Minimise single-use items

Minimise single-use items

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Single-use items or disposable items are products and packaging that we throw out after only one use. These items are used for only minutes but their impact on our environment can last thousands of years. Even when these items are recyclable, we use up energy and our environment’s natural resources to produce these easily-avoidable items. Avoid first – What’s better than reusing or recycling an item? Avoiding it in the first place. Ask yourself, do you really need it? And if the answer is no, then avoid it.

Let’s talk sustainability & single-use in the pharma & medical sectors

Let’s talk sustainability & single-use in the pharma & medical sectors

ByThe Circular Economy Team

The World Bank estimates that the healthcare sector makes up approximately 5% of global carbon emissions – to which the European Union contributes significantly. In recent years, however, the sector has witnessed a tangible shift in mentality when it comes to environmental sustainability. As regulators, hospital systems, governments and consumers increasingly demand proof of environmental credentials, sustainability has quickly become an essential part of the medical device manufacturer’s corporate agenda.

Business giants making ‘promising’ progress in tackling plastic waste

Business giants making ‘promising’ progress in tackling plastic waste

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Over the last 12 months, some of the world’s biggest businesses have made “promising” progress in efforts to eliminate single-use plastics and transition to a circular economy, according to a new report which revealed that pledges to increase recycled plastic in packaging have grown five-fold.
The report found that 60% of business’ plastic packaging is now reusable, recyclable or compostable today
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has today (24 October) issued a progress report one year after the launch of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Through the commitment, more than 400 organisations have committed to eliminating unnecessary plastic packaging and ensuring that all plastic packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
The new report details the transparency provided by almost 200 businesses and governments on how they are creating a circular economy for plastics.

IKEA and Ellen MacArthur Foundation announce strategic partnership

IKEA and Ellen MacArthur Foundation announce strategic partnership

ByThe Circular Economy Team

The partnership between Inter IKEA Group and the Foundation will focus on putting the home furnishing business on the global circular map and accelerating the transition to a circular economy within IKEA and beyond.  Working together, one of the first projects will be to develop a common glossary of terms to support an industry-wide transition.  Lena Pripp-Kovac, chief sustainability officer, Inter IKEA Group, said: “To become circular is one of our big ambitions and challenges for the future. It is a transformational shift of our entire business from how we develop our products and services, and source materials, to how we work through the supply chain and meet our customers.

We’re increasing our carbon fee as we double down on sustainability

We’re increasing our carbon fee as we double down on sustainability

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Since 2009, Microsoft has made and met a series of commitments to reduce the company’s carbon footprint. While we’ve made progress toward our goal of cutting our operational carbon emissions by 75 percent by 2030, the magnitude and speed of the world’s environmental changes have made it…

Is General Mills the only one putting its money where its mouth is on sustainability?

Is General Mills the only one putting its money where its mouth is on sustainability?

ByThe Circular Economy Team

General Mills has been the subject of some bad press recently, particularly after a study concluded that 21 of its products, including Cheerios and Nature Valley cereals, contain glyphosate residue, the main ingredient in the much-vilified RoundUp pesticide. The chemical’s manufacturer, Bayer, has been battling a series of lawsuits brought by plaintiffs claiming that exposure to glyphosate caused them to develop cancer and that then-manufacturer Monsanto knew of the risk and failed to provide appropriate warnings.

WTO Committee on Trade and Environment Continues Efforts on Plastics Pollution, Circular Economy

WTO Committee on Trade and Environment Continues Efforts on Plastics Pollution, Circular Economy

ByThe Circular Economy Team

The Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) met on 3 July 2020 to discuss how trade policy can address plastics pollution and a circular economy and to review the resumption of work on other initiatives disrupted by COVID-19.  The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Chad Blackman (Barbados), served to continue conversations previously introduced by members at the WTO, including a discussion on addressing plastics pollution in November 2019 and an informal consultation on the subject held in February 2020, co-hosted by China and Fiji.

Blog: Will behaviour change be key to the success or failure of the circular economy?

Blog: Will behaviour change be key to the success or failure of the circular economy?

ByThe Circular Economy Team

This second webinar in the new series of deep dive sessions jointly hosted by SUEZ and CIWM explored how we can help encourage, support and adapt consumer behaviour and choices as part of effectively delivering the circular economy and inspire them to make the right choices sooner rather than later.

Amsterdam’s Pandemic Recovery Plan Embraces Doughnut Economics and the Circular Economy

Amsterdam’s Pandemic Recovery Plan Embraces Doughnut Economics and the Circular Economy

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Amsterdam is the first city to embrace Doughnut Economics, a concept developed by British economist Kate Raworth. The city is hoping that implementing the sustainable economic model, which strives for a circular economy and tackles social inequalities, will help it rebuild post-pandemic.