Circular Economy

This exchange marks an opportunity for Members to question Commissioner Roswall on the outlook of her portfolio, which includes environmental protection, circular economy and bioeconomy development, and water resilience. Discussions will cover forthcoming initiatives, including the Circular Economy Act, the updated Bioeconomy Strategy, and the REACH revision. The exchange will also provide an opportunity to follow up on the implementation of certain obligations of operators and traders under the EUDR, and the financing for climate and environment under the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034. Additionally, Members may follow up on the environmental omnibus proposals, the European Water Resilience Strategy, and the deprioritisation of implementing and delegated acts.

The proposal revises some provisions of the CRMA with the aim of simplifying procedures, enhancing circularity, increasing recycling capacity and strengthening the secondary market for critical raw materials. In particular, Articles 28 and 29 on the recycling of permanent magnets fall within ENVI's competences. The large majority of the amendments focus on improving the framework for recycling and reuse of critical raw materials, notably rare earths, in line with environmental and circular economy objectives. A total of 107 amendments have been tabled for consideration. The vote on the draft opinion is scheduled for 27 April 2026.

J Ind Ecol. 2021;25(6):1486-1502. doi: 10.1111/jiec.13166. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

ABSTRACT

Globally, more than half of all extracted materials are used to build and maintain material stocks. The United States of America (USA) is one of the largest global consumers of these materials. To assess the role of stocks for long-term material use in an affluent industrialized economy, we present an analysis of material use and stock accumulation for the USA from 1870 to 2100. On the basis of the dynamics of stocks and resulting end-of-life (EoL) outflows, we investigate stock-building material demand, waste management, and circular economy potentials and present two prospective scenarios until 2100 to highlight the long-term effect of stock-flow dynamics. From 1870 to 2017, we found continuous stock growth, which strongly decelerated after the 2007 crisis. Overall, 40% of historical domestic material consumption was used to build and maintain stocks. EoL outflows from stocks increased until 2017, about half of which were discarded as final waste. In both prospective scenarios to 2100, stock build-up and maintenance require material inputs larger than those used over the whole historical period. Stabilizing stocks near the current level could mitigate 23% of material demand compared to a return to pre-2007 stock growth. Stabilized stocks also result in stable EoL outflows after 2050, whereas ongoing stock growth makes outflows grow until 2080. Increased recycling of these EoL outflows could potentially cover for large parts of material requirements for maintaining stable future stocks. Limiting demand for stocks and increasing recycling will require targeted demand-side policies, adjustments to EoL management, and the establishment of recycling industries within the USA. This article met the requirements for a gold-gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version of this article (doi:10.1111/jiec.13166) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

PMID:41982213 | PMC:PMC13070052 | DOI:10.1111/jiec.13166

Eng Microbiol. 2025 Aug 19;5(4):100232. doi: 10.1016/j.engmic.2025.100232. eCollection 2025 Dec.

ABSTRACT

Polystyrene (PS) is a polyolefin plastic that is used extensively in food packaging. The chemical structure of PS is extremely stable owing to its C-C backbone and styrene rings, making it highly resistant to biodegradation, which causes serious environmental pollution and health threats. Although certain microorganisms have been reported to degrade PS waste, most studies have focused on the changes in the molecular weight and surface structure of plastics. These slight degradation phenomena make it extremely difficult to detect the degradation products, thus challenging the definitive demonstration of PS degradation. This study investigated the co-cultivation of the polyolefin plastic-degrading bacterium Raoultella sp. DY2415 and the benzoic acid bioconversion strain Pseudomonas putida KT2440-ΔRBC. BA is a possible degradation product of PS and can be converted by P. putida KT2440-ΔRBC into the high value-added compound muconic acid (MA). After co-cultivation, MA was detected in the medium, indicating that Raoultella sp. DY2415 degraded PS and generated BA, which was subsequently utilized by P. putida KT2440-ΔRBC for MA synthesis. This study demonstrated the biodegradation of PS and the synthesis of MA through a fully biological process, thereby promoting the circular economy of plastics.

PMID:41982660 | PMC:PMC12967824 | DOI:10.1016/j.engmic.2025.100232

J Ind Ecol. 2019;23(1):169-181. doi: 10.1111/jiec.12645. Epub 2017 Aug 26.

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the challenges faced, and opportunities identified, by a multidisciplinary team of researchers developing a novel closed loop system to recover valuable metals and reduce e-waste, focusing on mobile phones as a case study. This multidisciplinary approach is contrasted with current top-down approaches to making the transition to the circular economy (CE). The aim of the research presented here is to develop a product service system (PSS) that facilitates the recovery of valuable functional components and metals from mobile phone circuit boards. To create a holistic solution and limit unintended consequences, in addition to technological solutions, this paper considers appropriate component lifetimes; the (often ignored) role of the citizen in the circular economy; customer interaction with the PSS; environmental life cycle assessment; and social impacts of the proposed PSS. Development of enabling technologies and materials to facilitate recovery of components and metals and to provide an emotionally durable external enclosure is described. This research also highlights the importance of understanding value in the CE from a multifaceted and interdisciplinary perspective.

PMID:41983096 | PMC:PMC13070977 | DOI:10.1111/jiec.12645

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6c01369. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The development of next-generation nanotheranostics is increasingly challenged by the dual imperatives of environmental sustainability and the urgent need to overcome complex biological barriers, particularly multidrug resistance (MDR) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we bridge the gap between circular economy principles and precision nanomedicine by upcycling discarded eggshell membranes (ESM) into a hierarchical metabolic therapeutic platform. Utilizing the protein fiber network of ESM as a natural biotemplate, we orchestrated the anisotropic growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) into unique yolk-shell nanostructures (YSNs) via interfacial molecular recognition. This bioinspired architecture features a high specific surface area, enabling the efficient coloading of the chemotherapeutic cisplatin (CDDP) and ultrathin vanadium carbide (V₄C₃) MXene nanozymes, stabilized by a biotinylated carboxymethyl chitosan (Biotin-CMCS) targeting shell. Mechanistically, this "Trojan Horse" system exploits the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) to trigger a rapid cascade of disassembly, releasing a surge of Ca²⁺ ions and MXene-driven reactive oxygen species (ROS). Crucially, we demonstrate that the resulting mitochondrial calcium overload instigates a catastrophic "bioenergetic crisis," characterized by the irreversible opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTP) and the precipitous depletion of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This metabolic collapse effectively deactivates ATP-dependent DNA repair machineries (e.g.,poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) and excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1)), thereby reversing cisplatin resistance and sensitizing tumor cells to DNA damage. In vivo evaluations in HCC xenografts confirm potent tumor regression with minimal systemic toxicity, facilitated by the renal clearance of biodegradable calcium metabolites. This work presents a paradigm shift in material design, transforming biowaste into a metabolic reprogramming weapon for sustainable and effective cancer therapy.

PMID:41984466 | DOI:10.1021/acsami.6c01369

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 13:128140. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Organic waste treatment plays a key role in sustainability by reducing greenhouse gases, minimizing landfill, and recycling nutrients. However, microplastics (MPs) are increasingly reported in organic amendments and digestates, drawing attention to their possible adverse effects on soil health. Even with proper biowaste management, impurities, including glass, metal, plastics, and MPs may still escape into the environment due to mechanical sorting limitations. This study examined impurities and MPs in digestates and organic amendments from four waste treatment plants over three months to assess material quality in a circular economy. Five materials were analysed: (i) compost from green waste and manure (CG), (ii) composted sewage sludge and wood waste (CS), (iii) digestate from separately collected biowaste (DD), (iv) compost of previous digestate and wood waste (CD), and (v) bio-stabilised organic fraction recovered through mechanical treatment (BST) of mixed municipal waste. Gravel and impurities were manually separated, and MPs were isolated via oxidation and density separation, then quantified and characterized using stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results indicated that no samples exceeded legal thresholds for gravel/stones in compost, while only BST exceeded impurity limits. Plastic concentrations ranged from 0.03% (CG) to 2.44% (BST) dry weight, with MPs under 2 mm comprising 30-65% of total plastics, predominantly fibers, films, and fragments. The most frequently detected polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polyester. These findings highlight the importance of effective separate collection in households, efficient mechanical sorting and polishing steps, and the quality of waste-derived amendments to prevent plastics and MPs entering the environment.

PMID:41985613 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 13:128140. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Organic waste treatment plays a key role in sustainability by reducing greenhouse gases, minimizing landfill, and recycling nutrients. However, microplastics (MPs) are increasingly reported in organic amendments and digestates, drawing attention to their possible adverse effects on soil health. Even with proper biowaste management, impurities, including glass, metal, plastics, and MPs may still escape into the environment due to mechanical sorting limitations. This study examined impurities and MPs in digestates and organic amendments from four waste treatment plants over three months to assess material quality in a circular economy. Five materials were analysed: (i) compost from green waste and manure (CG), (ii) composted sewage sludge and wood waste (CS), (iii) digestate from separately collected biowaste (DD), (iv) compost of previous digestate and wood waste (CD), and (v) bio-stabilised organic fraction recovered through mechanical treatment (BST) of mixed municipal waste. Gravel and impurities were manually separated, and MPs were isolated via oxidation and density separation, then quantified and characterized using stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results indicated that no samples exceeded legal thresholds for gravel/stones in compost, while only BST exceeded impurity limits. Plastic concentrations ranged from 0.03% (CG) to 2.44% (BST) dry weight, with MPs under 2 mm comprising 30-65% of total plastics, predominantly fibers, films, and fragments. The most frequently detected polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polyester. These findings highlight the importance of effective separate collection in households, efficient mechanical sorting and polishing steps, and the quality of waste-derived amendments to prevent plastics and MPs entering the environment.

PMID:41985613 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140

Foods. 2026 Apr 1;15(7):1183. doi: 10.3390/foods15071183.

ABSTRACT

The minimisation of substances of concern in packaging is a key objective of the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), complementing existing legislation governing the safety of food contact materials. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present particular challenges due to their persistence, chemical diversity, and documented use in certain food contact materials. Article 5 of the PPWR requires packaging to be designed and manufactured to minimise such substances throughout the life cycle. This study develops a structured, material-based PFAS risk matrix to support compliance screening for food packaging under Article 5. The approach combines scientific evidence on PFAS occurrence, functional applications, and analytical detection with material classification systems used in recyclability assessments. Packaging materials are categorised by their likelihood of PFAS relevance, enabling proportionate prioritisation of efforts. Application of the matrix shows that fibre-based materials with grease- or water-resistant treatments exhibit higher relevance than glass, untreated paper, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The framework also clarifies the role of total fluorine (TF) and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) as supportive, material-specific indicators rather than standalone compliance metrics. By integrating PFAS considerations into design, sourcing, and portfolio management, the framework promotes proactive chemical risk governance aligned with circular economy objectives.

PMID:41976477 | PMC:PMC13074049 | DOI:10.3390/foods15071183