Green

Survey by Area studi Legacoop and Ipsos

According to the results of a survey by Area studi Legacoop and Ipsos, in the last 3 years almost one Italian in 2 (45% of respondents) has purchased a used product and one in 3 (36% of the sample) a reconditioned or regenerated product.

However, for 32% of people we live in a society not used to reuse, for 28% people prefer to always have the latest model released on the market.

Among the initiatives to encourage a more circular approach: price reduction (86%); economic incentives on used/reconditioned/regenerated products (84%); more information on their reliability (85%).

For 8 out of 10 Italians (more precisely for 81% of respondents) “in today’s society we are too accustomed to linking well-being to the amount of new goods acquired, instead of the greater care of the goods we use“.

On a global level, the circular economy, unfortunately, is lagging behind, but Italy confirms itself as a leading country, along with Spain, among the largest European economies. There are, however, alarm bells. Because we’re getting worse on some key indicators like the circular use rate of matter and resource productivity. This is what emerges from the National Report on the Circular Economy 2022 promoted by Assoambiente and realized by CEN (Circular Economy Network), in collaboration with Enea.

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What does Europe do?

More than 2.2 billion tonnes of waste are produced every year in the European Union. The EU is updating waste management legislation to promote the transition to a circular economy, as an alternative to the current linear economic model.

In March 2020, the European Commission presented, under the European Green Deal in line with the proposal for the new industrial strategy, the Action Plan for a New Circular Economy, which includes proposals for more sustainable product design, on reducing waste and empowering citizens. Resource-intensive sectors, such as electronics and information and communication technologies, plastics, textiles and construction, are given special attention.

In February 2021, the European Parliament voted for the new circular economy action plan, calling for additional measures to achieve an environmentally sustainable zero-carbon economy, free from toxic substances and fully circulate by 2050. It also includes stricter recycling standards and binding 2030 targets on the use and ecological footprint of materials.

Through measures such as waste prevention, eco-design and reuse of materials, European companies would achieve savings and at the same time reduce total annual greenhouse gas emissions. At the moment, the production of the materials we use every day is responsible for 45% of CO2 emissions.

The transition to a more circular economy can bring many benefits, including: Reducing pressure on the environment; More certainty about the availability of raw materials; Increasing competitiveness; Boosting innovation and economic growth (a 0.5% increase in GDP); Increase in employment – it is estimated that in the EU thanks to the circular economy there could be 700,000 new jobs by 2030.

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On 9 May 2022, the Conference on the Future of Europe, the most advanced participatory experiment implemented by the EU, formally ended.

This time, the European institutions have not only consulted the citizens, but have made them deliberate and draw up recommendations on the main challenges and priorities for the future of the Union.

One year on from the conclusion of the Conference, the 49 proposals from the citizens were discussed by the Council, Parliament and the Commission to be transformed into concrete policies, but the follow-up is still ongoing. The main challenge is to convene a Convention for the reform of the Treaties, the standard procedure for extending the Union’s competences and implementing the Assembly’s more ambitious proposals, such as overcoming unanimity in the Council.

The Conference on the Future of Europe has been a unique transnational participatory process, and continues to be an extraordinary opportunity to launch a new constituent process within the EU. It is up to the European institutions to fulfil the expectations of European citizens.

To continue reading, click on the following link https://regioneer.it/ov341m2s

Edited by Europe Direct Emilia-Romagna

During this year’s European Session, the 3rd European Commission, which deals with territory, environment and mobility, addressed some crucial issues related to the implementation of the European Green Deal policies in different sectors.

Specifically those relating to waste reduction, soil and ecological transport.

To continue reading, click on the following link https://regioneer.it/hy658r3x 

Edited by Europe Direct Emilia-Romagna

Sustainable hydrogen is considered a crucial factor in the energy transition and the Emilia-Romagna Region is developing a regional strategy that favours its production and consumption.

Hydrogen is one of the most abundant gases on the planet but it is not a source of energy, it is a carrier, this means that it can be useful to transform and conserve energy produced by other means. It will play a key role in the medium and long term both for our future energy systems and for achieving carbon neutrality.

It represents a great opportunity but today it represents a great challenge that calls for institutions, research institutions and companies. A change of vision that means not only research and production of hydrogen but also development of new skills and definition of new industrial strategies for a growth of the overall territory.

To continue reading, click on the following link https://regioneer.it/bn133o7w 

Edited by Europe Direct Emilia-Romagna

The legislation requires companies to ensure that products sold in the EU do not cause deforestation, to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

Between 1990 and 2020 deforestation affected a larger area of the EU and EU consumption responsible for about 10% of losses.

The European Parliament has definitively approved a law that provides that companies will be able to sell in the EU only products whose supplier has issued a declaration of “due diligence” certifying that the product does not originate from deforested land and has not contributed to the degradation of forests, including irreplaceable primary forests, after 31 December 2020.
As requested by Parliament, companies will also have to verify that these products comply with the relevant legislation of the country of production, including on human rights, and that the rights of the indigenous peoples concerned have been respected.

Products covered by the new legislation include cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya and wood, including products containing, fed or produced using these products (for example, leather, chocolate and furniture)as originally proposed by the Commission. Also included rubber, coal, printed paper products and a number of palm oil derivatives.
At the request of the EP, the definition of forest degradation has also been extended, which now includes the conversion of primary or naturally regenerated forests into forest plantations or other woodland.

The text must also be formally approved by the Council and will then be published in the Official Journal of the EU, to enter into force 20 days later, so it will be directly applicable in all EU countries.

More info https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/it/press-room/20230414IPR80129/il-parlamento-approva-una-nuova-legge-per-combattere-la-deforestazione-globale