Circular economy
Greens table action against programmed obsolescence
The European Parliament broke new ground on Friday (19 May), when French Green MEP Pascal Durand submitted an own initiative report aimed at tackling products with an artificially built-in shelf life, with MEPs due to vote soon. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.
Report: British consumers mistakenly claim they recycle every day
Today, on International Recycling Day (17 May), a new report found that consumers are confused about recycling and recommends raising awareness of the practice.
Southerners back stricter EU waste rules, unlike Nordic countries
A new report published today (16 May) showed that the EU's southern members support stricter EU-wide waste management rules more than Nordic countries.
Greek startup turns to e-solutions to address low recycling rates
A Greek startup company is exploring innovative ways of rewarding consumers who recycle, a move that could help address the lack of recycling culture in Greece.
Member states need to agree on a strong Circular Economy Package
Following the European Parliament’s adoption of the proposed amendments on 14 March, the negotiations on the EU Circular Economy Package have now entered their final phase. NABU urges Europe to set strong targets, not watered-down goals.
French presidential candidates’ environmentalism often misses the point
Never before have so many presidential candidates taken such trouble to trumpet their environmental credentials. But this does not necessarily mean they know what environmentalism is all about. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.
Recyclables must be collected separately for circular economy to succeed, says panel
Separate collection of recyclable materials is the key to a successful circular economy, but some member states struggle to put the necessary infrastructure in place, policymakers told a EURACTIV event held on Tuesday (21 March).
Packaging in the circular economy: A sustainable business ?
In December 2015, the European Commission presented a new Circular Economy Package that will impact a wide range of sectors, including packaging
Opinion leaders identify seven pillars for ‘better’ EU action
CIVICO-Europa, an informal group set up by opinion leaders and later supported by politicians, presented today (20 March) a manifesto for the future of Europe, based on “doing much better together”, rather than the traditional way of “doing more”.
Better resource efficiency could be worth trillions, UN says
Almost €2 trillion would be poured into the annual global economy if resource efficiency was boosted, according to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme released today (16 March).
MEPs vote to boost recycling rates and limit food waste
After 51 organisations and 64,000 people in the EU backed a campaign to reduce food waste, MEPs voted today (14 March) in support of a 50% reduction by 2030.
Cleaning up the oceans is no solution to our plastic problem
Plastics have brought huge benefits to our society. But with those benefits come environmental problems. Too often, plastic ends up as waste, as marine litter polluting the oceans, or as litter on our beaches.
Wales continues to lead UK in recycling, announces circular economy fund
The Welsh government has unveiled a £6.5m (€7.5m) fund to help SMEs make the transformation towards a circular economy. The Principality leads the UK in recycling targets and would place 4th in the EU if it were a member state. EURACTIV’s partner edie.net reports.
Report: Brexit offers escape from over €2bn in EU waste policy costs
British businesses would lose over €2bn over the next 20 years through the EU's Circular Economy Package, according to a new report, which is calling on the UK to adopt a better waste and resource management framework post-Brexit. EURACTIV’s partner edie.net reports.
Paper boss: EU’s Circular Economy Package could have been more ambitious
The European Commission’s Circular Economy Package could have been more ambitious, the director-general of the Confederation of European Paper Industries said in an interview about recycling, Brussels red tape and the shift to a low-carbon economy.
Czech regional council member: Waste-to-energy brings us closer to developed countries
Municipal waste in Pilsen used to be landfilled. "It is better to use waste for heat and electricity generation," Radka Trylčová, a member of a regional council which is trying to make the waste-to-energy process policy, told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
EU climate laws ‘cost paper recyclers 40% of their profits’
EXCLUSIVE/ EU climate legislation robs paper recyclers of at least 40% of their profits, the equivalent of at least one billion euros of lost potential investment in the green economy, a European paper industry chief has said.
EU’s clean energy package gets national support
Negotiations for the third version of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package have officially begun.
Matching realism and ambition in aluminium recycling
Ambitious yet realistic targets for all packaging materials are essential to building a truly circular economy in Europe, writes Maarten Labberton.
A Canadian circular economy reality
Edmonton has become the first city which turns all non-compostable and non-recyclable household waste into methanol, ethanol and green chemicals. Europe should take notice, writes Lambert van Nistelrooij.
Experts: Circular economy targets should be adapted to each member state
The essence of the circular economy is not in numbers and targets, but in changing attitudes and seeking new business opportunities, experts said at a debate organised by EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Using sewage to make Europe’s economy truly circular
Sewage sludge is a potentially vast source of nutrients for fertilisers. The Commission is missing a golden opportunity by excluding it from the Fertiliser Regulation, writes Arne Haarr.
23 EU countries are breaking European air quality laws
European air quality laws are being flouted in more than 130 cities across 23 of the 28 EU member states, the European Commission said yesterday (6 February).
New remanufacturing trade body launched to advise EU policy
The European Remanufacturing Council (ERC), a new industry-led body, was launched on Friday (27 January) to represent businesses currently producing £25.5bn (€29.8bn) worth of remanufactured goods that contribute to the circular economy. Euractiv's media partner edie.net reports.