The Europe to Come
It is a fact. The circular economy has been a pillar of the outgoing EU Commission and Parliament. “The political power of this idea is obvious,” explains Frans Timmermans – Vice-P...
The Real Value of Food
As a EESC member, Peter Schmidt, has a first-hand view of how food can take on a leading role in reaching sustainability objectives and how it is affected by regulation, policies and the p...
Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference
Environmental Communication Should be More Emotive Interview with Thierry Libaert, member of the EU Social and Economic Committee by I. N. B. As an expert...
A Reflection on the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
There is an interesting conversation to be had on stakeholder engagement. It is now common in many processes that aspire to achieve a transformation of one kind or another to incorporate some aspect...
Thailand: A Very Biotech Bioeconomy
Abundant natural resources, highly skilled workforce, important petrochemical industry and a government that sustains the decarbonisation process with conviction and a plan to increase the bioeconom...
Circular Japan
Kamikatsu, a rural municipality with 1,500 inhabitants located on the wooded island of Shikoku in the Japanese archipelago, performs a record household separate waste collection with 45 different ty...
The Mixed State of the European Bio-Based Economy
Looking at the current state of the bio-based economy in Europe, one has to draw a mixed conclusion. Research and technology development continue to advance and some fields, like fine chemicals and ...
Italy Has a New Bioeconomy Strategy
Sustainable and increasingly circular. That’s how the Italian bioeconomy should be, according to the updated version of the national strategy presented on 14th May at the Presidency of the Cou...
Itelyum: Circular Economy, Systemic Vision
A few years ago, in his book Corporation 2020, economist Pavan Sukhdev explained how companies going forward would have to behave differently to those in the so-called “brown economy&rdqu...
Urban Mining: India's Billion Dollar E-Waste Market
The Brand Equity Foundation estimates that India’s electronics market will reach $400 billion by 2022. According to the telecom giant Ericsson, smart phones will lead the boom in India from 90...
Plastics: Recycling in Hospital Wards
It is possible, through simple actions and small changes in our daily routines, to make a real difference in reducing the environmental impact of plastic. This same outcome, however, is much more di...
There's Good in CO2 (If You Know How to Find It)
The area of Turin known as “Innovation Mile”, between the Po and Dora Riparia rivers, is home to a large number of innovative companies and technological institutes. The newest...
Fighting Single-Use Plastics
Danimer Scientific, a biotechnology manufacturer that employs 101 people in sleepy Bainbridge, Georgia, may seem an unlikely partner for a Swiss multinational that happens to be the world’s la...
A Sustainable and Circular Ice Cream
Sammontana is Italy’s number one ice cream producer and a leader in the frozen patisserie sector, with four production plants and a turnover exceeding €380 million (2018 data). In 2016, i...
Ecological Beauty
Biomimicry and the circular bioeconomy are the two lines along which cosmetic innovation is moving fast. Globally and in Italy – which has accounted for a considerable share (60%) of the globa...
RETRACE Project
“The transition towards a new economic model integrating all pillars of environmental sustainability should be the heart of the matter. All levels (global, European, national, regional, local ...
Exploring Life Cycle Assessments
Photo by Pontus Johansson “If we’re going to use a product in a circular economy, we must consider it from the design phase.” This message is be...
Innovative and Sustainable Packaging
Publicising and rewarding the most innovative and environmentally sustainable packaging. Favouring research into solutions with the smallest environmental impact. All of which while keeping in mind ...
3SIXTY: Plastic Bottles Turned into Linen
Name: 3SIXTY Sector: New products made from recycled plastic Pros: Range of products for the hospitality sector made from recycled plastic Characteristics: 3SIXTY’s pr...
Pià±atex: The Fabric Made from Pineapple Leaves
Name: Piñatex by Ananas Anam Sector: New materials Pros: Designed as an alternative to leather-based and synthetic products, Piñatex allows farmers in the Philippine...