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...
Certifying Recycled Plastic with Flustix
Name: Flustix Sector: New certifications Pros: Flustix is an independent body for those who wish to certify their commitment to reducing plastic use in their products, and to comm...
Jewellery From Upcycled Silver, by Floios
Name: Floios Jewelry Sector: Jewels made from recycled materials Pros: The small objects made by Floios Jewelry are unique pieces, whose raw materials are traceable, sourced from ...
Climate: UN Experts Call for Decisive Actions
UN experts carried out scientific analysis on various subjects ranging from air pollution (that together with water pollution causes almost 9 million deaths a year) and soil degradation, to food was...
From Plastics to Oil
Almost 15 years ago Agilyx opened a pyrolysis plant that specialises in processing hard-to-recycle mixed plastics into high-quality synthetic crude oil. In April 2018, the Tigard, Oregon-based compa...
Europe on the Edge
Polls in early March told a story of ultra-nationalist, sovereigntist and even openly neo-fascist parties gathering widespread political support. From the Visegràd Group to Lega Nord in Italy...