The circular economy should be everyone’s business – new report by Anders Wijkman

In the autumn of 2021 Anders Wijkman prepared a paper for the Global Challenges Foundation that was presented in Glasgow at COP 26. It was one of a series of papers with a focus on the need to improve governance in a number of areas. Anders wrote this to EiD: Among quite a number of … Continue reading The circular economy should be everyone’s business – new report by Anders Wijkman →

New EEA briefings on impacts of textile consumption in Europe

Textile consumption in Europe has on average the fourth highest impacts on the environment and climate, following consumption of food, housing and mobility. Ahead of the expected EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published this week two briefings that look at measures to reduce those impacts, including on resource … Continue reading New EEA briefings on impacts of textile consumption in Europe →

Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star in Bangladesh writes on the paper’s website about the impact plastic has in the country. A World Bank study shows that there is a fundamental threat to the country’s future growth and prosperity It is a detailed account that all readers should learn from. Column … Continue reading Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living →

New EEA reports show there are clear opportunities to decouple Europe’s waste generation from economic growth

In most European countries and in the EU as a whole, waste generation is growing but at a slower pace than the economy. However, there are no signs that the overall objective of reducing the total generation of waste is close to being achieved, according to a European Environment Agency report published recently. The report’s … Continue reading New EEA reports show there are clear opportunities to decouple Europe’s waste generation from economic growth →

There is an opportunity to design emerging technologies with the circular economy in mind from the start

Matthew Davies, Associate Professor at Swansea University writes on The Conversation website about the need to recycle parts from solar panels and other emerging technologies in order to avoid unnecessary waste. Solar panels: we need to recycle parts of them to use again and avoid a mountain of waste Billions of solar panels globally will … Continue reading There is an opportunity to design emerging technologies with the circular economy in mind from the start →

Circular economy: no silver bullet but the benefits could be significant

Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website about the issues relating to moving to a circular economy. What are your views? Circular economy: Could rethinking design transform the world? Some argue that switching to a "circular economy" is crucial when it comes to climate protection and sustainability. But what would it entail? And … Continue reading Circular economy: no silver bullet but the benefits could be significant →

To meet long-term carbon emissions targets, we must stop demolishing buildings should start using the carbon spent in the past to avoid the emission of more in the present

Meeting net zero targets for buildings, an entirely new approach is needed. Charles Gillott, PhD student in Engineering at University of Sheffield, in an article on The Conversation website, says we must stop demolishing buildings and replacing them with new ones. What are your views? We have reusable cups, bags and bottles: so why … Continue reading To meet long-term carbon emissions targets, we must stop demolishing buildings should start using the carbon spent in the past to avoid the emission of more in the present →

New EEA briefing on applying circular economy principles in the renewable energy sector to address waste and resource challenges

A rapid transition to renewable energy is necessary if Europe is to achieve its climate objectives. Developing the infrastructure to enable this change will require substantial resources and generate large volumes of waste as equipment reaches the end of its service life. Applying circular economy principles in this sector provides a win-win approach to address … Continue reading New EEA briefing on applying circular economy principles in the renewable energy sector to address waste and resource challenges →

Recent study shows energy-intensive industries failing to meet long-term Paris climate objectives

Only 14% of publicly listed companies in the steel, cement, aluminum, paper and mining sector are on track to meet the Paris Agreement’s 2°C climate target, according to a report by the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI), a global investor group supported by the UN. Still, some European companies offer hope, Lukas Scheid reports on the … Continue reading Recent study shows energy-intensive industries failing to meet long-term Paris climate objectives →

New EEA briefing on ensuring that chemicals make a positive contribution to society without harming the environment and people’s health

The recent European Union chemicals strategy for sustainability aims to ensure that chemicals make a positive contribution to society without harming the environment and people’s health. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published earlier this month, describes key approaches to make chemicals and products safe and sustainable by design, before they enter the market. … Continue reading New EEA briefing on ensuring that chemicals make a positive contribution to society without harming the environment and people’s health →