Circular economy
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.
Interreg EU project: Tackling climate change in the ‘Mediterranean way’
An EU-funded project aims to push for green and circular economy policies in the Mediterranean in light of an alarming study, which recently pointed out that temperatures in the region are escalating much faster than the global average.
The circular economy: Its potential, its challenges
Ensuring sustainable growth for the EU implies moving from a 'take-make-dispose' model towards a model where resources are used in an environmentally and economically sustainable way.
The battery metal no one wants to talk about
It accounts for around 75% of all rechargeable energy storage around the world. It is in just about every car and truck, regardless of whether the vehicle has an internal-combustion engine, uses hybrid technology or is pure electric. Its proven...
French parliament to mull law to cut consumer waste
France's parliament will from Tuesday (25 September) debate legislation seeking to move the country closer to its ambition of a low-waste future, forcing electronics firms to use second-hand materials and cutting down on plastic refuse.
EU climate official: Innovation fund will help decarbonise metals production
The production of non-ferrous metals such as aluminium is very energy-intensive, but new technologies are being developed to decarbonise the process and the European Commission is ready to finance them, says Mauro Petriccione.
The EU should foster true circular business models
Aluminium is by nature a circular and thus permanent material. All solutions that keep aluminium in the loop are worthwhile to consider because the metal we preserve today will likely remain in service forever.
Aluminium in a low-carbon world
Just as the European aluminium industry undertakes costly efforts to decarbonise, the sector is finding itself caught up in a trade war involving Chinese dumping and US tariffs that threaten to destabilise European production.
First ‘millennial’ Commissioner to address challenges for Generation Z
Putting the youngest ever Commissioner-designate in charge of managing the most fearful threats for future generations of Europeans, such as environment protection and oceans' conservation, is the biggest gamble Ursula von der Leyen took in composing her team.
EU paper recyclers ‘in crisis’ as China waste import ban bites
China’s ban on waste imports has thrown Europe’s paper recycling sector “in a crisis situation,” leading to a chronic oversupply of recovered paper that sent prices plummeting by 300% over the past two years, according to trade group EuRIC.
How Europe’s war on plastics is affecting petrochemicals
With oil use in cars expected to peak in the mid-2020s, oil companies are seeking shelter in petrochemicals – and plastics – where demand is still going strong. However, even that notion is now being challenged because of a global plastics backlash led by Europe.
Rome prepares to ship its rubbish across Europe, raising environmental concerns
The exit strategy from Rome’s current garbage crisis involves re-routing thousands of tonnes of junk to Sweden and other EU countries, with a huge financial and environmental cost in terms of CO2 emissions.NewsPromoted content
