EIP Raw Materials News
New Commitment published under the EIP on Raw Materials
Continuous underground mining of hard rock minerals (CUMiHR) project from Sweden will address the need of improving underground rock excavation by replacing the traditional Drill and Blast (D&B) method in mining for hard rock with a technology using Mechanical Rock Excavation (MRE).
EU Policy News
European Commission publishes "roadmap" for revised circular economy package
The European Commission has released a document detailing the rationale and objectives of the new circular economy package. Although described as a roadmap, the document is actually more of a checklist to ensure that the proposed initiative aligns with the objectives of the new Commission.
'Closing the circle and opening conversation on circular economy' by Frans Timmermans, Jyrki Katainen, Elżbieta Bieńkowska and Karmenu Vella
The four Commissioners explained why a new and ambitious Circular Economy Package will be presented by the European Commission before the end of this year. It will look at our waste policy and beyond, to address the full cycle of the circular economy. It will find the right balance between legislation, market based instruments and other sector specific measures.
Circular economy as the key pillar of a strategic European resource policy
Meeting EU Commissioner for Environment Karmenu Vella on 26 May, BUSINESSEUROPE Director General Markus J. Beyrer underlined their commitment to accelerate activities during the transition from linear to circular model in the society. In a new position paper, BUSINESSEUROPE offers concrete recommendations to policy-makers on how to promote this concept.
Commission asks the public for ideas to develop the Circular Economy
The European Commission has opened a public consultation to collect views on the main policy options for developing an ambitious new approach on the Circular Economy. Stakeholders' input will help feed the preparation of the new action plan, to be presented by the end of 2015.The consultation will run until 20 August 2015.
EU seeks common framework for Circular Economy
The European Commission wants to speed up the process with binding targets for recycling and public procurement in a Circular Economy package expected in July. Enhancing business engagement is considered critical in the quest for a lean resource economy. This point has been largely highlighted at a Green Week event in Brussels, though views differ on ways of achieving it.
10 recommendations for an effective multi-stakeholder dialogue
The main purpose of the recommendations (produced by the EU project COBALT) is to foster effective and open stakeholder dialogues and co-management processes in the wider context of the EIP objectives on sustainable raw materials management. It is targeting all interested stakeholders -business and industry, civil society organisations, EU and national level policy makers, national geological surveys, and public and private research organisations - who are committed to engage in stakeholder co-management processes.
Policy Brief on "Raw material scarcity in Europe: stakeholder collaboration to achieve a transparent and accountable supply chain"
25 stakeholders representing industry, civil-society, research and policy participated in the last COBALT European Dialogue held in Brussels on February 11th and the results are summarised in the related policy brief. The Dialogue looked at raw materials scarcity in Europe and the role of stakeholder in moving towards a more transparent and accountable supply chain. Existing policy initiatives and practical examples of stakeholders working with conflict mineral-producing countries were presented.
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.
EU Funding News
Study on the review of the list of critical raw materials
The Commission has issued a new call for tender for a study to help identify and plan for critical raw materials, in 2017. Deadline for applications: 04/09/2015
New infographic on EU funding for eco innovation
A new infographic from the European Commission lays out in a simple way all the different forms of funding available for eco-innovation: from R&D to financing, and from small enterprises to infrastructure.
New call for proposals for LIFE Environment sub-programme
LIFE Environment & Resource Efficiency (sub-programme for Environment) will co-finance action grants for pilot and demonstration projects to develop, test and demonstrate policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions, including development and demonstration of innovative technologies, to environmental challenges, with respect to the link between the environment and health, and in support of resource efficiency-related policy and legislation, including the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe.
Proof of Concept Funding - have your say
Innovate UK is carrying out a review of proof of concept funding for businesses and academics and are asking businesses, universities, public sector research establishments, other research organisations and fund managers to take a short online survey to help them establish the facts.
EU-funded project INNEON offers opportunities to SMEs and investors in eco-innovation
The INNEON network for eco-innovation investment aims to extend public and private funding sources available for eco-innovation and social innovation in Europe, and provide a unique forum dedicated to the interaction between a select cohort of innovators and relevant investors. Innovators and investors can join a dedicated network providing access to an online matchmaking platform, live networking events and more, to improve the quality of deals and allow for efficient matching of entrepreneurs and investors.
Events
HOT Circular Economy - Finance Workshop
23/06/2015 in Brussels.
Organised by RMC-Covenant Circular Economy 2022 and Assembly of European Regions.
CLOSING THE LOOP - Circular Economy: boosting business, reducing waste
25/06/2015 Brussels.
Organised by DG Environment.
ENVISION workshop on environmental challenges, research & eco-industries
09/07/2015 Lancaster.
Organised by the Lancaster University.
10 Proposals to improve Green Financing in the EU
17/06/2015 Brussels.
Organised by the European Parliament (MEP Davor Škrlec).
Open Source Circular Economy Days
11-15/06/2015 Cities across Europe.
Circular Economy Seminar: Best practices from remanufacturing frontrunners
15/06/2015 Amsterdam.
Organised by Circle Economy.
SUBSTITUTION means EVOLUTION Conference
17/06/2015 Brussels.
Organised by the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts.
The role of eco-design in the circular economy
16/06/2015 Brussels.
Organised by the Catalan EU office.
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Circular Economy News
Engagement Campaign Launched as Part of Scotland’s Circular Economy Drive
Scotland’s Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead, has challenged members of the public to #MakeThingsLast with the launch of a social media engagement campaign to promote repairing, reusing and remanufacturing as part of a wider circular economy drive.
Action agenda for a circular economy released at World Resources Forum
The value of a circular economy to Australia could be $26 billion a year by 2025, according to an action agenda released at the World Resources Forum Asia Pacific being held this week in Sydney. The agenda, released by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, has been designed to bring focus to the significance of resource productivity and innovation for Australia’s future.
The three biggest circular economy myths holding back businesses
You can decrease the input costs, create new revenue streams and keep customers on your books for longer. All it takes is a little imagination.
What plastic can learn from steel in a circular economy
Plastics are much more valuable by weight than steel, which has an extremely high recycling rate. Interestingly, virgin steel companies often said that steel recycling would never expand beyond “downcycling” – a method of recycling that involves breaking an item down into its component elements or materials – into applications like reinforcing bars. Today, however, the biggest steel companies in the US are based on mini-mills and recycled steel.
Make Resources Count Campaign
Make Resources Count is a new campaign from EEB that aims to raise awareness about the importance of cutting waste and consuming fewer resources in Europe. The campaign seeks to influence the EU's Circular Economy Package and should run until the package becomes part of EU law.
Move to circular economy is vulnerable without markets for materials
Europe’s move towards a circular economy is fragile unless markets for secondary raw materials are improved, according to the European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD).
What will it take to accelerate the circular economy in the construction sector?
Currently there is little incentive for manufacturers supplying the construction sector to collect their products at the end of their useful life. So what will it take to encourage change?
Circularity Indicators
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Granta Design launched new indicators which, for the first time, enable companies to assess how well a product or company performs in the context of a circular economy. The new indicators measure the extent to which the material flows of a product or company are restorative.
Final Report: EU raw materials statistics on resources and reserves
The study on structured statistical information on quality and quantity of EU raw material deposits (Minventory) takes stock of information on mineral reserves and resources that is available in the EU and certain neighbouring countries. It supports the creation of a common data base for an efficient resource strategy for the EU's access to raw materials, and it will be one of the building blocks of the European Union Raw Materials Knowledge Base (EURMKB).
Bring the circular economy to life with a pop-up repair clinic in your company
The Restart Project is a London-based social enterprise which encourages people to use their electronics longer in order to reduce waste. They help people learn to repair their own electronics in community events and in workplaces across the UK. Leading businesses and brands, from Deutsche Bank to Selfridges, hire The Restart Project to run events sharing the power of repairing small electrical and electronics.
Green Alliance Report: UK resource governance for the 21st century
This report highlights the risks to businesses and analyses the pros and cons of six potential new institutional arrangements for the UK to address the problem of resource security, including the possible creation of an Office of Resource Management or a new Department for Natural Resources.
CHEM Trust joins with other NGOs to highlight the importance of REACH to the Circular Economy
CHEM Trust has pointed out the importance of chemical regulation – in particular REACH – in cleaning up the circular economy. They’ve now joined with European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Friends of the Earth Europe and Zerowaste Europe, to produce a short position paper on the issue, entitled “The Circular Economy and REACH: An Essential Partnership“.
Businesses at centre of circular revolution, says Dow
Businesses must collaborate with policymakers, suppliers and consumers if they are serious about driving a circular economy, according to the director of sustainability programs at Dow Chemical. Mark Weick explained that circular thinking and a collaborative mindset have brought a multitude of social, environmental and economic benefits for the world’s second largest chemicals company.
Four ways water can join the circular economy revolution
Water is the most important shared resource across all supply chains, yet wastewater is the largest untapped waste category. The better approach is to circulate water in closed loops. In this model, water is reused time and again, retaining full value.
The sustainable sourcing of materials is crucial to the circular economy
The sustainable sourcing of raw materials is a crucial phase at the beginning of the economic cycle. Yet this initial sourcing phase has so far been largely neglected by targeted EU resource efficiency policies. “But it’s time for change”, said WWF, Unilever and the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE).
Fitting e-waste into the circular economy
Phones, computers, washing machines integrating a few core principles, such as the waste hierarchy, into the manufacturing of these products can reduce their environmental impact and allow for a functioning circular economy, according to analysts.
Environmental and Social Benchmarking of a Deep Sea Mining Project
Earth Economics, has produced a benchmarking report for the Deep Sea Mining company Nautilus Minerals. This study provides a social and environmental review that examines the ecosystem goods and services that may be enhanced, degraded, or consumed. This study also sets out the first ever natural capital accounting and ecosystem goods and services framework for seabed mining.
REDISA: South Africa's model for a circular economy
A South African scheme, introduced as part of a drive to improve waste management, could provide some useful lessons to countries, regions and municipalities that are seeking to establish more integrated approaches to recycling in the move towards a circular economy.
2nd workshop of the Circular Europe Network
The second workshop of the Circular Europe Network took place on Friday 28 May 2015, in Budapest. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the first outputs of the Circular Europe Network: general guidelines for circular economy planning for local and regional authorities and a series of factsheets on circular economy planning.
Technical education for industrial professionals or university students for sustainable mineral production
The increasing importance of eco-efficiency in sustainability of mineral production presents challenges to professionals as well as non-experts. These issues have been tackled by developing different course concepts for technical education for industrial professionals or university students. Results from elaborating and pilot testing the concepts have now been published in a final report.
Circular Economy in Horizon2020 Webinar recording is now available
On the 8th of June KTN hosted a webinar which provided a brief overview of the expected European funding opportunities in the 2016/17 Horizon2020 work programmes and details of support available. Presentations and the recording from the event are now available online.
Reloop Platform
A new grouping was set up to represent over 2300 companies from all sectors, including both multinationals and SMEs, striving for implementation of sustainable and circular business models. De Groene Zaak Sustainable Business Association, MVO Nederland and Circle Economy presented a joint manifesto describing their view on Circular Economy Policy in the EU. The manifesto serves as an input from a frontrunners’ business perspective for the renewed Circular Economy Package, expected to be retabled by the European Commission in late 2015.
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