Welcome to Autumn. Here’s what’s been happening since our last newsletter.
Recently the EU finalized a ground-breaking law to combat greenwashing, Empowering Consumers Directive, that will prohibit the use of certain terms on product labels, including “carbon-neutral,” “climate-neutral,” “eco-friendly,” and “green”. Also generic environmental claims will be banned unless companies can provide quality supporting evidence, such as compliance with official EU regulations or recognized green labelling schemes.
The measures in this directive beyond labelling, requiring companies to declare product lifespans, ensuring transparency about durability and guarantees and substantiate claims about reparability and product guarantees claims.
The law still needs final approval from the EU Parliament and Council, which is expected in November. Once approved, EU member states will have 24 months to implement the changes, making most forms of greenwashing effectively illegal in the EU by 2026.
Clothing & Accessories
Billie Eilish’s new Nike sneaker uses pigment derived from algae instead of petroleum-derived ink.
The Royal Mint in the UK is offering jewellery made from silver sourced from medical X-ray films.
Bristol-based tech firm, Matter, has secured $10m towards the development of a product that will remove microplastics from washing machines.
Up to 26% of Europe’s textile waste could be recycled by 2030, according to a 2022 McKinsey report, leading to €3.5-€4.5 billion in economic output for the EU, the creation 15,000 new jobs, and saving of 3.6 million tonnes of CO².
First of it’s kind recycled poly-cotton clothing range was launched by Zara and Circ this year. (Not sure how I missed this when it was announced back in April)
Vivobarefoot and Circ team up to produce circular footwear
A Japanese company is using fermentation to produce fibres that match the characteristics of silk, cashmere and wool – but without the animals
Ganni reveal bag made from bacterial leather at London fair
AI powered size advisor SAIZ hopes to reduce clothing returns by customers
Leeds University have a new technique to remove dye from polyester to make it easier to recycle into new fibre.
Waste management company MYGroup – which is a plastic recycling partner for several UK retailers, including Boots and The Body Shop – has announced it is building a textiles remanufacturing factory in Hull.
Food
UK student uses plastic waste to make vanilla flavouring!
London company Reuse use decentralised ‘Cleaning Cells’ and advanced technology to support food producers in switching to reusable packaging.
Spar International to use ‘Smart Markdowns’ tool to reduce food waste. The tool uses real-time data and artificial intelligence power to dynamically adjust prices on products nearing their expiration date.
Coca-Cola HBC has invested €12 million to open a new high-speed returnable glass bottling (RGB) line at its plant in Edelstal, Austria, which will produce 400ml returnable and resealable glass bottles.
Landratech in Portugal is helping oak farmers turn acorns into gluten-free food stuff and chemicals for leather and textile making.
Waste
The Landfill Levy and the Waste Recovery Levy has been be introduced in Ireland and introduces a waste recovery levy of €10 per tonne for ‘black’ bin waste, and an increase of €10 to the existing ‘landfill levy’.
The UN Environment Programme has released the first draft of its legally binding Global Plastics Treaty which aims to eliminate plastic pollution worldwide by 2040.
Lego abandons effort to make bricks from recycled plastic bottles, because the carbon emissions would have been higher.
Sharing Solutions helps organisations redirect unwanted food to reuse outlets
From October 1 2023, businesses in England are prohibited from selling plastic cutlery, single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays (without food) balloon sticks and polystyrene cups.
Construction
The Danish company D-Line has introduced an ironmongery take-back and remanufacturing scheme. Not only does this save up to 90% of CO2 emissions, each Re-handle® comes with a new 20-year product warranty period and an asking price that is 60% lower than a newly produced item.
The UK’s first carpet recycling plant has opened in Northampton.
The latest survey by the National Bed Federation (NBF) reveals that 73% of consumers said they would be prepared to pay more for a mattress designed to avoid landfill at the end of its life.
Interesting article on the potential, and drawbacks of 3D printed furniture.
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has just launched a hub that explores the global ecological impacts of building materials
A public consultation on a new approach to the UK fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture has been launched by the The British Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Allianz are offering an extra €5,000 on top of claims over €50,000 to help you make sustainable energy improvements to your home.
Sport
A free sports equipment rental scheme has been launched in Dublin Parks.
And Irish company Snawve will soon launch wetsuits made using a foam produced from oyster shells, sugar cane, rapeseed oil and natural rubber.
Transportation
A free cargo bike rental scheme has also been launched at The Bike Hub in Eamonn Ceannt Park in Crumlin.
Drought conditions have reduced the number of ships that can pass through the Panama canal, creating a traffic jam of ships and once again exposing the fragility of global logistics.
A cargo ship fitted with a new sail made from the same material as wind turbines and could reduce cargo ship emissions by 30%.
According to a new study, remote workers produce less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of office workers.
How charging EVs on the go can reduce resource usage too!
Parking charges in Bath in the UK now vary depending on the emissions created by your vehicle.
Based on the Campus of the University of Galway, An Mheitheal Rothar recycles bikes that would otherwise be scrapped, teaching key bike mechanic skills to trainees in the process. The finished bikes are sold for affordable prices on campus, with a selection given to refugees through the University of Sanctuary program.
Energy
Ecuador joins New Zealand and Ireland in leaving oil in the ground
France’s energy sobriety plan cut electricity consumption in December 2022 by almost 10% compared with previous years. The plan contained 15 measures, including a maximum temperature of 19°C in public buildings, support for teleworking and car-sharing and dimming or turning off public lights at certain hours.
Interesting tale about how the first solar entrepreneur was kidnapped in 1909
Funding
The new Horizon Europe Cluster 6 is offering €120 million for proposals related to the circular economy. Submissions deadline is 22 February 2024.
Legislation
The State of California is suing five big oil companies who “intentionally suppressed” what they knew about climate change to protect their profits.
Irish Minister of State, Ossian Smyth, launches public consultation on a draft Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan
Belgium to become the second European country to introduce a reparability index
Uh- Oh
Recent study indicates that we are currently breaching 6 of the 9 planetary boundaries that will hasten our demise.
If you’d like to discuss any of these issues feel free to get in touch via our contact page.
To read previous newsletters click here.
Elaine
Circular Design Institute 