EIP Raw Materials News
New Commitment under the EIP on Raw Materials Published
The project BRAVO - Bauxite Residue and Aluminium Valorisation Operations aims to boost the innovation capacity of the aluminium value chain with respect to secondary raw materials recovery and foster international co-operation among 30 key players across the aluminium value chain from extraction to recycling.
Study on the Competitiveness of the EU Primary and Secondary Mineral Raw Materials Sectors
Published by the European Commission DG Growth, the study provides a complete, up-to-date and concise overview of the competitiveness of the European primary and secondary Mineral Raw Materials Sectors. It focuses mainly on the non-energy extractive industries and the related recycling industries.
EU Policy News
Will the EU’s new circular economy plans live up to expectation?
After months of speculation, we will soon have clarity on a debate that’s been rumbling on for months. We are talking about what the European Commission means by a “more ambitious” circular economy package. This is the set of policy and regulatory measures proposed by the Commission to minimise waste and make the most of the economic opportunities from repair and recycling across Europe.
Circular Economy Package consultation expected “before summer”
The European Commission will launch the roadmap for its revised Circular Economy Package ‘within the next few weeks’, according to Director-General for Environment, Karl Falkenberg. Speaking at a debate on how Europe can capitalise on the circular economy, Falkenberg said that the package was still a ‘work in progress’ but that a roadmap will be soon released, which will form the basis of a public consultation.
The Circular Economy Is Waiting for a European Regulatory Helping Hand
Promoting a circular economy built on smart resource management is a technical and technological challenge as much as a regulatory challenge. Now that the European Commission has withdrawn the “Circular Economy Package”, new regulatory changes are currently being discussed at the European level, regarding recycling, eco-design, and other issues that could accelerate the transition.
European Resource Hierarchy
A discussion paper introducing the idea of a new European Resource Hierarchy has been submitted to Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The proposal is based upon a whole-life framework for the stewardship of national/global natural capital use throughout the productive economy.
France: New National Strategy of Ecological Transition towards Sustainable Development 2015-2020
The French Council of Ministers adopted the new “National Strategy of Ecological Transition towards Sustainable Development” (SNTEDD) 2015-2020. Organized in 9 cross-cutting goals instead of sectorial challenges, the SNTEDD 2015-2020 designs a 2020 vision, delivers tools to transform the economic and social model and aims to create ownership among all stakeholders with a new system of voluntary commitments.
Smarter, greener, more inclusive? – Indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy – 2015 edition
The 2015 edition of ‘Smarter, greener, more inclusive? — Indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy' continues the series of Eurostat flagship publications providing statistical analyses related to important European Commission policy frameworks or important economic, social or environmental phenomena. It provides statistical support for the Europe 2020 strategy and backs up the monitoring of its five headline targets.
Untapping the potential of Research and Innovation in the Blue Economy to create Jobs and Growth
The draft opinion report from MEP Joao Ferreira (GUE party, Portugal) on exploiting research and development potential in the blue economy to create jobs and growth has been published by the Industry, Research and Industry Committee of the European Parliament.
Developing a sustainable European industry of base metals
MEP Martin Eduard (S&D party, France) has been nominated by the S&D party as the Rapporteur of the Own Initiative Report on: “Developing a sustainable European industry of base metals: Iron and steel industry, metallurgical industry” by the Industry, Research and Industry Committee of the European Parliament.
Expert group on natural mineral waters
A new experts group in the area of food safety and minerals has been set up by DG Health of the European Commission. The experts group includes representatives from Member States governmental department of health.
Spain plans landfill, incineration tax overhaul [ENDS Europe Daily Private Subscription]
Spain looks set to implement higher, country-wide landfill taxes under a draft national waste plan. The draft plan for 2015-20 says a 2020 target to recycle 50% of municipal waste can only be achieved if waste collection methods are improved and waste taxation harmonized across the country’s autonomous regions.
Biogas sector calls for circular economy support [ENDS Europe Daily Private Subscription]
A revision of the EU’s Fertiliser Regulation should be included in the new circular economy proposals to boost nutrient recycling, the biogas industry has argued. The European Biogas Association (EBA) wants to see digestate, the bi-product of anaerobic digestion used to produce biogas from agricultural waste and other biomass, recognised as an organic fertiliser under the regulation. This would promote nutrient recycling in the framework of a wider EU strategy, according to the industry.
New waste management act for Upper Austria [ENDS Europe Daily Private Subscription]
The draft update to the 2009 Upper Austrian Waste Management Act allows the authority to order the removal of illegally placed waste containers and establishes an obligation to hand over waste materials and a notification procedure for the collection of waste materials. It was notified in the EU’s technical regulation information system on 31 March.
EU Funding News
Scotland creates new fund to set the trend on sustainable fashion
Zero Waste Scotland has announced a new fund to encourage Scottish fashion designers to develop their own closed-loop clothing. Financed in part by the Scottish government, the Circular Economy Textile and Apparel Grant Fund will debut in December in a bid to rein in textile waste using sustainable design. Textile designers in Scotland will be able to apply for up to £5,000 each, and successful applicants will also receive mentoring from ‘an industry expert’.
EU budget: Council preserves funds for promoting growth and jobs
Certain EU budgetary commitments not used in 2014 will still be available to support investment to stimulate growth and create jobs in the years 2015-2017. This is what the Council decided on 21 April 2015 by revising the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020.
Strategic Investment Fund: committees back Juncker Plan, but not programme cuts
A negotiating brief on the “Juncker” plan for a European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) to guarantee growth and job-creating investment was backed by the Budgets and Economic and Monetary Affairs committees on Monday evening. But MEPs contested plans to feed the fund from the EU research and transport investment budgets, and called for more parliamentary control over its leadership and goals.
Horizon Prize – materials for clean air
The objective pursued by this prize is to reduce particulate matter air pollution in urban areas through the development of innovative material solutions. These solutions should be design-driven, affordable and sustainable, and they should demonstrate that they can effectively remove and/or prevent the formation of particulate matter in the atmosphere.
Horizon 2020 Environment: 28 projects selected for funding
Evaluation of the 115 proposals submitted in September 2014 in answer to Horizon 2020 "Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials" has now been completed. Experts have selected 28 project proposals reaching the total amount of EUR 184.6 million of which 44.2% was designated to "Growing a low carbon, resource efficient economy with a sustainable supply of raw materials", 28.1% to waste as a resource of raw materials, and 27.6% to water innovation.
LIFE announces the ‘Best Projects’ of 2014
The objective of the Best Projects exercise is to identify and raise awareness of those projects whose results, if widely applied, could have the most positive impact on the environment. The most inspiring LIFE projects completed during 2014 will be honoured at a prestigious award ceremony taking place during EU Green Week in June 2015.
Events
Amsterdam Circular Challenge
22-28/06/2015 Amsterdam (NL). The event takes place in the heart of the circular capital Amsterdam on Ceuvel. Led by a professional moderator there will be a lively evening where teams present their solutions and the moderator gives an inspiring look at Amsterdam as circular hotspot.
Second workshop of the Circular Europe Network
28/06/2015, Budapest (HU). The Circular Europe Network has been created in order to support local and regional authorities in being ambitious on circular economy by helping them to adopt aspiring circular economy strategies on their territories. The event will feature key note speeches on circular economy indicators and territorial metabolism.
Raw Materials in the Juncker Plan
20/06/2015 Brussels (BE). The final report of the special task force (Member States, Commission, EIB) on investment in the EU explicitly called for investments to secure the supply of raw materials. There is a potential for projects in the field of raw materials, which needs to be explored. This will be the objective of this workshop. [click title for registration]
Open Innovation and Design for Sustainability
29/06/2015 Milan (IT). The 2nd convention of the Sustainability Maker project (funded by European LIFE+ programme) is coming to Milan this May as part of the EXPO2015 events. During the convention, current crowd-led approaches to sustainability innovation such as crowd-sourcing, open innovation, crowd-voting and crowd-funding will be explored.
Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking’s 2015 Info Day
26/06/2015 Brussels (BE). The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking’s 2015 Info Day will aim to provide information on how to benefit from the Bio-based Joint Undertaking. It will also inform about the new call and provide first-hand information on this new EU funding instrument
Circular Economy BoostCamp
28-29-30/06/2015 Nijmegen (NL). The Circular Economy BOOSTcamp is a powerful three day event where a group of professionals, experts and young talents work together on BOOSTing the transition towards a circular economy. During three days the participants of BOOSTcamp will give a BOOST to the region on topics of Healthcare, Energy and the City Island in the river Waal.
Enviromanagement 2015: Opportunities and Challenges in Solid Waste
8-9/10/2015 Strsbeke Preso (SK). The conference will tackle the status of implementing important EC Directives on Solid Waste Management, planning and the economy of recycling, recycling markets, energy recovery and price volatility affects on the waste planning.
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Circular Economy News
Circular economy could bring 70 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2030
The circular economy offers opportunities to boost jobs and tackle climate change, according to study on Sweden by The Club of Rome. This Swedish case study, the first in a series of reports in 2015, suggests that 2015 is a key window of opportunity to start modernising the EU economy, while boosting jobs and tackling climate change ahead of the UN climate change conference, COP 21, in Paris in December.
A circular economy can be a 2.5 billion euro opportunity for Finland
Tackling climate change and the preservation of natural resources has given rise to a global business area with a very fast growth rate. According to a survey conducted by Sitra, a circular economy represents an opportunity for Finland worth 1.5 to 2.5 billion euros.
Arcelor Mittal to Develop and Circular Economy Steel Business
Global steel firm Arcelor Mittal has revealed its ambition to become a circular economy business. In its Sustainability Report 2014, the steel giant said that it wishes to move from resource efficiency to circular thinking so that it can unlock the opportunities it offers the business.
The 5 business models that put the circular economy to work
Accenture, in its report “Circular Advantage”, has identified five circular business models companies can leverage — singly or in combination — to generate resource productivity improvements in innovative ways that also cut costs, generate revenue and enhance customer value and differentiation.
The Circular Economy: The Start of an Economic Revolution or Just the Latest Business Buzzword?
A circular economy is one that is restorative by design, and which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value, at all times. Is it just the latest business buzzword, as Google Trends looks to indicate, or is this just the beginning of a new economic revolution?
New innovations promise better results from rubber recycling
An Israeli company has developed a rubber recycling process that results in a high quality recycled material that can be used to make a wide range of products. The method could help create new markets for recycled rubber, which can usually only be used for low-grade applications.
Circular Economy: Recycling is Not the Benefit
Each year we recycle or compost over 200 kg of waste per person in Europe. However, if we want to achieve a circular economy, we shouldn't see recycling as a benefit. This article explores the importance of recycling and explores the simple life journey of the drinks can.
Food Waste is the World's 3rd Biggest Source of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 1.3 billion tons of food discarded around the world account for more greenhouse gas emissions than those emitted by any country. With the exception of China or the US.
Navigating the Circular Economy with Ellen MacArthur
A recent episode of the BBC Radio 4 programme, "in Business" examines the concept of the Circular Economy through discussion with Dame Ellen MacArthur and staff from Unilever (including during a visit to the factory that produces Marmite) and at an Urban Farm in New Jersey (using hydroponics).
UNCTAD Commodities at a Glance Special Issue Rare Earths
The fifth in the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development's (UNCTAD) series entitled "Commodities at a Glance" was published in 2014. The main sources of information used are reports issued by national or intergovernmental authorities and by a number of private companies involved in the rare earth sector, from extraction to financing and trading.
The Use of Potentially Critical Materials in Passenger Cars
In a thesis initiated by Volvo Car Corporation and Chalmers University of Technology, Klas Cullbrand aan Olof Magnusson examine the use of materials that could be considered to be critical in passenger cars.
5 megatrends that will unleash value in the circular economy
Leading companies such as Veolia, DSM and SAB Miller are beginning to shift from the traditional linear “take, make, dispose” business model to a more regenerative circular economy framework. This transformation employs a systems level approach and intentional strategy to design waste out of the system and to manage materials for longer circulation and greater re-usability.
The Circular Economy and Reach – An Essential Partnership
According to the European Environmental Bureau, The EU should focus on creating a clean circular economy – without this there is a major risk of a future loss in public and market confidence in recycled material while creating an endless legacy. The main burden for recyclers is the presence of hazardous substances in material, and not REACH and the chemical policy.
Electronics Recycling in a Circular Economy Project Shortlisted for Business Green Innovation Award
The Business Green Leaders Awards, which celebrate and highlight pioneering work across the green economy, have shortlisted the Electronics Recycling in a Circular Economy (ERICE) project for their 'Innovation of the Year' award. This celebrates projects and organisations that have demonstrated genuine innovation in the pursuit of improved environmental performance over the past year.
How Circular is the Global Economy?
An Assessment of Material Flows, Waste Production, and Recycling in the European Union and the World in 2005. The circular economy is a simple, but convincing, strategy, which aims at reducing both input of virgin materials and output of wastes by closing economic and ecological loops of resource flows. This article applies a sociometabolic approach to assess the circularity of global material flows.
Green economy supported 357,000 jobs in UK in 2012
The renewable energy sector saw the largest rise, in terms of employment, adding almost 3,000 jobs - an increase of 59%. The UK green economy contributed 357,000 jobs to the UK in 2012, growing more than 5% in two years according to figures released Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
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