Michael Brunn

The European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC) has officially launched its Construction and Demolition branch. Aiming to represent European recyclers' interests, the new branch will evaluate and contribute to the implementation of the EU's Green Deal and Industrial Strategy by promoting a circular economy approach.

Thousands of professionals involved in plastics recycling and the sustainable use of plastics are expected to attend this year's event, which is set to be more than 50% bigger than ever before, with over 320 exhibitors and more than 60 expert speakers.

EuRIC Textiles welcomes the adoption of the own-initiative report on the Sustainable Textiles Strategy by the ENVI Committee on 27 April.

FEAD welcomes the vote in the European Parliament's ENVI committee, expressing overall satisfaction with the direction of the report and the tabled amendments.

During the study, 12 methods were analysed for six different biocomposites. Solvolysis and pyrolysis were the two most promising alternatives tested in large-scale production at a pilot plant.

The coming decade will be crucial to limit the global temperature rise and take the necessary steps towards net zero emissions, the European Commission explains. In the coming years, the economic course had to be set for this. New markets would emerge, new technologies would be developed and the energy system would change. Those who invest first and quickly will secure a good place in this new economy. To ensure that the EU does well, the Commission has presented an "Industrial Plan for the Green Deal".

For the eighth time, ETH Zurich, in cooperation with the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), has asked the Swiss the crucial question: What do you think about the circular economy? The result is hardly surprising, especially when it comes to the personal sphere.

While it used to be completely normal to have defective products repaired due to high acquisition costs, this trend has decreased significantly with the fall in the price of many products. As a measure to avoid waste, repair should play a much more important role than has been the case so far. With a proposal on the right to repair, the European Commission wants to ensure that this happens.

Many companies have long understood that sustainability is important for at least a not insignificant proportion of consumers. But instead of changing their own products, some companies prefer to make claims to advertise their products as "sustainable" or "green". According to the European Commission, this should now come to an end. And the Commission also takes aim at the sustainability seals.

In recent years, we have noticed that the supply of raw materials is much less secure than always assumed. To change this, the European Commission has now presented the "Critical Raw Materials Act". The aim is to develop value chains in the EU, diversify supply chains and strengthen the circular economy.