Circular economy
Rome airport tests pioneering eco-friendly tarmac
Rome’s Fiumicino airport is testing a pioneering tarmac developed by an Italian company, made of a material that has twice the lifespan of traditional asphalt and is better for the environment as it uses a waste plastic.
Apple pushes back against EU common charger, warns of innovation risks
iPhone maker Apple on Thursday (23 January) pushed back against EU lawmakers’ call for a common charger, warning the move could hamper innovation, create a mountain of electronic waste and irk consumers.
Plastic waste and recycling: France among EU’s ‘poor performers’
While the EU's plastic recycling rate has seen a slight increase of 1.4% between 2016 and 2018 amounting to 32.5% total according to Plastics Europe, France has been dragging the average down with a 24.2% recycling rate in 2018. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Business strategies for cost-saving circular economy solutions
Circular economy principles offer compelling strategic and operational benefits for the manufacturing industry. These include substantial cost savings, which companies should take advantage of, writes Rafael Go.
Banning single-use plastics in France by 2040 is far too late, environmentalists say
The French National Assembly has voted to ban all disposable plastics by... 2040, which would be far too late for many environmental advocates. EURACTIV France reports.
Europe waking up to raw materials ‘criticality’
Access to critical raw materials used in digital and clean technologies was labelled as "a strategic security question" in a European Green Deal unveiled today (11 December). A new industrial policy is expected to complete the picture next year.
Towards a sustainable economy: How to make the circular economy a ‘business model’ for the EU
As the new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned in her Political Guidelines in July, “circular economy is key for developing Europe’s future economic model.” However, to make this vision a reality, companies need to be convinced of Europe’s path towards eco-friendly production. VideoPromoted content
Metal Recycles Forever
The Metal Recycles Forever logo helps consumers and brands understand the role they play in keeping metal in the material loop, by recycling empty packaging and communicating benefits. VideoPromoted content
How has APPLiA made it to the shortlist of the Oscars?
During an APPLiA conference on the circular economy, two interpreters in the Hungarian booth realise that only one person is listening to them. Watch the short movie "Chuchotage" where experts from the Association representing the home appliance industry in Brussels literally played a role.
EU Waste Regulation – Blazing a trail for circular consumer packaging?
Consumers appreciate recyclates in packaging as long as it doesn’t affect the quality, functionality and price of the product. But how do companies remain competitive in view of added costs for high-quality recycling and the low price of virgin plastics? Michael Laermann tries to find the answer.
Construction clean-up looms as Green Deal approaches
Cleaning up the construction industry will be one of the major challenges for EU policy over the next decade, given the scale of emissions produced by the sector. Policymakers and industry leaders insist they are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
More focus needed on food waste in the creation of a circular economy
Ahead of a Finnish Council Presidency’s conference that aims to set the EU agenda for action on food waste towards 2030, a number of companies have made commitments to reduce their food waste, but a number of barriers still stand in their way.
Northvolt ‘will source directly from the miners’ to ensure clean supply chain
A short supply chain “will make it possible for us to trace our materials” and ensure they come from responsible sources, said a senior executive at Northvolt, the Swedish startup aiming to supply Europe with green electric batteries.
Hazards ahead: Electric cars face battery recycling hurdles in Europe
European recyclers have called for changes to EU regulations on hazardous metals and waste shipment that “sometimes stand in the way” of a fully European electric car manufacturing value chain.
Waste incineration: An extreme carbon outlier
Meeting the EU’s 10% landfill target is possible without climate damage, writes Janek Vähk.
Daniel Caspary MEP: Raw materials ‘need a sustainable deal, not a green deal’
A sustainable deal would tackle not only CO2 emissions but also the social and economic development of Europe and the countries where raw materials are mined, says centre-right MEP Daniel Caspary.
Breaking new ground: The EU’s push for raw materials sovereignty
A new pro-mining investment policy, more free trade deals, and an incoming "geopolitical" European Commission signals the EU will stake more claim on critical raw materials.
China in focus as West debates critical minerals challenge
Western powers will attend talks in Brussels next week on curbing China's dominance of rare earths and other critical resources and EU officials will present their vision to create entire green supply chains.
Circular economy erected as ‘number one priority’ of European Green Deal
The circular economy, including new waste and recycling laws, will represent "half" of the EU's effort to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and will be erected as "the number one priority" of the upcoming European Green Deal, officials have said.
Climate action needs better products
The EU has recently paved the way for longer-lasting products. Now we must enshrine this ambition into our future European Green Deal, write Jean-Pierre Schweitzer and Melissa Zill.
Italy’s plastic tax proposal angers ‘packaging valley’ before crucial regional vote
The government is open to rediscuss a proposed tax on single-use plastics, out of concern for the country's world-leading packaging sector based in Emilia-Romagna where regional elections are scheduled in January.
EU to assess five critical minerals in low carbon quest
The European Commission is assessing five new minerals for possible inclusion in a revised list of critical raw materials to be published next year, as it seeks to bolster supply chains for a low emissions economy, a senior Commission official said.
Three ways in which football is helping to recycle plastic
Sports events organisers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact they have and therefore are trying to be more sustainable, including by reducing and reusing plastics.
