Author: Arnes Biogradlija

As Brussels recalibrates its industrial policy to align climate ambition with economic competitiveness, the circular economy has become the centerpiece of Europe’s next growth model. The European Commission’s upcoming Circular Economy Act, along with frameworks like the Competitiveness Compass and Clean Industrial Deal, marks a shift from voluntary sustainability to regulatory accountability. Europe’s pursuit of circularity is increasingly defined by one tension: how to scale efficiency without sacrificing competitiveness. At stake is more than environmental stewardship. According to the European Commission, European industries spend over twice as much on materials as on labor or energy, making circular practices a potential…

Germany’s Federal Court of Auditors issued a critical assessment of the country’s hydrogen strategy on October 29, 2025, citing substantial deviations between projected targets and market realities despite multi-billion euro subsidy commitments. Court President Kay Scheller’s call for a “reality check” highlights systemic misalignments in a program central to Germany’s 2045 climate neutrality objective and industrial decarbonization pathway. The audit report identifies fundamental gaps in both hydrogen supply development and demand materialization, though specific quantitative shortfalls remain unpublished in available public documentation. Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy, updated in 2023, projected domestic production capacity of 10 GW electrolysis by 2030, supplemented…

As global CO₂ concentrations climb past 420 parts per million, the urgency to decarbonize industrial systems has never been greater. A new joint study by researchers from India and Ireland proposes a recalibration: embedding CCS within the circular economy to transform emissions into economic assets rather than liabilities. The study, led by Dr. Pratibha Gautam of SRICT, UPL University of Sustainable Technology, argues that the convergence of CCS and circular economy models could deliver a “multiplier effect for sustainability.” Instead of focusing solely on storage, the researchers emphasize carbon utilization—repurposing captured CO₂ into chemicals, building materials, or synthetic fuels—to reduce…

The global sustainable plastic packaging market is expected to expand from USD 112.7 billion in 2025 to USD 194.4 billion by 2035, growing at a compound annual rate of 5.6%. This steady rise highlights how regulatory pressure, technological innovation, and consumer awareness are reshaping the packaging industry’s relationship with plastic. Companies are now rethinking materials, investing in recycling infrastructure, and redesigning supply chains to meet both market and environmental demands. The packaging sector is undergoing a structural transformation. Traditional plastics, long associated with waste accumulation and pollution, are being replaced by recyclable, compostable, and bio-based alternatives that retain durability while…

Clean energy investment now outpaces fossil fuel funding at a 2:1 ratio globally—€2 trillion versus €1 trillion in 2024—marking a structural shift in capital allocation that the European Union aims to leverage through industrial policy while confronting market concentration risks that have seen China capture dominant positions across renewable energy value chains. The EU’s newly released global climate and energy vision, published October 16, 2025, establishes a 15% target for global clean technology production under the Net Zero Industry Act while acknowledging that China manufactured over 70% of electric vehicles, 80% of wind turbines, and 90% of solar photovoltaic modules…

Access to reliable information on hazardous chemicals remains a critical bottleneck for the circular economy. Globally, around 350,000 chemical substances are registered, yet the majority lack comprehensive data on their hazardous properties. Existing information is fragmented across databases, safety data sheets, and scientific literature, limiting its practical use for policymakers, industry, and civil society. Addressing this knowledge gap, Formas, Sweden’s government research council for sustainable development, has awarded SEK 3 million to the TRACE AI project—Transparent and Accessible Information for a Chemically Safe Circular Economy—coordinated by the University of Gothenburg through FRAM, the Centre for Future Chemical Risk Assessment and…

Major financial institutions directed over $1.6 trillion toward fossil fuel companies between 2021 and 2024, funding an industry launching more than 2,300 new oil, gas, and coal projects during a period when climate scientists and energy analysts maintain such investments should have ceased entirely, reports FTM. The financing pattern contradicts the International Energy Agency’s 2021 assessment that new fossil fuel funding must stop to maintain any realistic pathway to limiting global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. Analysis from CarbonBombs.org — a collaboration between four environmental NGOs—reveals these new projects, combined with existing “carbon bombs” generating over one gigatonne of…

The University of Newcastle has spotlighted scalable waste reduction and resource efficiency solutions by awarding three $10,000 grants through its annual Circular Economy Grand Challenge. Administered by the University’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N), the initiative unites students, academics, alumni, industry partners, and staff to tackle material and carbon management challenges with both local and global implications. Among the awarded projects, Every Blade Counts addresses a persistent issue in renewable energy: end-of-life wind turbine blades. Traditionally destined for landfill, these composite structures represent thousands of tonnes of waste annually. The project proposes converting retired blades into reusable materials, providing a commercial…

Nigeria’s rapid urbanization and growing consumption patterns have brought economic opportunity alongside persistent environmental challenges. The country generates roughly 2.5 million tones of plastic waste annually, yet less than 10% is effectively recycled. Across West Africa, over 80% of plastic waste is mismanaged, creating significant risks for public health, biodiversity, and coastal economies. Amid these pressures, private-sector-driven initiatives are beginning to reshape the nation’s recycling ecosystem. The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), Nigeria’s first Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), exemplifies this approach. By promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), FBRA ensures that producers and importers take active responsibility for post-consumer packaging.…

Ecolomondo Corporation’s entry into the European market through a joint venture with Spain’s Aresol Renovables marks a pivotal moment for tire recycling technologies in the EU. The agreement formalizes the creation of Ecolomondo EU, headquartered in Spain, which will oversee the construction of four end-of-life tire (ELT) pyrolysis plants using the company’s Thermal Decomposition Process (TDP) technology. The first facility, slated for Valencia, will serve as a benchmark for scaling similar projects across Europe. Europe currently generates around 3.6 million metric tons of end-of-life tires annually, with less than half of that fully recycled into materials with new market value.…