Environment

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Key reports and studies

Study sets out basis of life-cycle sustainability assessment for buildings
26/01/2016
Study sets out basis of life-cycle sustainability assessment for buildings
Buildings have a huge environmental footprint. Their construction and use consumes about half of the extracted materials and energy used in the European Union, and is responsible for about a third of EU water consumption. Construction and demolition of buildings also generates about a third of the...
Eu
Promoting a greener, sustainable Christmas and New Year
21/12/2015
Promoting a greener, sustainable Christmas and New Year
For many of us, the Festive Season is a time of hearty meals, decorating our homes, and giving and receiving presents, but this increased consumption can lead to increased environmental damage. Municipalities and governments around Europe are trying to encourage good practices and new ideas that...
Luxembourgish town to pilot circular economy
08/12/2015
Luxembourgish town to pilot circular economy
The town of Wiltz in northern Luxembourg has been designated a circular economy testbed as part of a government of Luxembourg initiative to promote environmental and economic sustainability. The initiative in Wiltz follows on from the December 2014 publication by the Luxembourg Economy Ministry of...
Luxembourg
European Commission sets out wide-ranging circular economy plans
08/12/2015
European Commission sets out wide-ranging circular economy plans
The European Commission published its eagerly awaited package of circular economy measures on 2 December. The package includes a range of legislative and non-legislative initiatives encompassing waste management, ecodesign, waste reduction, promotion of reuse and financing for circular-economy...
Norwegian programme tests green shipping concepts
04/11/2015
Norwegian programme tests green shipping concepts
A group of Norwegian shipping companies has come together to work on five pilot projects that are intended to improve the environmental performance of shipping that operates close to shore, such as ferries or short-distance freight. The main aim of the scheme, known as the Green Coastal Shipping...
Norway
04/11/2015
EU and Korea identify opportunities to take eco-innovation forward
Europe and Korea can learn from one another to bolster eco-innovation, move closer to a circular economy and deliver on the new global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, concluded decision-makers from both regions at the 19th Forum on Eco-Innovation held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea...
Eu
Awards recognise France’s circular economy champions
06/10/2015
Awards recognise France’s circular economy champions
France’s Circular Economy Institute (Institut de l'économie circulaire) recognised a raft of companies, individuals and public authorities that are in the vanguard of the circular economy in an awards ceremony in Paris in mid-September. It is the second year awards have been given out to...
France
Eco-innovation in Croatia: work in progress
07/09/2015
Eco-innovation in Croatia: work in progress
The European Union's newest member state, Croatia, is at the start of its journey to develop and implement the policies and support measures that will boost eco-innovation. There is so far no targeted eco-innovation policy, but work is underway to build capacity and gain experience. Croatian...
Croatia
Circular economy and the role of eco-innovation
27/07/2015
Circular economy and the role of eco-innovation
The European Union is rich in skills and yet relatively poor in resources, importing six times more natural resources than it exports. With an expanding global middle class, the competition for resources is likely to impact our economy as well as the world’s environment. To address some of these...
Eu
Project proposes policy packages for servitisation
13/07/2015
Project proposes policy packages for servitisation
Servitisation, or selling the functions offered by a product rather selling the product itself, could play a major role in a more circular economy in the future. Servitisation already exists in a number of forms, such as the leasing or hire of vehicles or appliances, but in many other areas there...
United Kingdom

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