| Posted June 1, 2022

New EU Circular Economy Measures: What this Means for Companies and Consumers

Linear economy models are directly linked to resource depletion. This leads to ecosystem degradation, pollution, and waste. Moreover, aiming to keep up with consumer demands, the take-make-dispose logic only aggravates existing socioeconomic inequities. This is why accelerating the transition to a Circular Economy is at the heart of the European Green Deal. As part of the Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan entails initiatives along the entire lifecycle of products toward a cleaner and more competitive Europe. Recently, the European Commission launched a new Circular Economy Package to speed up the transition. The package includes a Sustainable Products Initiative, […]

| Posted

The Charta Sustainable Digitalisation: A Framework for Orientation and Inspiration for SMEs

Faced with a multitude of challenges, it is often difficult for the management of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take a step back from day-to-day business and ensure that the company’s course is set to leverage opportunities and avoid risks that come along with the sustainable-digital twin transformation. The Charta has been developed with this in mind. It focuses on the most important fields of action at this intersection and provides orientation and inspiration. The Charta is a starting point for managers to identify the specific chances and risks of their business and set a course based on their […]

| Posted May 25, 2022

Join Us at the EU Green Week Panel Discussion: The ICT Sector in Action for Circular Economy on 31 May 2022!

Digital technologies are crucial to the EU sustainability agenda. In particular, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies have an important role to play in turning digital innovation into an endeavour that follows purpose and the solutions deriving thereof into enablers of the sustainable transformation. The action-oriented policy dialogue “Accelerating our sustainable futures through digital innovation“ as part of the EU Green Week (31 May – 5 June 2022) will focus on the framework conditions, policy innovations, and industrial solutions that can accelerate the greening of ICT infrastructure and ultimately guarantee a sustainable future for all. Policymakers, business leaders, environment experts, […]

| Posted

Citizen Science for Sustainability: Inspiration From 30 Innovative Initiatives

Sustainability does not work if actors embark on individual journeys. This is why citizen science as an approach that relies on the collective participation of communities and the public has been growing in popularity in recent years. It is a method of exploring and identifying important questions, collecting relevant data, and analysing it to lead the way to new discoveries and enable novel solutions. In a recently-published report, our PSLifestyle project shares the results of its cross-European investigation of the latest inspiring citizen science initiatives. Our PSLifestyle project launched in 2021 with the goal to help close the gap between […]

| Posted May 24, 2022

Our Sustainable Island Mauritius Project Receives Silver Award for Supporting Sustainable Tourism

Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, more tourists visited Mauritius yearly (around 1.3 million) than the island’s total population (1,26 million). For tourist operators, Mauritian authorities, and local communities, such growth is welcome, yet it raises important questions. How can the development of the tourism sector benefit the economy while reducing its footprint (resource depletion, emissions, social inequities)? Conversely, how can the handprint be increased, that is adding value to community development, cultural preservation, ecosystem quality or authentic experience? In recognition of its holistic and multi-stakeholder engagement in promoting and supporting responsible tourism, our Sustainable Island Mauritius (SIM) project has been […]

| Posted May 13, 2022

Our HOOP and SCALIBUR Projects Host the Circular Economy Week in Albano Laziale, Italy – Meet Us There From 17 to 20 May 2022!

With a share of 34%, biowaste is the largest single component of municipal waste in the EU. The recycling of biowaste is key for meeting the EU target to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035, containing a high potential for contributing to a circular economy, delivering valuable soil-improving material and fertilisers as well as biogas, a source of renewable energy*. The first Circular Economy Week in the city Albano Laziale is organised by our projects SCALIBUR and HOOP, funded by the EU to support cities and regions to develop circular biowaste systems. The Circular Economy Week will focus on […]

| Posted May 4, 2022

The Power of Multi-Stakeholder Engagement in Emergency Responses – Check Out Our PathoCERT Project Publications

Being prepared to effectively and timely react and operate in the occurrence of waterborne pathogen contamination events requires not only a set of tailored tools and technologies, but also effective coordination and collaboration among different stakeholder groups at the local, regional, and national level. The PathoCERT project is driving the development of novel and easy-to-use technological solutions, services and governance mechanisms to improve the situational awareness and coordination of relevant stakeholders and enable them to respond quickly and safely to threats. To achieve this level of engagement, it is fundamental to identify and engage a whole array of stakeholders such […]

| Posted April 7, 2022

Would You Like to Become a Changemaker Toward a Good Life for All? Join our Living Lab in Wuppertal!

A good life within the planetary boundaries primarily means identifying and leveraging the synergies between our personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of the planet. Our PSLifestyle project is offering citizens in eight countries across Europe a platform to co-create and shape visions of the good life as well as design solutions to make such visions a reality. The project has launched Living Labs in the respective pilot cities to empower citizens to become changemakers toward the good life. The PSLifestyle project invites citizens of Wuppertal, as one of the pilot cities, to join our Living Lab and actively engage in […]

| Posted March 28, 2022

Join Our EU Circular Talk “Together for Circular Packaging” on 5 April 2022!

Demands on packaging are increasing: it should be protective, stackable, informative but also practical, attractive and circular. To fulfil these requirements, consumers should be taken on board. That’s why understanding their behaviour is crucial, also in order to understand how behavioural challenges can be overcome. Through its German Packaging Club, the Consumer Insight Action Panel has been addressing the requirements for sustainable packaging with a behavioural focus since 2019. Together, club members from retail, recycling, services, science and civil society are working on enabling the implementation of circular packaging with a consumer focus. The EU Circular Talk “Together for Circular […]

| Posted

“I Am Here to Challenge the Status Quo!”

Adriana has put years of research into analysing environmental discourses and how to turn them into policy and action, particularity in the context of her native Bolivia. As part of the CSCP, integrating social and environmental innovation in value chains and strengthening the resilience of local communities are her key focus. How did sustainability enter your professional life? My interest in sustainability arose when I was working at the United Nations Development Programme in Bolivia. One of the reports I worked on focused on local endeavours for a type of economy that looked at alternatives to the traditional extraction of […]

show more