The European economy needs huge amounts of resources to function. Apart from consuming minerals, metals, concrete and wood, Europe burns fossil fuels and uses land to satisfy the needs of its citizens. Demand for materials is so intense that between 20 and 30 % of the resources we use are now...

Land take, or the change from non-artificial to artificial land cover, reflects on-going and often conflicting claims on land. Some of the land that is 'taken' for urban development is covered with an impervious surface, which severely hampers ecosystem functioning and the related delivery of...

Synthetic chemicals classed as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for decades in clothing and other textiles to repel water, oil and dirt, and provide thermal stability and durability. The use of PFAS is concerning because of their persistence, and the negative impacts of...

This briefing offers a practical definition of recycling quality as an approach to improving waste management operations and increasing circularity in Europe. It is published in support of the EU's circular economy action plan.

This briefing presents key facts and figures around Europe's effort to forge a circular economy. It uses key indicators for acknowledging progress made and identifying areas of improvement. The briefing supports the implementation of the circular economy action plan and builds on metrics from...

The Waste Framework Directive (WFD) mandates that from 2025, EU Member States must establish separate collection systems for used textiles. This briefing provides an overview of the current state of textile waste generation, collection systems, treatment capacity and the different...