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The report identifies significant regulatory and institutional hurdles to phosphorus (P) reuse in the Baltic Sea Region, particularly within the EU's fertilizer and waste frameworks. While the EU's Circular Economy package provides a positive signal, the study finds that 'silo-thinking' across sectors and a lack of harmonized national policies hinder the transition from linear to circular nutrient economies. It highlights a risk of 'lock-in' to sub-optimal technologies, such as mono-incineration in Germany, and recommends mainstreaming circular economy principles at local and national levels to support diverse systemic solutions like source separation.

The document details a partnership where Siyavana Solutions refurbishes end-of-life fuel pumps from Shell service stations to be resold back to Shell. This industrial symbiosis project diverted 16 tonnes of waste from landfills, including pumps, hoses, and computer boards, while generating up to R5 million in additional revenue and creating 9 permanent jobs.

The Enterprise Development Programme (EDP), initiated by GreenCape in 2017, aims to foster green economic growth in Atlantis, South Africa, by converting waste streams into business opportunities. Building on material flow analyses from the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), the EDP provides training and incubation to entrepreneurs to create viable business plans for waste diversion. While early phases focused on start-ups, later iterations shifted toward adding value to established businesses to reduce inherent start-up risks. Key lessons include the need for product development specialists and the challenge of high costs associated with imported recycling technologies.

The project reclaimed 13,000 m3 of concrete and 5,000 m3 of asphalt for on-site reuse, saving R3.1 million in landfill airspace. While on-site crushing would have saved 36% compared to virgin materials, moving the crusher to Philippi increased costs by 20% over virgin sources due to haulage. Technical findings recommend SANS 3001 testing, a grading modulus of 2.2-2.3, and crushing to 37 mm for G5 material to improve workability and CBR values.

The document explores the use of industrial symbiosis to divert wood waste from landfills and reduce reliance on virgin timber in Cape Town. It details how the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) matches businesses to exchange under-utilised resources, such as using sawdust for brick manufacturing or refurbishing old pallets. These circular economy practices are presented as a means to build resilience against resource depletion and climate change while creating jobs and reducing the carbon footprint of local industries.

The clothing and textile industry in Cape Town faces significant risks from water scarcity, energy instability (load shedding), and a linear 'take, make and waste' business model. To build resilience, the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) facilitates resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis, helping businesses divert waste from landfills and reduce water consumption. Key interventions include water pinch analysis, borehole installation, and the adoption of solar PV. The document argues that facilitated, impartial programs like WISP are strategic assets for urban resilience by providing rapid adaptation and trusted information during crises.

The South African waste sector is transitioning toward a resource-efficient economy driven by legislative changes and increasing landfill costs. While disposal remains dominant—with 90% of waste landfilled according to 2011 data—significant opportunities exist in the Western Cape for the beneficiation of organics, e-waste, plastics, and builder's rubble. The report highlights the City of Cape Town as a primary hub for these opportunities due to its high waste generation and the highest landfill gate fees in the country. Key drivers include the implementation of Industry Waste Management Plans (IndWMPs) and provincial organic waste diversion targets, while barriers include low household separation rates and the high cost of hazardous waste licensing.

The Food Waste Warriors project analyzed plate waste in 46 US schools, finding that students waste an average of 39.2 pounds of food and 28.7 cartons of milk per year. The study highlights the significant environmental and financial costs of this waste, estimating a national impact of 530,000 tons of food waste and 45 million gallons of milk waste annually. Results indicate that simple interventions and awareness can reduce waste, with elementary schools seeing a 14.5% reduction. The report recommends policy reforms to National School Lunch Program (NSLP) portion sizes and the adoption of bulk milk dispensers to mitigate these losses.

The report examines the economic feasibility of ecotechnologies, specifically those focused on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) recovery in wastewater and agriculture. It identifies a prevalence of private-cost analyses over social-cost assessments and notes that most recovery technologies are not currently market-competitive without subsidies or the inclusion of social externalities. The document outlines the application of Techno-Economic Assessments (TEA), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), concluding that the social perspective significantly improves the perceived economic efficiency of these technologies.

The document outlines the state of Perú's green economy transition, noting that while the public sector has been slowed by political turmoil and corruption, the private sector—particularly green SMEs—is emerging as a driver for change. It identifies critical barriers for green businesses, including limited access to finance, a lack of labeling standards, and tax systems that favor 'brown' businesses. The text emphasizes the need for better alignment of scattered initiatives and the potential for international cooperation (via PAGE, GIZ, and GGGI) to help implement a national green growth plan.

The report found hazardous substances, including PFASs and phthalates, in most of the 12 US carpets tested, including those marketed as environmentally friendly. It argues that these toxics hinder closed-loop recycling and that current US regulations and industry certifications are insufficient to protect consumers.

The document is an open letter from 41 NGOs supporting the creation of an ECHA database for substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in products, as mandated by Article 9 of the revised Waste Framework Directive. The NGOs argue that this database is essential for a non-toxic circular economy, human health, and environmental protection, countering a position paper from 12 industry groups that sought to replace the database with alternative research and technology investments. The NGOs assert that industry already has a legal obligation under REACH to possess this information and that transparency is necessary for citizens' right to know, market surveillance, and the safety of waste handlers.

The report identifies critical research gaps in sustainable consumption and production (SCP), focusing on three themes: cross-cutting systemic issues, natural resource management, and food waste and loss. It argues that political efforts must shift from increasing efficiency to decreasing overall consumption and calls for a more integrated, whole-supply-chain approach to research and policy.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) proposes the 'Village propre–Village productif' framework to address the lack of integrated risk and resource management in rural sanitation. The framework uses a dual-axis certification system: a 'clean' axis focused on health and hygiene (e.g., eliminating open defecation and managing greywater) and a 'productive' axis focused on the safe recovery of nutrients and energy from waste (e.g., human excreta, animal waste, and ash). By linking sanitation to agricultural productivity and economic benefits, the framework aims to overcome the sustainability and scaling challenges of previous approaches like Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS). It is particularly targeted at smallholder farmers in developing regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, to support multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The document provides a comprehensive mapping of ecotechnologies used to recover carbon and nutrients from wastewater and agriculture. For wastewater, the evidence base consists of 481 articles, showing a predominance of biological processes and a higher focus on energy recovery over nutrient recovery. For agriculture, 338 ecotechnologies were identified, with manure-based systems—particularly anaerobic digestion—being the most prevalent. The report highlights knowledge gaps in nitrogen recovery and the use of extracted nutrients like struvite in agriculture, noting that current policies still prioritise pollution reduction over resource recovery.

Novozymes employs enzyme-based catalysts to lower energy and chemical use in over 40 industrial sectors, aiming to save 100 million metric tons of CO2 annually by 2020. The company integrates circular economy principles at its Kalundborg site and uses life cycle assessments to validate the climate benefits of its products, such as bioenergy solutions and agricultural inoculants.

The report identifies hazardous substances, including phthalates, flame retardants, and PFAS, in carpets from major EU manufacturers, arguing that current regulations and voluntary certifications are insufficient to protect consumers and enable safe recycling.

The report reveals that hazardous substances, including phthalates, flame retardants, and PFASs, are present in carpets from several of Europe's largest manufacturers. It argues that current EU regulations contain loopholes—such as exemptions for recycled PVC—and that voluntary certification schemes are often insufficient. The findings suggest that while non-toxic, recyclable carpets are possible, systemic policy changes and ecodesign are required to scale these solutions.

The report reveals that many carpets from leading European manufacturers contain hazardous substances, including phthalates, halogenated flame retardants, and PFAS, which pose health risks and obstruct circular economy goals. Testing of 15 samples showed that while some products are non-toxic, others contain substances like DEHP and TDCPP, even when using recycled materials. The document argues that current EU regulations and voluntary certifications are insufficient, calling for a shift toward family-based chemical regulation and extended producer responsibility to ensure safe recycling.

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) employs a three-step screening process to identify eligible green bonds and loans for its database: identifying green-labelled bonds, screening assets against the Climate Bonds Taxonomy, and evaluating the allocation of proceeds. To be included, a bond must allocate at least 95% of its proceeds to aligned green assets; any bond where more than 5% of proceeds are used for working capital, social projects, or non-aligned assets is excluded. The methodology explicitly excludes fossil fuel energy and any assets that extend the life of fossil fuel usage, such as 'clean coal'. The Climate Bonds Taxonomy covers eight categories: energy, transport, buildings, water management, waste management & pollution control, nature-based assets, industry & energy-intensive commercial, and information technology & communications (ICT).