Amsterdam and the circular economy

Suzanne Bearne writes on the BBC News website about some of the effort being made to be a circular economy. Is this happening in your city or region? Can Amsterdam make the circular economy work? At United Repair Centre (URC), located next to the popular indoor food market Foodhallen in Amsterdam, Bakri Zaitoun is … Continue reading Amsterdam and the circular economy →

New EEA briefing on need to step up circular economy efforts in Europe

The EU’s circular economy action plan aims to double the share of recycled materials used in its economy by 2030. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment, published this week, shows that the pace of progress needs speeding up, requiring both more recycling and less overall material use. A second, in-depth report on waste prevention highlights … Continue reading New EEA briefing on need to step up circular economy efforts in Europe →

If you look back at the examples of the past two centuries, industry-wide reuse of such materials as iron from sunken ships should have been business as usual by now

Salman Shooshtarian and Tayyab Maqsood at RMIT University in Australia provide a fascinating article on The Conversation website about being innovative in using recycling materials for our building construction. Buildings used iron from sunken ships centuries ago. The use of recycled materials should be business as usual by now At Fremantle Prison in the … Continue reading If you look back at the examples of the past two centuries, industry-wide reuse of such materials as iron from sunken ships should have been business as usual by now →

New EEA briefing on how to handle discarded textiles in Europe

Discarded textiles in Europe, including used clothing and footwear, are an increasing waste and export problem. Rapidly increasing EU exports of used textiles — some of which is reused and some of which ends up in landfills — show that Europe faces a challenge in how to handle its own used textiles, according to a … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how to handle discarded textiles in Europe →

Companies in Europe not living up to their commitments to reduce plastic packaging

Two-thirds of pledges to go greener on plastic fail or are dropped, a DW investigation has found. Here's how European food and drink companies break their own commitments, and how legislation might hold them accountable. Kira Schacht discusses the findings of the investigation in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. European food companies … Continue reading Companies in Europe not living up to their commitments to reduce plastic packaging →

New EEA report on sewage treatment plants role in helping Europe meet its zero-pollution targets

Sewage treatment can play a key role in Europe’s shift to a zero-pollution future by becoming more resource efficient and contributing to the circular economy, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published recently. Making Europe’s sewage treatment plants more efficient and circular can help meet zero-pollution targets Most of Europe’s urban waste … Continue reading New EEA report on sewage treatment plants role in helping Europe meet its zero-pollution targets →

New EEA briefing on how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation

Building renovation is a key contributor to improving energy efficiency and to achieving a climate neutral European Union (EU) by 2050. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, investigates how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation. It finds that, through 2050, circularity can significantly reduce the use of materials … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation →

No matter if your concern is financial, environmental or health-related, there are plenty of reasons to worry about the plastics industry

Declining market share and increased governmental and public pressure should sway the plastics industry toward more sustainable practices, a recent report says. Ethan Freedman discusses in an article on The Independent website. ‘This industry is an environmental disaster’: Experts warn EU plastics industry to evolve - or die Declining market share and increased regulation are threatening … Continue reading No matter if your concern is financial, environmental or health-related, there are plenty of reasons to worry about the plastics industry →

New EEA report on role consumers can play to raise demand for goods and services that have adopted circular economy principles

While companies have huge influence in framing and shaping demand for products, consumers play a key role in raising demand for goods and services that have adopted circular economy principles, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week. Consumers can play key role in creating demand for ‘circular’ goods and services … Continue reading New EEA report on role consumers can play to raise demand for goods and services that have adopted circular economy principles →

Blog from Jane Marsh: Energy Efficiency Essential for Recycling Industry Developing

We grew up with the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra on repeat, thanks to the EPA’s recycling-centric campaign that started in the 1990s. With a growing population that will likely reach 8 billion souls in 2023 and 10 billion by 2050, we need new solutions to manage the massive amount of waste the human race generates. … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: Energy Efficiency Essential for Recycling Industry Developing →