Circular economy
The EU is creating a sustainability label for raw materials
An EU research group is creating a certification method for raw materials, to be completed by 2021. The project is part of a push to sustainably mine the metals needed for Europe’s clean energy transition. But critics say certification is not the answer.
France dumps 11,200 tonnes of plastic in the Mediterranean every year
600,000 tonnes of plastic are being dumped by 22 countries in the Mediterranean Sea every year, of which 11,200 tonnes come from France. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.
Betis, the Spanish club committed to going climate neutral
Spanish football club Real Betis is well known for the colours of its T-shirt, green and white. But now they want to integrate that concept into their whole policy by leading the way in making soccer more sustainable.
Timmermans: A green candidate in the red corner
Frans Timmermans, the Socialists’ leading candidate, has promised a sustainable Europe if he is given the nod to lead the next European Commission. But how sustainable are the Dutchman’s green credentials?
How can EU members make good on new single-use plastics law?
The European Parliament and the Council gave their official green light to the Single-use Plastics Directive on Tuesday morning (21 May). Larissa Copello de Souza explains how the implementation period is a golden opportunity to raise the bar even further.
UNESDA priorities and aspirations for 2019-2024
UNESDA’s Aspirations for the 2019-24 legislative period address the three core areas of Sustainability, Responsibility and Competitiveness. They build on the priorities of the entire food and drink industry and articulate a single market purposed around: Growing sustainably, Serving consumers, and Feeding Europe’s economy.
EU cities join forces for more sustainable tourism
Climate change and tourism are closely interlinked. Local and regional authorities across Europe are working together to improve waste management to make tourism more sustainable in their towns.
Tesla expects global shortage of electric vehicle battery minerals – sources
US electric car maker Tesla expects global shortages of nickel, copper and other battery minerals down the road due to underinvestment in the mining sector, the company’s global supply manager for battery metals told an industry conference on Thursday (2 May), according to two sources.
Karmenu Vella on circular economy: ‘Nothing to gain from waiting’
Circular economy wrangling has kept the EU busy for the last few years, from withdrawn policies to far-reaching recycling strategies. The EU's outgoing environment boss, Karmenu Vella, insists that industry is still critical to waste-reducing efforts and that “there is nothing to gain from waiting”.
Northern French region banks on bioeconomy
In September 2018, the Hauts-de-France region (northern France) adopted a bioeconomy roadmap. The former sugar region wants to become a leader in the sector. EURACTIV France reports.
Microplastics also travel through the air, says new study
Microplatics are not only found in the world’s oceans but can also reach isolated areas by air, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience on 15 April. EURACTIV’s partner le Journal de l'environnement reports.
British football clubs want to lead the way in reducing single-use plastics
Football can bring joy or frustration to supporters... but also a lot of waste. UK football teams have decided to introduce reusable cups in stadiums, as part of a joint initiative by the Premier League and British TV channel Sky News.
Franco-Dutch plastic ‘coalition of the willing’ takes shape
The French and Dutch governments have both penned national pacts that go beyond what EU rules on plastic waste stipulate. On Friday (5 April), they kicked off a process they hope will culminate in a European Plastics Summit in 2020.
EU gears up for sustainability legacy handover
The outgoing European Commission has got through a lot of work when it comes to the circular economy but now attention is turning to the future and how to make sure recycling efforts really take off.
A circular economy retrospective
Recycling, reuse and all things circular are taking on more and more importance in Europe. Sustainability will remain high on the agenda of the next EU legislative cycle but what tools are in place to help the industry get it across the line?
Spanish footfall club turns fan waste into organic fertiliser
Spanish football club Real Sociedad is turning the shells of sunflower seeds that supporters eat during matches into compost that local farms use as organic fertiliser.
Europe ringfences 35% of research budget for clean tech
European Union negotiators struck an agreement late on Tuesday (19 March) to set aside 35% of the bloc’s research funding for climate-friendly technologies, despite ongoing doubts about the overall size of the EU's future budget after Brexit.
Chemical recycling of plastic: Waste no more?
Plastics recycling is as much of a challenge as an opportunity for the circular economy. Michael Laermann looks at chemical recycling and whether it can make the plastics value chain more circular whilst providing a profitable new industry branch.
Resource extraction responsible for half world’s carbon emissions
Extraction industries are responsible for half of the world's carbon emissions and more than 80% of biodiversity loss, according to the most comprehensive environmental tally undertaken of mining and farming. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.OpinionPromoted content
European innovators ready to lead change on plastic waste
The EU’s Plastics Strategy will significantly increase demand for circular business models and greener products. The EIT's Climate KIC is working with European innovators to seize the business opportunity this creates, and support them in getting from visionary idea to profitable activity, write Elléa Lhermite and Piotr Pogorzelski.
EU official: Households will save €500 a year from existing EU energy-saving laws
The European Commission has put changes in place that are making household appliances more energy efficient and recyclable. But the key will be in implementation of these rules, says the Commission's director for Industrial transformation.
The #BetterLifestyles Manifesto explained by our children
There are a few stepping stones on the journey to better lifestyles and a memorable five-year mandate.
As EU tries to make household appliances more efficient, consumers remain to be convinced
European legislation has made appliances like washing machines and dishwashers even more water and energy efficient than washing clothes and dishes by hand. The next step is to connect these appliances to the web and allow them to act independently.