Circular economy

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Sanctions against Russia must also cover imports of metals
Europe continues to import metals such as nickel, copper, and aluminum from Russia on a large scale – from companies owned by oligarchs close to Putin. The EU and German government must stop these imports and drastically change raw materials policy, according to Michael Reckordt of the NGO PowerShift. continue reading →
Circular economy: potential for trade between the EU and China
The EU is seeking greater cooperation in international trade toward its goal of a circular economy. In bilateral trade agreements, which regulate around 40 percent of the EU’s total trade volume, the circular economy has so far rarely been explicitly mentioned. However, there is great potential with trading partners such as China, especially for plastics […] continue reading →
Building sector: fewer emissions through renovation
Building renovation based on circular principles can significantly improve the energy efficiency of the building sector and make an important contribution to achieving carbon neutrality. This is stated by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in a briefing published last week. The study examines the impact of circular economy principles on the benefits of building renovations. […] continue reading →
Battery recycling: Europe’s catch-up plan
While the recycling market for lithium-ion batteries is already booming in China, it is just growing out of its infancy in Europe. This is mainly due to a lack of investment, but high raw material prices mean that battery recycling could soon be profitable. continue reading →
Uniform charging sockets: what the agreement envisages
The negotiators of the EU institutions have agreed to mandate uniform interfaces for charging smartphones and numerous other electrical devices from mid-2024. According to the trilogue result, manufacturers of devices from 15 categories will have to install USB-C as the standard charging port in the EU. Sharp criticism has come from the industry. This regulation […] continue reading →
Emission rights for waste incineration
Berlin and Brussels want to include municipal waste incineration in emissions trading. The waste industry warns against solo efforts at national level and calls on the EU to conduct a thorough analysis of the possible consequences. continue reading →
Circular economy: demand crucial
Policy measures promote purchasing decisions in line with the circular economy most effectively if they take into account factors influencing the individual behavior of consumers. Therefore, measures such as economic incentives (tax breaks or subsidies), avoiding greenwashing, or strengthening emotional attachment to products should be explored. This is what the European Environment Agency (EEA) proposes […] continue reading →
Waste: EU exports at record levels
EU exports of recyclable raw materials, including waste, scrap and other by-products, reached a record high of 40.6 million tons last year, the EU statistics office Eurostat said yesterday. Eurostat data show that exports to non-EU countries, almost half of them ferrous metals such as iron and steel, increased by 2.0 million tons in one […] continue reading →
Right to repair: what the plans mean for manufacturers
With the planned amendment of the Ecodesign Directive and the right to repair, the EU Commission wants to come closer to the goal of a circular economy. For many companies, this would mean a deep intervention in their business model. continue reading →