EIB has updated its Circular Economy Guide

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has published an updated version of its Circular Economy Guide. The Guide aligns with the European Commission’s recently adopted Circular Economy Action Plan, one of the main pillars of the European Green Deal. It also integrates the findings of report, Categorisation system for the circular economy, drafted by the European … Continue reading EIB has updated its Circular Economy Guide →

Start-up makes products from waste materials, then ensuring they’re recyclable when consumers have finished with them

Can you imagine that the gold medals at this year’s upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo will be made from e-waste? Well, they will be. Alex Lawson writes in the London Evening Standard about a business venture about closed loop manufacturing. What are your views? The duo using waste to take the climate change fight upmarket … Continue reading Start-up makes products from waste materials, then ensuring they’re recyclable when consumers have finished with them →

The materials used by the global economy have quadrupled since 1970

While we have realised we cannot continue to increase our consumption of energy, the same is true for all the materials we use. Damian Carrington writes in The Guardian about the unsustainable growth in materials. EiD is reminded of the report, Come On!, written by the Club of Rome. We are doing more about resource … Continue reading The materials used by the global economy have quadrupled since 1970 →

New EEA briefing on construction and demolition waste

Construction and demolition waste makes up just over one third of total waste generation in the EU. Despite relatively high recovery rates of used materials, Europe’s construction sector will need to be even more ambitious in its waste management practices if it is to fully embrace Europe’s circular economy. According to a European Environment Agency … Continue reading New EEA briefing on construction and demolition waste →

New EEA briefing presents the latest evidence on environmental and climate impacts from the consumption of textile products ranging from clothing and footwear to carpets and furniture in the EU

Consumption of clothing, footwear and household textiles in the European Union (EU) uses annually about 1.3 tonnes of raw materials and more than 100 cubic metres of water per person, according to a European Environment Agency briefing, published this week. A wide-scale change towards circular economy in textiles production and consumption is needed to reduce … Continue reading New EEA briefing presents the latest evidence on environmental and climate impacts from the consumption of textile products ranging from clothing and footwear to carpets and furniture in the EU →

EEA briefings show reuse and recycling are key to tackling Europe’s waste problem and to foster a more circular economy

Improved circular and climate-friendly business models and policies to boost reuse and recycling, plus improved consumer awareness will help the European Union tackle the growing problem posed by plastic, battery, electronic and textile waste, according to two European Environment Agency (EEA) briefings published recently. Reuse and recycling are key to tackling Europe’s waste problem … Continue reading EEA briefings show reuse and recycling are key to tackling Europe’s waste problem and to foster a more circular economy →

New report from the European Environment Agency on the circular economy

Circular material use can minimise waste and resource extraction, improve resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to conserving biodiversity. However, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published this week, circular economy initiatives in Europe are still at an early stage and would benefit from more investments in upscaling promising innovations and … Continue reading New report from the European Environment Agency on the circular economy →

Recent OECD report on business models for the circular economy

We are all trying to learn more about addressing issues related to the circular economy. Earlier this year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a report entitled, Business Models for the Circular Economy, Opportunities and Challenges for Policy. Natural resources, and the materials derived from them, represent the physical basis for the … Continue reading Recent OECD report on business models for the circular economy →

Coming back full circle: the idea of a circular economy goes back to ancient times

Sometimes it is good to look back to see how other civilisations dealt with issues that we are struggling with. Such is the case with the circular economy, as Maikel Kuijpers, Assistant Professor at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science explains in an article on The Conversation website. Circular economy: ancient … Continue reading Coming back full circle: the idea of a circular economy goes back to ancient times →

Australia’s waste policy embraces circular economy principles

It is encouraging to see Australia link its waste policy with the circular economy. However, Jenni Downes, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney writes on The Conversation website that the policy simply will not achieve a “truly circular economy.” Is the waste policy in your country aiming at … Continue reading Australia’s waste policy embraces circular economy principles →