Politics
Ensuring justice in Europe’s sustainability transition
| As Europe strives to lower greenhouse gas emissions and decouple economic growth from resource consumption, various social groups and regions face unequal challenges.
Confusion over R-PET legislation in Europe causes ‘chaos’ ahead of 2025
| There are just over 70 days to go before all EU countries must include 25% recycled content in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottles, yet the market was described as being in 'chaos' due to huge levels of uncertainty around the single-use plastics directive.
Circularity and decarbonisation in the face of legislative challenges
| This year’s conference celebrated EuRIC’s 10th anniversary under the theme “Recycling Today. Resourcing Tomorrow.”
Addressing the environmental and climate footprint of buildings
| Construction, use and demolition of buildings causes major environment and climate pressures but smart renovations that focus on efficient use of energy and resources can help Europe increase the sustainability of its housing sector, according to a EE) report published today.
Stop big polluters and member states from reporting false data
| Today, a large group of European NGO representatives, members of the Break Free From Plastic movement and Zero Waste Europe network, displayed a large Pinocchio figure in front of the European Commission building in Brussels.
FEhS Institute welcomes EU Commission’s 2024-2029 policy guidelines
| Pursuing the objectives of the European Green Deal in a Clean Industrial Deal, create a new law on the circular economy to intensify the use of secondary raw materials and optimize public procurement.
EU waste legislation requires radical rethink
| On 25 July 2024, the European Commission called on all Member States to meet waste collection and recycling targets; its letters of formal notice to the Member States underline their legal obligation to properly and fully implement EU environmental law.
Only partially on track
| The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations are important guidelines for many countries and regions.
Review of UK 2018 waste strategy shows only 20% of policies fully implemented
| A review of the 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy undertaken by CIWM has found that only 20% of the policies in the strategy have been fully implemented, with another 54% only partially in place.
Living in a plastic world: tackling the plastic pollution problem
| Plastic pollution has emerged as one of our most pressing environmental issues with the increasing use of disposable plastics.
Zero Waste Europe urges comprehensive inclusion of waste incineration in EU ETS
| Municipal waste incineration must immediately and comprehensively be included in the EU’s Emission Trading System, says the environmental network Zero Waste Europe in a new report.
EuRIC urges swift deal and no EPR for second-hand
| EU Environment Ministers have adopted the Council’s position on the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), covering food and textile waste.
Waste Framework Directive: food waste reduction sidelined while Council agrees to textile reforms
| The Council of the EU has favoured the treatment of textile waste in its position on the Waste Framework Directive, while breaking its promise to reduce food waste, the environmental network Zero Waste Europe says.
Manipulation of national data described as “paradigmatic” of current EU trends
| A Spanish corporation responsible for managing packaging waste in the beverage industry has been discovered manipulating data. Ecoembes claims a 71% separate collection rate for small plastic bottles (2021), but the reality is a dismal 36%.
