European Parliament gave its final green light to new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU

Stuart Braun writes on the Deutsche Welle website about new waste targets in the EU. EU lawmakers have given a final green light to a law on slashing the mountains of food wasted in Europe each year, and curbing the environmental impact of fast fashion.   EU to slash food and fast fashion waste Following … Continue reading European Parliament gave its final green light to new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU

New approach to sustainable shopping in Sweden

Mary-Ann Ball, Senior Lecturer, Fashion Sustainability and Marketing, Nottingham Trent University writes on The Conversation website about a municipality-led experiment in circular consumption. What do you think?   How Sweden’s ‘secondhand only’ shopping mall is changing retail As a fashion sustainability researcher, finding the ReTuna shopping mall in Eskilstuna was a delightful surprise. Stepping into this Swedish … Continue reading New approach to sustainable shopping in Sweden

A change in the conception of construction can lead to much less waste

The construction industry is one of the largest producers of waste, generating around 2.2 billion tonnes per year globally. More than 90% of construction waste comes from demolition, but waste is also generated on-site – mainly as leftover or broken materials – and during manufacturing. In an article on The Conversation website, José Manuel Cabrero … Continue reading A change in the conception of construction can lead to much less waste

An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method

In Tübingen, Germany, TriqBriq is creating eco‑friendly homes from modular wooden blocks made with recycled materials, offering a low‑carbon alternative to concrete. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Julia Mielke discusses the scheme.   Eco-friendly homes from wooden building blocks A German city is building an eco-friendly public housing scheme using an innovative … Continue reading An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method

Blog by Jane Marsh – Battery metals and the green transition: can Europe compete in the global market?

Those interested in the zero-carbon transition around the globe are hearing of renewable energy projects and electrification. Another major component of this is advanced recycling and reuse methods, especially for the increasing number of batteries. Discover how Europe is handling this influx and how it aligns with its climate objectives. The State of Battery-Metal Handling … Continue reading Blog by Jane Marsh – Battery metals and the green transition: can Europe compete in the global market?

The amount of high-tech waste from sports is growing fast but there are ways to recycle it

In an article on The Conversation website, Ali Hadigheh, Senior Lecturer, Structural Engineering, University of Sydney and Yaning Wei, Postdoctoral Researcher, Civil Engineering, University of Sydney explain how high-tech waste from sports can be recycled.   Sport produces mountains of high-tech waste. We are finding new ways to recycle it In the early days of … Continue reading The amount of high-tech waste from sports is growing fast but there are ways to recycle it

Blog by Jane Marsh – Battery Cities: the next step in sustainable urban development

Situated in the heart of lower Manhattan, Battery Park City (BPC) is a testament to the possibilities of a future brimming with vibrant, environmentally conscious communities. Could this transformative development inspire a global shift toward sustainable living and shape the urban spaces of tomorrow? The Makings of a Battery-Style City BPC is a shining example … Continue reading Blog by Jane Marsh – Battery Cities: the next step in sustainable urban development

New briefings from the EEA on the status of the circular economy in Europe and highlighting the need for improving recycling quality

Europe has set ambitious goals to create a competitive circular economy that can be key in supporting innovation, decarbonisation and security. The transition is also needed to halt biodiversity loss and wasteful use of natural resources. Published this week, two briefings from the European Environment Agency show the status of circular economy and highlight the … Continue reading New briefings from the EEA on the status of the circular economy in Europe and highlighting the need for improving recycling quality

Tethered caps on single-use plastic bottles are a refreshing idea to reduce littering

In an article on The Conversation website, Randa Lindsey Kachef, Lecturer in Geography, King's College London discusses why we now are required in Europe to have single-use bottles with caps that remain attached.   Why plastic bottles now have their caps attached You may have bought a drink recently and noticed something odd: the once … Continue reading Tethered caps on single-use plastic bottles are a refreshing idea to reduce littering

New EEA briefing on the use of “forever chemicals”

Reducing the use of PFAS —known as forever chemicals— in clothing, furniture and other textile products, is important to increase recyclability and the transition to a more circular economy according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week.   Safe and sustainable alternatives could reduce use of PFAS in textiles and enhance reuse … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the use of “forever chemicals”