Dr. Axel Schweitzer

🌍📢 The European Environment Agency has published an insightful briefing on the management of used and waste textiles in Europe’s circular economy. Key messages from the briefing include: 🔹 In 2020, the EU generated an estimated 6.95 million tonnes of textile waste — approximately 16kg per person. 🔹 82% of the total textile waste was post-consumer waste. 🔹 In over half of the EU-27 Member States, separate collection of textiles is mandatory. 🔹 Harmonising definitions and mandatory reporting on the amounts and management of used and waste textiles are crucial for setting future targets and monitoring progress towards a circular economy. Read it now 👉 https://lnkd.in/ex88Vy8X

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The perfect recycling of plastics from household waste is one step closer, thanks to research into quality monitoring at all stages of the recycling process. Maastricht University, the Nationaal Testcentrum Circulaire Plastics, and their collaborators have received a government subsidy of over EUR 2 million, which will accelerate their research. We all collect plastic packaging waste, including tubes, bottles, jars, and films, for recycling. It alludes to a mixture of diverse materials that also contains contaminants such as ink, glue, labels, and, last but not least, remnants of the product in the container. "From a technical point of view, the perfect recycling of plastic waste is currently virtually impossible", says Kim Ragaert. To ensure the quality of recycled plastic, data from all stages of the recycling process must be monitored in real-time and in-line. This integrated monitoring system is a critical component of the Monitoring Quality in Plastic Recycling research (MoQuP-R). Read more: https://lnkd.in/duydHCPk

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Another article I just drafted for #HorasisInsights: Building #Infrastructure During #Inflation - full article here: https://lnkd.in/edjbjYgS 💡Infrastructure development is the cornerstone of economic growth, environmental sustainability, and societal well-being. It drives job creation, stimulates economic activities, and enhances productivity. Upgraded transportation, energy, and communication networks reduce operational costs and attract businesses. For instance, India’s port has significantly boosted the country’s economic growth and greatly influenced local industry development. 💡Research consistently shows a strong positive correlation between quality infrastructure and GDP per capita growth. It also aligns with improvements in health, education, and wealth outcomes, which are crucial for thriving societies. 💡The Indian government has implemented various schemes and policies to address the nation’s infrastructure needs. Introduced in 2019, the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) focuses on social and infrastructure projects, including energy, roads, railways, and urban development, with a total investment of INR 102 lakh crores. Contributions to the NIP are shared almost equally between the Centre (39%) and the States (40%), with the private sector accounting for the remaining 21%. Complementing the NIP is the PM GatiShakti Master Plan, which aims to enhance India’s logistics network. In the 2023-24 Budget, the Indian government emphasized the necessity of increasing infrastructure spending, nearly tripling it to 3.3% of GDP compared to the spending in 2019-20. The Budget allocated INR 75,000 crores for 100 projects critical to improving the overall multimodal logistics infrastructure. 💡There is now a strong push towards developing sustainable infrastructure that benefits both society and the environment. A notable example is the Swachh Bharat, or “Clean India” Mission, launched as a nationwide infrastructure campaign by the Indian central government in October 2014. Phase 1 of the initiative that ran between 2014 to 2019 witnesses the construction of 109 million individual household latrines, making more than 280,000 villages open-defecation free. Phase 2 of the program that is scheduled to run between 2021 to 2021 and 2024 to 2025, will aim to implement solid and liquid waste management for at least 80% of households and all public places, including primary schools, rural homes, and rural childcare centers. #Horasis #Inspiringourfuture https://lnkd.in/edjbjYgS

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What is most important issues for European consumers? Is it economy? Climate? Biodiversity? Security? Learn more by reading this report commissioned by Swedish Forest Industries and carried out by OPTICOM INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AB . In total, 10,000 consumers have been interviewed in ten countries. These countries together account for 78 per cent of the EU’s population. Its demographic coverage is further broadened with the inclusion of the UK. #circular #bioeconomy #climate #forests #consumerstudy

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Interesting snapshot from Regenerative Report Feels like a big shift in thinking over the long term (10years) as Inflation and Economic downturns are not featured in the top 10 global risks according to a survey from the World Economic Forum. Does this help the business case for the Office of Finance to communicate with Boards and Business about the need to invest in moving to Net Zero and actually strive for beyond it. Great report from Arup on Regenerative Design - link in first comment. If you are keen to understand and explore ways in which business can stack up the business model, we discuss this and other issues in our bi-monthly Future Finance Thinker Hub - next session is 19th June at 5pm AEST. #beyondsustainability #cfos #financialleadership

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Today we are looking into a key #inconvenienttruth regarding mainstream visions of a circular economy. Circularity means more than just technological innovations for material and industrial efficiency. To bring about a truly fair, democratic, and sustainable ecological #transition, the circular economy must also mean circulating wealth, power, and knowledge in fundamentally redistributive manners. This entails a radical transformation of our entire societal system towards #conviviality, #solidarity, #socialjustice, #care, and #harmony with nature and beyond the current growth-dependent neo-liberal economy, which necessitates the continuous exploitation of people and nature to survive. In this video, we dive into the discourses on circular economy and present the research focusing on the #transformativeapproach, which many researchers now call a circular society as opposed to simply a circular economy Watch here: https://lnkd.in/dvPSPy9J Martin Calisto Friant #circulareconomy #circularsouthafrica #challenges #circularsociety #criticalaction #sustainability 

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📦 Recap: Update on PPWR 📦 Just lately, we shared our first English video on our YouTube channel, recapping the Compliance Tuesday webinar with Caspar ter Horst from ProductIP B.V. and me. This video is packed with valuable content for everyone selling packaged goods, including: 🔹 Status quo of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) 🔹 Key dates and schedule 🔹 Key requirements 🔹 Labeling 🔹 And much more! Additionally, we've created comprehensive PDF slides summarizing all key points discussed in the webinar. 👉 If you want to receive these slides, please comment “PDF” below and I will share the document with you. #EPR #ProductCompliance #PPWR #Packaging

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I would arguue that this initiative is not best explained or best promoted. Being Polymer (#plastics) Engeener and working in plastics industry for past 25+ years, makes me biased in this topic, but nevertheless, I do have real data on plastic products and influance to the enviroment. Main question here are: 1. What is the next best alternative to plastics? 2. What is the overal CO2 influance of it? 3. Is it a recycleble material ? Getting answers, would in the end led to a conclusion that there are no better, more environmental-firendly, more light-weight, more design friendly, and last but not least, more affordable alternative to plastics.. I would kindly suggest to ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA to be at front of the new trend, by opening honest and scientifically powered, public debate on REAL, influences of Plastics, Glass, Paper and Metal to enviroment; starting from: 1. Sourcing 2. Energy requrements in converting it into final products 3. Cost of transport includong fuel requirements 4. Cleaning requrements before use 5. Colection of waste products 6. #circulareconomy #Recycling capabilities and prerequrements I am sure that in the end, results will be surprising and potentially would open new ways in #suistanable development

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"What progress have we made towards industry alignment on sustainability?" This is how the Innovation Forum "Sustainable Apparel Conference" started this week in Amsterdam. And it was excellent with great introductory speech by Pascal Brun from Zalando! Some reflections from the many conferences and 1:1 during those 2 days: 🤝 "#Collaboration" and "#Partnerships" are on every sustainability professionals' lips. This is the way forward if we want to achieve decarbonization and halt biodiversity loss at scale. Beyond those statements, challenges are still there to get a whole industry to share sensitive data and efforts. But it was great to see leading european brands co-investing in material innovation technologies. 📜 European Regulations are about to succeed on making value chains more transparent where we have struggled for too long knowing where the garments we buy are made, by whom and in which conditions. The need for more information on environmental impact of apparel is driving this as part of the Green Deal, and this is a good news even if it means more work for brands. This is inevitably leading brands to transform the skills and capabilities of their teams as well as the relationship with their partners and the use of data & digital tools. 🗑 #Circularity has been front and center during this conference, and it is a good sign business models are evolving for more sobriety while keeping the consumers' excitement towards style. Combining sustainability, and the desire to reinvent our style is the challenge of circularity. Great insights from Laura Coppen and Anna Turrell around what's being achieved at H&M and Decathlon  ! 🖥 #Digitalization is a great lever for companies willing to decarbonize their supply chain, measure their progress towards their SBT or NetZero commitments, as well as complying with ecolabeling upcoming requirements. I have met with many companies developing groundbreaking solutions for traceability (Retraced, TrusTrace, TextileGenesis , Temera ) and product footprint measurements (FAIRLY MADE , Carbonfact). The digitalization of sustainability at fashion brands is happening and we should look at it as an opportunity to scale decarbonization. This sector is blooming with a lot of actors and brands have a hard time: - making sense of the needs of their internal stakeholders, - selecting the right partner addressing their needs but also with a chance to still be there in 5 years (as the market will inevitably consolidate), - getting the right environmental data (see #eQosphere solution Quantis) - and setting the appropriate data governance, processes and usage (reporting, ecodesign, portfolio management, etc.) throughout the organization This is the space where Quantis can help brands be future fit by advising them on the best way to go on their sustainability digitalization journey!

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ETP: Facilitating Textile Sustainability in Europe Sustainability is a practical and a very much alive idea across Europe. There are since some years back, several collaborative innovation networks across Europe, facilitating the successful transition into sustainability and a circular economy. Here you can read more about some of the innovative projects. Read more:  https://lnkd.in/duczdTvb

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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐂𝐕𝐂𝐌 This FAQ document from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) highlights the key differentiators between high-quality and regular carbon credits. Here's a breakdown of the essentials: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 (𝐂𝐂𝐏𝐬): ๏ Established by the ICVCM, these 10 principles define a global benchmark for high-integrity carbon credits. ๏ They address the quality of emissions impact, environmental and social impact, and governance of carbon credit programs. ๏ CCP-labelled credits ensure greater confidence in the market, attracting investment towards projects that demonstrably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐂𝐕𝐂𝐌'𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞: ๏ Acts as a non-profit, independent body overseeing project-based carbon markets. ๏ It assesses carbon crediting programs and project methodologies (categories) for adherence to the CCPs. ๏ This assessment ensures programs have robust governance, transparency, and verification processes. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐂𝐏 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬: ๏ The ICVCM doesn't assess individual projects, but rather the programs issuing the credits and the methodologies used (categories). ๏ CCP-Eligible Programs can then label credits from CCP-Approved Categories as "CCP" credits. ๏ The assessment process is rigorous and ongoing, ensuring continuous adherence to CCP standards. 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐂𝐏-𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬: ๏ Increased trust and confidence in the carbon market for buyers. ๏ Support for UN Sustainable Development Goals through a focus on positive environmental and social impact. ๏ Transparency and clarity for project developers seeking high-integrity credit issuance. In Conclusion: The ICVCM plays a critical role in establishing a global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits. By adhering to the CCPs, carbon crediting programs can ensure the integrity of their credits, attracting investment for impactful climate change mitigation projects. Source:

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Plastics have many useful applications, but the global production and consumption trends of these materials are currently unsustainable. Circular and sustainability practices throughout the lifecycle of plastics can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and waste. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis, many good practice examples already exist and need to be scaled up to enable a circular plastics economy in Europe. The EEA briefing ‘Pathways towards circular plastics in Europe — good practice examples from countries, business and citizens’ is intended to inspire businesses, policymakers, and citizens to make the production and consumption of plastics more circular and sustainable. Key pathways to achieving this goal include: 🔅 Smarter Use of Plastics: Reducing unnecessary packaging and single-use products, and designing products to last longer and be easier to reuse and repair. 🔅 Increased Circularity: Promoting longer use and reuse of products, and improving the collection, sorting, and recycling of plastics. 🔅 More Renewable Materials: Using more recyclable, biobased plastics instead of relying solely on fossil fuels. At King Size Recycling, we are committed to these principles. Did you know that the plastic wraps on mattresses are usually recyclable? By ensuring these materials are properly recycled, we contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy. Businesses, policymakers, and citizens can all play a role in this effort. Let's work together to scale up circular business models, strengthen policies, and increase demand for sustainable products. Read more about the EEA briefing and how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future. 🔗 https://buff.ly/44ZlAd4 #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #EcoFriendly #KingSizeRecycling #EnvironmentalResponsibility #GreenInitiatives #PlasticsRecycling

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Infinity Recycling is thrilled to announce the final close of its Circular Plastics Fund I ("CPF"). Following the accession of Dutch insurance group ASR, Danish philantrophic association Realdania, ING Sustainable Investments, the sustainable investments arm of ING, Danish invetment and holding company KIRKBI A/S, and the impact investment initiatieve of Swiss company Après-demain SA, CPF has reached EUR 175 million in committed capital thereby significantly surpassing its EUR 150 million target. We willl shortly announce the investment in our 6th and 7th portfolio company respectively and are looking forward to working with our stakeholders to help catalyse the urgently needed transition to a circular economy, thereby delivering real environmental impact and generating the solid financial returns a transition arbitrage provides. #impactinvestment #circulareconomy #resourcetransition #sustainability #catalyst #transitionarbitrage #article9 Trustmoore Loyens & Loeff https://lnkd.in/dCuvus5r

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EIT RawMaterials launches €100m funding for high-impact European raw materials projects. Announced at the sixth annual edition of the Raw Materials Summit, the funding will help boost Europe’s Raw materials ecosystem and add to over €200m of funding already invested for the 2023-25 period. EIT RawMaterials has deployed €600m in strategic funding since 2016, helping to support various research projects, technology start-ups and scale-ups, and entrepreneurship opportunities. The latest investments will be crucial in further boosting the European raw materials ecosystem as the EU strives to achieve climate and energy goals. Bernd Schäfer, the CEO and Managing Director of EIT RawMaterials, emphasised the long-term value of these investments. He said: “We are sending a message to stakeholders across the raw materials ecosystem that the moment to invest is at hand. “This is not only a major investment in its own right; we believe that every Euro we invest is a multiplier that will enable further direct and indirect investments up to ten times the value. “We are working to translate the vision of the Critical Raw Materials Act into tangible action and impact.” https://lnkd.in/e6-USu5X #criticalrawmaterials #europeanrawmaterials #energytransition #europeanfunding #batterymetals #renewableenergy #energystorage

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For SENS eRecycling and Swico - Verband der Digitalisierer, the quality of recycling and compliance with the technical requirements of the recycling partners is of fundamental importance. We ensure compliance with the specifications through regular audits and batch tests carried out by the auditors of the SENS/Swico Technical Commission. These audits are based on the European standards CENELEC SN EN 50625 and a supplementary "Swiss Finish". A central aspect is the coordinated cooperation of our auditors. Regular meetings and thematic working groups ensure a fair and consistent assessment of all recyclers. Both upstream and downstream players in the recycling chain are audited in order to ensure consistently high environmental quality. Our auditors carry out comprehensive audits: from management systems and document checks to on-site visits and laboratory analyses. Through these in-depth audits, we actively contribute to sustainability and quality assurance in the recycling process. For more information on the audit process see: https://lnkd.in/drVFEh5D #eWaste #WEEE #CircularEconomy #Recycling #Quality #Sustainability #Audits #Environment

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WHY NOT PRIORITIZE TEXTILE WASTE WITH THE SAME URGENCY AS PLASTIC POLLUTION? "Plastics play an essential role in modern society. However, their value chain is currently unsustainable, contributing to the generation of climate changing emissions and increasing waste and pollution. Reducing such impacts while retaining plastics’ usefulness requires a shift towards a more circular and sustainable plastics system." - EEA #Clothing is vital but #unsustainable, necessitating a move towards circularity as well! Proposals to reduce textile waste include requiring big retailers to have in-store takeback for textiles, asking non-domestic places to separate #textile waste for recycling, and banning sorted textiles from being dumped in landfills. However, there is no mention of consulting on an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for textiles in the policy paper. The UK is behind some European countries, which are discussing ways to reduce textile waste, like updating the #EPR scheme to make producers and retailers contribute more to collection and recycling. 📰 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dKXBvKPx The Textile Revolution (Tekstilrevolutionen) is more than ready to tackle this issue. Contact Markus Louie Fogde Hatting for further details.

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Circular economy is characterised by three principles: ▪️ Eliminate waste and pollution ▪️ Keep products and materials in use ▪️ Regenerate natural systems As industries and governments move towards the circular economy, clear and aligned direction is needed for a rapid transition to scale. This paper proposes five universal policy goals that can help governments build healthier economic recoveries and lower the costs of transition for businesses across sectors. https://ow.ly/W8ir50S6p2t If you're interested in how business and investors can better support the transition to a sustainable economy, see Altiorem's framework identifying which #business model characteristics are needed for business to thrive in a doughnut economy https://ow.ly/l1yX50S6p2u and find more circular economy research here https://ow.ly/F11s50S6p2v #circulareconomy #circulardesign #waste #sustainability #changefinance4good #Altiorem #DoughnutEconomics

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From cradle to cradle: Why industry must embrace the circular economy ♻️ "The World Economic Forum has referred to the circular economy as the business opportunity of our time, because of its potential to strengthen local economies and societies while decoupling the world’s growth from consumption. Yet the global economy is currently only 7.2% circular..." Read more >> https://bit.ly/3RUkURY #UKSPF #SwanseaUni #ARCSWales #CircularEconomy #Future #CircularInitiative #CE #CradleToCradle #TheFutureIsGreen #ConsciousConsumer #Industry #Consumption #Circularity

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