Plastic straws and single-use bags vanish from China as ban kicks in
In China, 2020 was bid farewell with a flurry of fireworks and the scratching off of 200 million metric tonnes of plastic straws from the nation’s pollution inventory.
Circular economy & zero waste
This archive tracks real progress on circular economy and zero-waste efforts worldwide — from packaging redesigns and repair-economy expansions to industrial waste-to-resource programs. More than 155 stories document what’s working, who’s driving it, and how communities and companies are closing the loop on consumption.
CRA reveals the world’s first compostable marker
Scribit Pen cartridges are made of natural fibers and contain non-toxic, water-based ink.
E.U. bans exporting unsorted plastic waste to poorer countries
The European Union’s executive branch announced new rules for plastic waste—including a ban on some exports to poorer countries—that will take effect on January 1.
France to become the first country to label electronics with repairability tags
France is reported to begin rolling out ‘repairability tags’ on devices from January 2021, with some other European countries following suit after that.
Electronic waste on the decline in the United States
A new study led by a researcher at the Yale School of the Environment has found that the total mass of electronic waste generated by Americans has been declining since 2015.
Secondhand clothing sales are booming in the United States
According to a new report, the U.S. secondhand clothing market will more than triple in the next 10 years – from $28b in 2019 to $80b in 2029. In 2019, secondhand clothing expanded 21 times faster than conventional apparel retail did.
Recycling robotics company AMP Robotics could raise up to $70M
The potential benefits of AMP Robotic’s machine learning-enabled robots are undeniable. The company’s technology can sort waste streams in ways that traditional systems never could and at a cost that’s far lower than most waste-handling facilities.
Chatham House launches online tool to track circular economy trade flows
The tool is hosted by circulareconomy.earth – an online portal developed by Chatham House to enable users to “explore the policy and trade dynamics associated with transitioning from linear to circular economic models.”
Prince William launches £50 million prize to find innovative solutions to the world’s greatest problems
The Earthshot Prize is centered around five “Earthshots,” simple but ambitious goals for our planet: 1) Protect and restore nature, 2) Clean our air, 3) Revive our oceans, 4) Build a waste-free world, and 5) Fix our climate.
Maryland becomes first state in the U.S. to implement a foam container ban
Passed in 2019, but implemented last week, the law prohibits restaurants, schools, stores, and other institutions from serving food in polystyrene containers.