Over 150 million tonnes of plastic currently float in the ocean, and 90% of all plastic produced is landfilled. In 2012, a fungus, Pestalotiopsis microspore, was discovered in Ecuador that is able to digest and break down polyurethane plastic. The species can survive solely by ‘eating’ plastic, effectively converting the polyurethane into organic matter—and the researchers believe it can be used both in household and landfill settings. Katharina Unger of Utrecht University has developed a product—Fungi Mutarium—so that consumers can grow these mushrooms at home; eventually, once there is no plastic left in the mushrooms, the mushrooms themselves can be eaten. This project is still in early stages and is not commercially available, but if approved could have wide-reaching impacts on plastic pollution.

Fungi mutarium: plastic-eating mushrooms

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In this study the potential of freezing methods for the treatment of geothermal waste brine in the Netherlands was investigated. Based on the first analysis, modelling and experiments in this study, the&nbsp;use of&nbsp;freezing methods for the treatment of geothermal waste brines seems promising. Freeze concentration can result in significant&nbsp;reduction&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;waste&nbsp;stream&nbsp;and&nbsp;the potential to produce usable water while using eutectic salt precipitation&nbsp;may produce significant&nbsp;yields of hydrohalite with economic value. The production of products (ice, salt) of high enough purite to allow re-use requires further study on actual geothermal brines with more complex brine&nbsp;composition&nbsp;than&nbsp;considered&nbsp;in&nbsp;this&nbsp;study. However,&nbsp;freeze&nbsp;concentration&nbsp;is&nbsp;already&nbsp;a commercially available method for brine treatment, and should be considered as an option for the concentration of geothermal waste brines.

Extracting clean water and minerals from salty wastewater by freezing it -  EUTECTIC FREEZE CRYSTALLIZATION (EFC): A COOL SOLUTION FOR PROCESSING GEOTHERMAL WASTE BRINES?

This white paper presents an analysis of the key strengths and limitations of the currentorganization of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Netherlands. Based on ouranalysis, we present three pathways for improving EPR for the circular economy.

WHITE PAPER on Pathways for Extended Producer Responsibility on the road to a Circular Economy

This white paper presents an analysis of the key strengths and limitations of the currentorganization of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Netherlands. Based on ouranalysis, we present three pathways for improving EPR for the circular economy.

Cities play a central role in the circular economy (CE) as they are important centres of production and consumption, responsible for 80% of global GDP. European cities are particularly important due to their position of power in the global economy as major markets and places of industrial and social innovation. Yet urban CE policies and discourses remain poorly researched and understood. This paper addresses this research gap by analysing and comparing the CE policies and discourses in different European cities to draw critical insights and recommendations. It does so by first reviewing academic literature on urban CE policies to develop a new conceptual framework to analyse CE discourses and policies. This framework is then used to analyse and compare the CE policies of three European cities: Glasgow, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen. Results show that technocentric approaches to CE are dominant in the three cities. Moreover, they have very limited social justice policies for a fair distribution of the costs and benefits of a CE transition. Key policy recommendations to address these shortcomings are thus proposed. The insights brought about by this paper are valuable for both practitioners and academics seeking to improve urban CE policies.

Sustainable circular cities? Analysing urban circular economy policies in Amsterdam, Glasgow, and Copenhagen


Although the Japanese government is an early adopter of Circular Economy (CE) policies and developed the concept of the Sound Material-Cycle Society in the early 2000s, its CE policies have nonetheless been poorly researched and understood, especially in English academic literature. This article addresses this research gap by answering the following questions: What are the dominant discourses of key stakeholders in Japan regarding CE? And to what extent does the current CE policy in Japan relate to that? Methodologically, this paper conducted a discourse analysis through a mix of policy analysis, media analysis, stakeholder interviews, keyword mining, qualitative content analysis, and analysis of stakeholder presence. Results show that, while CE discourses in Japan are rather diverse, they mostly fall within the Reformist Circular Society discourse type, with some smaller Technocentric Circular Economy and Transformational Circular Society elements. Results also show that businesses and academics were over-represented in policy meetings and the media, compared to NGOs and local government actors, which are more likely to hold transformational circularity discourses. Most circularity discourses in Japan are thus focused on a growth-optimistic narrative that emphasises innovative technologies and lacks a stronger understanding of social justice and planetary boundaries. Based on these findings, this article suggests recommendations, such as revisiting Japanese ecological thinking and Buddhist philosophy, which can inspire degrowth-oriented circularity approaches, as well as encompassing more participation of neglected societal groups in the development and implementation of CE policies and practices. By highlighting the challenges in current CE discourse and implementation in Japan, this study presents implications for a more socially inclusive and ecologically sustainable path towards a circular society.