Author: Arnes Biogradlija

At a time when industrial sectors account for roughly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, SKF’s presence at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, underscores a pivotal shift toward embedding circularity into the fabric of heavy industry. The Swedish engineering group, best known for its bearings and rotating equipment solutions, plans to spotlight a portfolio of technologies aimed at accelerating industrial decarbonization and strengthening supply chain resilience. SKF’s showcase centers on the premise that emissions reductions in industry must come not only from renewable energy adoption but also from resource efficiency and product lifecycle extension. The company’s approach combines clean technology…

The European Union’s flagship green hydrogen import strategy is confronting hard economic realities in Namibia, where the €10 billion Hyphen project remains unbuilt and industry insiders increasingly question whether it will ever materialize. As of October 2024, the sector has created fewer than 800 jobs against government projections of 280,000 by 2030, exposing a widening gap between political ambition and market fundamentals, FTM reports. The numbers tell a sobering story. Only three of 14 planned hydrogen projects in Namibia have reached the pilot phase, according to research collective Oxpeckers. The European Commission now admits green hydrogen exports from Namibia won’t…

The European Union’s Council reached agreement on a binding 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2040 compared to 1990 levels, but the accord introduces flexibility mechanisms that effectively lower the domestic reduction requirement to 85%. Member states negotiated through the night to secure provisions allowing up to 5% of the 1990 baseline to be met through international carbon credits—a mechanism the EU’s own scientific advisory bodies cautioned against deploying for compliance purposes. The Mathematical Reframing of Ambition The headline figure of 90% net emissions reduction obscures the domestic reduction reality. The Council’s position permits “high-quality international carbon credits”…

A major step forward for Europe’s circular economy strategy has been secured as Thermo Lysi SA, in partnership with Pyrum Innovations AG, received €29.4 million in funding approval from the European Innovation Fund (EIF). The grant finalizes financing for a €100 million tyre recycling plant in Livanates, Greece, a facility set to process 45,000 tones of end-of-life tyres annually and rank among the continent’s most advanced pyrolysis sites. The EIF’s involvement underscores the increasing prioritization of industrial-scale recycling solutions capable of addressing Europe’s waste challenges while supporting decarbonization goals. End-of-life tyres, of which the EU generates over 3.5 million tones…

The brutal truth about Europe’s battery ambitions hit me during a conversation in Sarajevo with Noshin Omar, the founder of AVESTA Holding. While Chinese battery startups surge from zero to billion-dollar valuations in just three years, Europe’s most innovative battery manufacturers are struggling to secure even scraps of capital and are drowning in permit applications. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE Omar didn’t mince words: “Unfortunately, we in Europe are not risk-minded to support startups, to support good ideas. While in the US, in China, they are.” This isn’t just another complaint about regulatory burden. This is an existential crisis playing…

According to Greene (2022), in the next 25 years society must intensify food production while minimizing impacts on climate, land use, freshwater, and biodiversity. Microalgae production emerges as a high-potential solution, offering rapid growth, nutrient density, and environmental advantages that traditional crops cannot match. Microalgae grow 20–30% faster than conventional crops and do not compete for arable land (Greenwell, 2010; Mala, 2016; McDill, 2009). This characteristic allows microalgae to supplement food systems without exacerbating land scarcity, making it a strategic tool for closing projected gaps in global nutritional supply (Greene, 2022). Nutritionally, microalgae are rich in phycocyanin proteins and omega-3…

Nigeria generates roughly 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with less than 10% currently recycled. Nestlé Nigeria Plc is positioning itself at the center of efforts to reverse that trend, using industry collaboration, local entrepreneurship, and policy alignment to transform discarded plastic into economic and environmental value. As part of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) — a coalition of major consumer goods companies — Nestlé is advancing Nigeria’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, which requires producers to manage the environmental footprint of their packaging throughout its lifecycle. Working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency…

Steel exporters to the European Union face a stark reality when the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism begins charging fees on January 1, 2026: a carbon tax of just €15 to €45 per tonne at their home facilities will eliminate their border obligations, while even the most ambitious emissions reductions through technology upgrades can only achieve 80% relief. The mathematics underlying the EU’s landmark climate trade policy reveal an asymmetric playing field where policy interventions at the point of production outperform industrial transformation by significant margins. The Phase-In Advantage That Won’t Last The EU structured CBAM implementation to avoid economic shock.…

The October 2025 designation of hydrogen as an “industry of the future” by the 4th Plenum of the 20th Central Committee marks the formal activation of China’s industrial policy machinery—a mechanism that has consistently transformed strategic declarations into global market dominance. The pattern established with photovoltaics in 2006 and batteries in 2010 suggests China’s hydrogen trajectory will follow a predictable but highly effective sequence: national support programs, provincial implementation, binding development targets, and demand-side quotas that force market creation. China’s photovoltaic sector provides the most instructive precedent. The 2006 strategic designation preceded the 2009 Golden Sun demonstration program and the…

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…