In the European Union, around 6.9 million tons of textile waste are generated every year. Only a small part is collected separately and reused or recycled, but the majority is landfilled or incinerated. The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles has created a policy framework that will make separate collection mandatory from 2025. However, a prerequisite for effective measures is a precise understanding of the quantities, qualities and recycling routes of post-consumer textiles. While studies are already available in Western and Northern Europe, there is a lack of reliable data from Southern and Eastern Europe. The Joint Research Centre's study "Fate and Composition of Textile Waste from Italy, the Czech Republic and Romania" closes this gap and analyses textile waste from Italy, the Czech Republic and Romania.

The textile industry causes considerable environmental pollution due to overproduction and short usage cycles. Although the EU will require separate collection of textiles from 2025, the actual recyclability of many products remains questionable, as blended fabrics and elements such as zippers or buttons make recycling much more difficult. The study "Assessing the Circularity Potential of Textile Flows for Future Markets in Denmark: A Study of Textile Anatomy" by Danish scientists examines how the combination of fiber composition, layers and decorative elements influences circularity using the example of the Danish market. The study was published in "Sustainable Production and Consumption".

Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well. The best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and clothing manufacturers. This is shown by a study led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, which highlights the measures that can make clothing rental a success.

What impact will the European textile policy have on other countries? This question is addressed in the study 'Socioeconomic Impacts of European Union Circular Textiles Policies on Trading Partners' published by the global impact organisation Circle Economy, using the examples of Ghana and Bangladesh.

There is no shortage of scrap in Europe. The numbers prove it. 80% of recycled steel stays in the EU, and the 20% exported is surplus: not leakage.The claim of "scrap leakage" is a false narrative. The real problem is Europe's failure to create demand for its own recycled materials and address high energy prices. Restricting exports won't fix the steel industry — but it will break European recycling. We've seen this mistake before. Countries that imposed export restrictions without securing demand saw their recycling industries collapse. In Europe, plastic recyclers are in crisis because trade restrictions were introduced before local demand was in place. Do we want to repeat this failure with metals? The Action Plan correctly recognises the need for strong demand for recycled metals, but its timeline is flawed. It proposes export restrictions in 2025, then considers increasing demand in 2026 - the opposite of what's needed. The EU must first stimulate demand for circular materials in metal manufacturing, and only then consider if trade additional restrictions are necessary alongside the ones from the revised Waste Shipment Regulation. This is especially important because recycled materials are highly diverse, and for certain grades, there is no demand in Europe now, or in the foreseeable future, simply because the market for these products doesn't exist. A careful impact assessment is essential before considering potentially catastrophic measures. EuRIC remains committed to closely working with policymakers, industrial value chains, and civil society to shape measures that promote a truly circular, competitive, and low-carbon agenda for steel and metals.  "The Commission's Steel and Metals Action Plan is a chance to set the record straight and address the real causes behind the steel crisis. Any discussions on exports are a distraction. You cannot force recyclers to keep surplus recycled materials in Europe if there is no one to buy them", said Julia Ettinger, EuRIC's Secretary General. "What will be the result of that? A collapse of the European recycling industry, more landfill, more value destruction, and fewer jobs.''

The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), despite its shortcomings, can support national and local governments in curbing Europe's out-of-control packaging crisis, a report published today by the Rethink Plastic alliance shows.

Scaling up sustainable and biodegradable materials is crucial for the future advancement of European industry. Currently, many bio-based alternatives struggle to compete with established fossil-based chemicals due to challenges in environmental, economic, and societal performance. To overcome this, NEXT-STEP aims to develop recyclable products from wood production residues for everyday applications. New biochemical materials will be developed for shoe soles and insulation materials for construction.