar on Biotechnology Applied to the Plastics Sector on 1-2 March 2022, to discuss the main RDI developments and global solutions for the entire value chain. It tackles the use of organic waste to obtain new plastics, enzymatic recycling processes for plastics, the role of biotechnology in recovering complex waste, converting plastic industry scrap, etc.
28 Jan 2022
DigiPrime is selecting expert evaluators to support the review process of the proposals received from two of its Open Calls in the field of Information Technology and Circular Economy.
11 Feb 2022
This local event, in the framework of #EU Industry Week 2022, is an exchange of good practices by European regions addressing circular economy incentives for SMEs through the Taxonomy regulation for the classification of economic activities with a substantial contribution to the transition towards the circular economy. It is targeted to regional government, policymakers, regional agencies, SMEs and their support organisations.
02 Feb 2022
The Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa’s Department of the Environment and Hydraulic Works is organising the IV International Circular Economy Meeting. The event will take place in hybrid form on 2 February 2022. The meeting can be followed online, and international, national and local experts will analyse the state of play of the circular economy. They will also take a closer look at some very interesting subjects, including the new plastics economy, bioeconomy and innovation in the business world.
01 Feb 2022
In this first series of webinars, representatives of the European Investment Bank (EIB) will introduce the newly launched Circular City Centre (C3). This is a competence and resource centre hosted within the EIB and developed with the support from the European Investment Advisory Hub and the European Commission, in cooperation with Circle Economy.
C3 aims to support cities through sharing resources and practical information, providing circular city advisory and raising awareness about relevant financing and advisory opportunities for circular initiatives and projects.
The webinar series is aimed at city representatives and other stakeholders interested in fostering and accelerating the circular economy transition in cities, and is open to all who want to learn more about the different opportunities offered by the circular economy implemented in an urban context.
20 Jan 2022
On 17 and 18 January, the ECESP Coordination Group showcased Europe's pioneering work in the field of the circular economy at the Dubai Expo 2020.
Leadership Group on Circular Procurement 2021 - Outcome document
Abstract:
The idea for a new Leadership Group specifically on Circular Procurement started during the ECESP Annual Event in 2020. Twenty-two organisations decided to harness the enormous potential of procurement to accelerate the circular economy in Europe. This outcome document focuses on the Sustainable Products Initiative and mandatory requirements as a driver of the CEAP.
Outcome document of the Leadership Group on Food waste, food systems and the bioeconomy
Abstract:
The Leadership Group on Food waste, food systems and the bioeconomy has been working since November 2020 to highlight and raise awareness of the importance and complexity of food systems and the bioeconomy as a driver of the transition towards a circular economy in Europe.
Outcome document of the Leadership Group on Cities and regions
Abstract:
Cities and local areas play a major role regionally in promoting the launch and implementation of systemic changes needed for the transition towards a circular economy. The ECESP Leadership Group on Cities and Regions focuses on this approach. In 2021, three meetings and two EU Circular Talks (EUCT) were organised.
19 Jan 2022
The call for nominations of the Meeting Pack 2022 Awards (deadline: 14 February) is targeted at national and international companies whose innovations in sustainable packaging solutions contribute to industry development. Barrier packaging is a challenge for the circular economy.
18 Jan 2022
The European Commission is sounding out citizens, consumers and expert stakeholders with a view to the preparation of an EU-wide policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics.
The consultation is open for feedback until 15 March 2022.
Leadership Group on Economic incentives: Circular Taxation Reflection paper 2021
Abstract:
The circular transition must be accompanied by a systemic change in the architecture of the tax system to head towards circular taxation, as the inherited tax system of today reinforces the linear economic model. A thorough examination of all aspects of tax design and its effects is needed during the process of switching to circular taxation.
Outcome document of the Leadership Group on Retailers, Consumers and Skills
Abstract:
In 2021, the Leadership Group on Retailers, Consumers and Skills considered issues such as how to made the electronics sector more circular, how to boost public awareness of the need to become more circular and how to step up training with a view to reskilling and upskilling.
Leadership Group on Textiles 2021 - Reflection paper
Abstract:
In 2021, the ECESP Textiles Leadership Group identified three key topics: the EU Policy Framework, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Circular Design for textiles. This document summarises the main takeaways from the three #EUCircularTalks online events and a year of work.
27 Jan 2022
As the Horizon 2020 research programme becomes Horizon Europe, now is the time to see how great ideas have turned into real projects.
LOOPS is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the cutting-edge research carried out and how it can change our communities. For those who are not familiar with it, LOOPS is a live webinar series committed to exploring innovation in the circular economy.
14 Jan 2022
The final part of the LIFE 2021 call for proposals is open! The deadline for applications is 10 March 2022 at 17:00 CET.
Under the topics Circular Economy & Quality of Life and Nature & Biodiversity, specific projects are financed concerning, amongst others, used textiles/textile waste and high quality compost from collected organic waste.
Circusol: Circular business models for a sustainable solar power industry
Circusol - Circular Business Models for the Solar Power Industry - is an Innovation Action project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, bringing together 15 partners from 7 European countries to develop and demonstrate business solutions for the circular economy in the solar power sector.
Photovoltaics (PV) currently accounts for about 5 % of world’s electricity generation capacity. As the PV and EV (electric vehicle) markets grow, so will their demand for raw materials, as well as their "waste" output. How to make sure that the material aspect of the energy transition will also be sustainable? Product-Service Systems (PSS) could be the answer.
Interested in what Circusol is doing (newsletter, events, sharing knowledge, feedback, etc.)? Join its Network!
Tom Rommens
Michael Laermann
Re4circular: a new AI-based solution to improve the sorting and cataloguing of textile waste
Atelier Riforma started as a social economy startup with a pioneer marketplace for upcycled garments. Realising that the sorting and cataloguing of textile waste were too labour-intensive for industry standards, founders came up with the idea of developing an AI-based automated solution - called Re4circular - to create a digitized and truly efficient post-consumer clothing supply chain.
Progress towards preventing waste in Europe - the case of textile waste prevention
Progress towards preventing waste in Europe: the textile case
Waste prevention is the best waste management policy option, according to the waste hierarchy - the EU's main rule for the environmental ranking of waste management policies. Its main objective is to reduce waste generation, the environmental impacts of waste management and the hazardousness of the waste generated.
To support this objective, the EU and all its Member States have put in place legislation that promotes activities in products' life cycles aimed at reducing the amount of waste generated.
This report aims to assess progress towards the main objective of waste prevention: decoupling (i. e. breaking the link between waste generation and economic growth).
Linking cross-border shipments of waste in the EU with the circular economy
Linking cross-border shipments of waste in the EU with the circular economy
This briefing provides a snapshot of the status of trading non-hazardous, recyclable waste within the EU. Its aim is to provide knowledge and information to support the review of the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation.
The idea is to improve the functioning of secondary material markets by offering insights and potential solutions to help ensure that waste is treated in the best possible way in line with the principles of the waste hierarchy.
12 Jan 2022
Join MEPs Pietikäinen and Kuhnke, the European Environment Agency and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra on 12 January to discuss how to scale up and mainstream circular business models, in line with a sustainable product policy.
17 Jan 2022 to 18 Jan 2022
On 17 and 18 January 2022, the ECESP Coordination Group will present Europe's pioneering work done by its Leadership groups in the field of the circular economy before a global audience at the Circular Europe Days in Dubai.