European Commission Proposes Ban on Single-Use Plastic Items
The European Commission is proposing a ban on single-use plastic items like straws and utensils according to draft rules released this week.
European Commission
European Fuel Cell Market Forecast To Expand Rapidly By 2027
The European fuel cell market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of more than 70% during the period 2015 to 2027, according to a new report.
Europe to Rethink How it Calculates Carbon Emissions from Aviation
The European Commission is changing the way it accounts for carbon emission from aircraft following an agreement it reached with International Civil Aviation Organization.
Bioplastics Association Criticizes EU’s New Circular Economy Package
The European Commission’s newly adopted Circular Economy package is being criticized by industry and environmentalists alike. The package includes a revised legislative proposal on waste, which includes the following key elements: A common EU target for recycling 65 percent of municipal waste by 2030. A common EU target for recycling 75 ... Read more »
EU to Volkswagen: More CO2 Emissions Details Within 10 Days
Volkswagen has 10 days to provide the European Union with details about the “irregularities” related to carbon-dioxide emissions from its vehicles. The Wall Street Journal reports the European Commission on Monday sent the automaker a “sternly-worded letter” demanding Volkswagen provide “further clarifications” on the VW cars’ CO2 emissions. Last week ... Read more »
Can the EU Form an Energy Union?
The European Commission has submitted various proposals to bring together the energy systems of member states into a single “energy union,” The Guardian reports. Among other benefits, an energy union could provide cost savings, greater energy efficiency and greater energy supply resilience in the face of threats and other emergencies. ... Read more »
Recycling Industry Urges Support of Circular Economy Law
The European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD), which represents the European waste and recycling industry, has urged the European Parliament to put pressure on the European Commission to retain a circular economy proposal instead of ditching it. In December, the EC said it planned to dump the ... Read more »
EU Project Aims to Slash Data Center Electricity Use by 50%
ENTRA, an EU-based research project that will run through September 2015, has developed an experimental software prototype that could help reduce electricity consumption at data centers up to 50 percent and improve the battery life of smart devices. The ENTRA prototype is based on programming semantics that tells programmers how much ... Read more »
Companies Urge EU to Adopt Binding 40% Energy Efficiency Target
Unilever, Philips, Schneider Electric and Siemens are among the 49 companies (see image) that have signed a letter to European Council president Herman Van Rompuy, urging the council to set a binding energy efficiency target of at least 40 percent. European Union member states will meet tomorrow and Friday to ... Read more »
Major Firms to EU: Adopt ‘Robust’ 2030 Climate Policies
Unilever, Ikea, Royal Dutch Shell, Coca-Cola Enterprises and General Electric are among the 57 global companies, funds and associations that have signed a letter to support a “robust 2030 energy and climate policy framework and energy security strategy that is fully in line with Europe’s long-term climate objectives and that ... Read more »
EU May Face Tougher Recycling Targets
EU countries will face tougher recycling targets and a ban on burying recyclable waste in landfills under plans presented by the European Commission. The proposals are part of the Commission’s Waste Targets Review, which includes updated recycling targets of 70 percent of household waste and 80 percent of packaging waste ... Read more »
Scrap ‘Best Before’ Labels on Long-Life Foods, EU States Say
“Best before” labels add to food waste, according to several European Union states that are asking the European Commission to exempt products — such as some long-life produce — from the mandatory labels. According to a discussion paper, put forward by the Netherlands and Sweden and backed by Austria, Denmark, ... Read more »