Understanding the barriers to recycling critical raw materials for the energy transition
Rising geopolitical tensions and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have intensified concerns about securing access to the critical raw materials (CRMs) that are needed for the energy transition. A group of 17 elements referred to as rare earth elements (REEs) are among the CRMs for which security of supply is increasingly becoming a matter […]
Implementing the EU digital battery passport
Introduced as part of the new EU regulatory frameworks for ecodesign and batteries, the digital product passport (DPP) supports the collection and sharing of product-related data among supply chain actors. As the first tool of this kind globally, it aspires to address existing information gaps for products and components throughout global supply chains, thus becoming […]
The solution to phasing out coal in the Western Balkans?
The new geopolitical reality has given equally new impetus for EU enlargement to the Western Balkans. However, it’s often forgotten that the most acute and imminent risk in that region is the complete meltdown of the power sector. None of the plants in the Western Balkans, most being more than 40 years old, run at […]
Developing a supply chain for recycled rare earth permanent magnets in the EU
Rare earth elements are strategically important for the EU to sustain and accelerate its green and digital transition, particularly due to their use in permanent magnets. Rare earths permanent magnets are critical components of low carbon technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles, but also home appliances and consumer electronics. Yet faced with an […]
Squaring the Circle: Policies from Europe’s Circular Economy Transition
Launch of the new World Bank report: “Squaring the Circle: Policies from Europe’s Circular Economy Transition” Followed by a panel discussion: “How can Europe further boost the Circular Economy Transition within and beyond its borders?” The overlapping geopolitical, economic, and environmental crises currently impacting the world economy highlight the urgency to address surging rates […]