Global

Global Doughnut economics: how to bake a better future What does a fair and sustainable economy taste like? Civil society and policy makers joined a doughnut (economics) tasting to call for a more well-rounded EU economy that respects people and nature. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Europe’s largest network of environmental NGOs, organised the event to draw attention to the limits of an economic system based on GDP growth, as well as the… META (European Environmental Bureau) · 12 May 2022 Global A not-so-just transition? Why the Social Climate Fund needs access to justice The Social Climate Fund aims to provide tens of billions of euros of funding to bolster vulnerable households and micro-businesses against the costs of the green transition. But without access to justice providing the door to enforcement, the Regulation risks flopping. MEPs must step up and win this right for citizens in Parliament votes on the SCF next week, write Margarida Martins and Ruby Si… META (European Environmental Bureau) · 12 May 2022 Global FEVE and GPI launch new interactive toolkit to support International Year of Glass The United Nations has declared 2022 as the International Year of Glass, to commemorate the exceptional benefits of glass to businesses, consumers, and the environment. With glass in the spotlight like never before, it’s time to retell the story of this fascinating material and to share the many reasons why glass is the best packaging […] FEVE (European Container Glass Federation) · 11 May 2022 Global Waste-To-Energy in Parona: AC Boilers Steam Generator On April 21st, AC Boilers successfully completed the hydraulic tests of the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) steam generator for the Lomellina Energia / A2A Plant in... ESWET (European Suppliers of Waste-to-Energy Technology) · 11 May 2022 Global “Doughnut (economics) for all”: NGOs and policy makers join voices for a more well-rounded EU economy EEB launches new campaign for a ‘doughnut economy’ that improves wellbeing for all within planetary boundaries Environmental NGOs, Members of the European Parliament and EU institutions’ […] European Environmental Bureau · 11 May 2022 Global Asamblea de recicladores de América Latina en Panamá: hacia la profesionalización y el reconocimiento del trabajo de los recicladores Del 21 al 23 de abril, Ciudad de Panamá recibió a representantes de agrupaciones de recicladores de 15 países que, después de estos años de pandemia, volvieron a reunirse en […] GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) · 10 May 2022 Global Cascading Recycling Technologies for a Circular Economy How can mechanical & chemical recycling work together in practice to achieve full material circularity? We speak to Stephan Roest of Borealis about navigating the circular cascade and more… CEFLEX (Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging) · 10 May 2022 Global Statement: CBAM is not the solution for ALL ETS sectors, a thorough impact assessment is needed before adding new sectors Read full statement here. CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) · 10 May 2022 Global Waste-to-Energy and decarbonisation in the EU The certification of carbon removals by the European Commission is a positive first step in the successful implementation of carbon... ESWET (European Suppliers of Waste-to-Energy Technology) · 9 May 2022 Global Chemical recycling should not undermine the setting of a truly circular economy Promoters of chemical ‘recycling’ define these new technologies as an enabling factor for a circular plastic economy. However, many uncertainties remain and a growing number of questions are being raised – notably regarding the environmental and health impact of these processes and their outputs. We will only achieve a truly circular economy if we do not […] Zero Waste Europe · 9 May 2022 Global From growth to doughnut: towards a well-rounded EU economy What do rising burnout rates and scientists’ alarming reports on climate breakdown have in common? They both point to an economic system that pushes people and the planet beyond the boundaries they can cope with. The doughnut economy offers a sweeter deal than this broken system, writes Nick Meynen. The Doughnut Economy gets its name from the defining visual framework, which is shaped like a do… META (European Environmental Bureau) · 9 May 2022 Global Waste Trade Bites: Vietnam Waste Woes In our last Waste Trade Bites, we highlighted how OECD countries* continue to send plastic waste to non-OECD countries. This means that richer countries are sending their waste to poorer countries. This month, we look into the waste trade between the second richest region in the world (EU-UK) and one recipient country – Vietnam. While […] Break Free From Plastic · 9 May 2022 Global Austria launches a nation-wide repair bonus scheme Austria launched a new repair bonus: a nationwide scheme enabling consumers to claim back half the cost of the repair of an old electrical device. Right to Repair Europe · 5 May 2022 Global EEB Statement Concerning the Russian Invasion of Ukraine – Adopted by the EEB Board on 3 March 2022 – The EEB strongly condemns the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine launched on 24 February […] European Environmental Bureau · 5 May 2022 Global Is GDP Taking Us Beyond Our Limits? We are living in an era of “Great Acceleration” which leads to global warming, growing income inequality, water scarcity, and continued deforestation. Andreas Budiman looks into two key publications that pave the way to a more sustainable development, as well as the path forward. When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969, everyone watched in awe. It seemed like nothing was beyond the reach… META (European Environmental Bureau) · 5 May 2022 Global Climate laws that bite: an introduction to access to justice When our governments make decisions that harm people and the planet, we must be able to challenge them. But this depends on having access to national courts. It is crucial that access to justice is built into climate laws and the updating of laws under the Fit for 55 Package presents an important opportunity to do so, write Margarida Martins and Ruby Silk. What is access to justice? What if cit… META (European Environmental Bureau) · 5 May 2022 Global Explore the Data Kitchen - OECD Going Digital Toolkit OECD — Environment · 4 May 2022 Global Against Toxic Plastics in Mexico In its May ecology supplement, the Mexican newspaper La Jornada published their journalistic piece “Against Toxic Plastics: The Circular Economy", which serves as a comprehensive document on the plastic pollution crisis in Mexico and its perspective in the global context. Led by experts, scientists, and activists in Mexico and from different parts of the world, […] Break Free From Plastic · 4 May 2022 Global REAL DEAL project Kick off Meeting – 4-6 May – Brussels REAL DEAL project (Horizon2020) Kick-off Meeting From 4 to 6 May The consortium of the Real Deal project (Reshaping European Advances towards green Leadership Through Deliberative […] European Environmental Bureau · 4 May 2022 Global Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard: a tool to analyse packaging’s safety and sustainability ZWE is a recently-joined member of the Single-Use Material Decelerator (SUM’D), a passionate and dedicated team of leading food service companies, NGOs, and technical experts, which is managing the Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard project. The UP Scorecard is a science-based, free and easy-to-use online tool to help selection of foodware and food packaging that is […] Zero Waste Europe · 4 May 2022 Global May is for Members 2022 Zero Waste Europe’s network of 33 organisations supports the zero waste vision across 27 countries, working tirelessly to bring about change on the ground, through policy-work, advocacy campaigns, engagement with stakeholders and capacity building. During the month of May, we take the opportunity to celebrate some (of their many!) achievements from the past year. Despite […] Zero Waste Europe · 3 May 2022 Global An opportunity in climate crisis for all of us to work for a better future Opinion | Bobby Peek, Director of groundWork South Africa On Tuesday morning, April 12, around 1.15am a neighbour called my mother-in-law warning her of the rising water in their semi-detached […] GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) · 3 May 2022 Global New Report Brings to Light Illegal Trade of Plastic in East Africa Nipe Fagio in collaboration with Bio Vision Africa in Uganda, Global Initiative for Environment & Reconciliation in Rwanda, and the Centre for Environmental Justice and Development in Kenya, recently released […] GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) · 3 May 2022 Global Association Zéro Déchet Sénégal Launches Saint-Louis Branch Association Zéro Déchet Sénégal was formally established in March 2018, when it opened its first branch in the capital city Dakar. The organisation’s top objective is to reduce waste and […] GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) · 3 May 2022 Global Register now – “Sorting Recyclables From Residual Waste” online event on 30 May 2022 Click HERE to register. EU waste law rightly places an emphasis on separate collection of waste in order to facilitate its recycling. For many years, experience with sorting of recyclables of mixed waste proved more or less incapable of delivering materials of the required quality for recycling markets, and this remains true, to a greater […] Zero Waste Europe · 2 May 2022 Global CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS CALL OUT AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL’S DECEPTIVE “POLL” ON CHEMICAL “RECYCLING” The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, #breakfreefromplastic, and Beyond Plastics have denounced the American Chemistry Council’s statement regarding New York State voters’ supposed support for chemical “recycling,” as state lawmakers consider bills SB 7891 and AB 9495, which would pave the way for the industry to build these largely plastic incineration plants. GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) · 29 Apr 2022 Global The EU Commission proposal for Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation Author: Maria Negut, Head of EU Affairs at European Bioplastics e.V. The long-awaited EC proposal for Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was finally published on 30 March 2022, building upon the “Ecodesign Directive”, which currently only covers energy-related products. Part of the Sustainable Products Initiative (SPI), the proposal for ecodesign is [...] European Bioplastics News · 29 Apr 2022 Global Practical test successfully completed: compostable bags made from renewable raw materials convinced consumers Nico Arbeck, Head of Department Material Use at C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V. Read below a guest article by Nico Arbeck, Head of Department Material Use at C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V. Final report available Together with nine partners, C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V. carried out the model project "Practical test of compostable bags – circular economy with compostable fruit and [...] European Bioplastics News · 29 Apr 2022 Global EU legislation needs to stronger acknowledge important role of bioplastics within circular economy Read below a guest article by Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of European Bioplastics which was recently published in the anniversary edition of the Japanese BioPlastics Association journal. During the past years, the environment for bio-based as well as biodegradable and compostable plastics in the European Union (EU) has become more and more dynamic. [...] European Bioplastics News · 29 Apr 2022 Global Member portrait: Bisio Progetti In each issue of the European Bioplastics Newsletter, we present 5 facts about a member of European Bioplastics. In this issue, Sara Di Berardino, Sustainability Manager at Bisio Progetti, shares some interesting insights on her company. 5 facts about Bisio Progetti, Italy Bisio Progetti was founded in 1989 to develop, manufacture, and market high [...] European Bioplastics News · 29 Apr 2022 Global Policy news: April 2022 How is the European bioplastics industry seeking to gain more regulatory approval? European Bioplastics (EUBP) recently announced the appointment of Maria Negut as the new Head of EU Affairs. Her job will be to convince EU decision-makers that bioplastics can play a vital role in helping them to achieve their climate goals. Ms. Negut [...] European Bioplastics News · 29 Apr 2022 Global News from the members: April 2022 Tetra Pak Expands Production of Plant-based Coatings for Aseptic Cartons to North America As demand for sustainable packaging continues to grow, Tetra Pak has expanded the production of aseptic cartons made with sugarcane-based polyethylene (PE) coatings to their Denton, Texas converting plant. The cartons incorporating plant-based PE will come with a plant-based cap, also [...] European Bioplastics News · 29 Apr 2022 Global News in brief: April 2022 Sea-farmed supercrop: how seaweed could transform the way we live From high-protein food to plastics and fuel, Swedish scientists are attempting to tap the marine plant’s huge potential. As we shift to a bio-based rather than fossil-fuel-based economy, seaweed could provide a lot of the compounds we need. For example, Ulrica Edlund, Steinhagen’s collaborator [...] European Bioplastics News · 29 Apr 2022 Global ISWA Welcomes Gazel de Klerk ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) · 29 Apr 2022 Global Public consultation on OCS certification scheme project launched by Plastics Europe and EuPC PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON OCS CERTIFICATION SCHEME OPEN UNTIL 29 MAY 2022 The Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) programme was developed by… Plastics Europe · 29 Apr 2022 Global The great detox – largest ever ban of toxic chemicals announced by EU Europe will greatly accelerate the way it eliminates harmful chemicals, Brussels announced on Monday. Officials will block the use of large families of chemicals, instead of one by one. The EEB predicts that with this ‘the great detox’ 5,000 to 7,000 of the most notorious chemicals will be gone by 2030, including all flame retardants, bisphenols, PFAS and PVC plastics. Thousands of the most not… META (European Environmental Bureau) · 28 Apr 2022 Global A role model in Europe: The new Wiesbaden waste-to-energy plant With a capacity of about 240,000 tonnes per year, the new plant will be able to thermally treat residual waste... ESWET (European Suppliers of Waste-to-Energy Technology) · 28 Apr 2022 Global Reaction paper: Options for ensuring security of energy supply and tackling high energy prices Keep reading and download here. For more information, please contact Malgosia Rybak, Cepi Energy Director, at: m.rybak@cepi.org CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) · 28 Apr 2022 Global The too-invisible hand of the EU emissions market Europe has lost almost two precious decades to decarbonise industry due to one of the worst designed EU policy instruments, writes Riccardo Nigro This article was originally published in Social Europe on the 27th of April 2022. When European Union policy-makers envisaged the Emissions Trading System (ETS) in 2003 as their single tool to drive down greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG), it looked like … META (European Environmental Bureau) · 28 Apr 2022 Global The second edition of the “Circular Economy for Plastics” report is now available Brussels, Monday 28th April Findings will serve as a foundation for intensified dialogue with stakeholders and the transition of the… Plastics Europe · 28 Apr 2022