TOPIC 1. CONCEPTS IN SAVING, RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF MATERIAL RESOURCES
By Dr. Claudia Brunori, ENEA (IT)
Challenges and the Role of the Circular Economy: Circular economy is not only a technological challenge but also embraces new models of consumption, relationships between companies along the value chain and between the different stakeholders in a territory.
Reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern together with the growing challenges linked to the management of global supply chain and environmental and social impact of unregulated main exploitation. A specific challenge is related to Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) that are crucial for the ecological and digital transition. These are at the base of a broad range of industries including electronics, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and defense.
To address these challenges, a fundamental shift towards a more sustainable and circular approach is needed.
With this Call of Papers, you can share the state of scientific research and best practices examples on topics like the importance of CRMs, the role of the circular economy in addressing their scarcity, and the broader implications for environmental and social sustainability.
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TOPIC 7. RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF WASTE BIOMASS
By Prof. Michael Nelles, University of Rostock (DE)
Biogenic waste and residues: Worldwide, biogenic waste and residues are produced in very large quantities in agriculture and forestry, the food industry and waste management. Inadequate recycling and disposal leads to major environmental problems, including very high greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of a climate-neutral society can only be achieved if, among other things, a circular bioeconomy is established and the combined material and energy recovery of biogenic waste and residues plays a central role in this. Separate collection of biogenic waste and residual materials is a basic prerequisite for high-quality recycling. They can then be fed into a sustainable, usually combined material/energy recovery process. However, environmentally friendly treatment options are also needed in practice for waste with a high biogenic content that is not collected separately. Current state of research and development and best practice examples may be presented within this topic.
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TOPIC 10. CONTAMINANTS FROM CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE ENVIRONMENT
By Prof. Thomas Astrup, Ramboll (DK)
The transition towards increased recycling and circular economy has put material quality and contaminants in recyclable materials high on the agenda. To achieve the largest possible resource savings from circular economy, maintaining material quality is critical. Contaminants play a key role here. Not only because contaminants in materials decrease material quality and limits recyclability, but also because contaminants through recycling may be distributed into new applications, products, and potentially to the environment when waste is mismanaged.
From a circular economy perspective, two types of contamination exist: i) physical contamination involving detrimental mixing of materials that limit recycling, e.g. different polymers in the same plastic fraction, or even different variations of the same polymer in one fraction, and ii) chemical contamination involving unwanted chemical substances, e.g. contained in the original materials, formed during processing, or added either on purpose or unintended to the materials.
Measuring, understanding, and acting on the presence of contaminants in recycled and recyclable materials is critical for further expansion of circular economy. Persistent contaminants may accummulate in recycled materials potentially causing health effects. Both physical and chemical contaminants may limit material quality and thus limit recycling. To further promote circular economy, addressing contaminants in recyclable materials is crucial.
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TOPIC 12. INTERACTION BETWEEN MATERIAL FLOWS IN SOCIETY AND NATURE (CLOSING MATERIAL LOOPS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, BIODIVERSITY)
By Prof. Rainer Stegmann, Hamburg University of Technology (DE)
Research in the different disciplines is of course of utmost importance since the results are the basis for further development. As important as these results are, their full value becomes clear when they are put into an overall perspective: how do these specific results impact or support the global and natural environment? How are they affecting global pollution and climate change and how can biodiversity loss be avoided or, better, how can biodiversity be supported? What is the role of the specific results in Circular Economy respecting final residues, their treatment options and their final destination in sinks? Far too rarely the social impacts and economic implications are considered, even if they should be the final reason for decisions. All these aspects have to be respected since we want to improve a specific product or process but we also want to do our part to save the global environment.
Topic 12 gives us the appropriate forum for discussing all the aspects.
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TOPIC 13. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS
By Prof. Marco Frey, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (IT)
In transitioning toward a circular economic model, the economic and financial aspects play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of the process. Economic barriers are among the primary challenges faced by companies during this transition. Therefore, examining the costs associated with circular transitions and identifying potential financial incentives is highly significant.
Specifically, it invites contributions that investigate topics such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and cost allocation across the product life cycle, full cost accounting, and economic and environmental performance management. Other areas of focus include financial incentive mechanisms (e.g., taxes, subsidies and reward systems), the effectiveness of economic prohibitions and penalties, and the role of governance and market flexibility in advancing circular solutions. At a broader level, the call for papers seeks to address issues related to circular business models for waste management and the ways in which these models can be implemented by capitalizing on economic and financial benefits. Additionally, it emphas the role of networks for circular innovation and tools for inter-firm cooperation as means to achieve economic and environmental advantages.
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TOPIC 14. POLICIES AND LEGAL ASPECTS
By Prof. Maria Pettersson, and Prof. Federico Peres,
Existing and new waste-related legislation, focusing on, for example, the capacity of legislation to address the challenges posed by a circular economy, including regulation bottlenecks and market acceptancy issues.
Challenges linked to circular economy under specific conditions, for example in connection with public events (e.g. festivals), or extraordinary events, such as floods or fire. How can circular economy policy and practice be tailored to specific conditions to promote sustainability and resource efficiency across various contexts?
Challenges because of differing, and constantly changing, regulations, for example regarding green procurements or producer responsibility where companies operating internationally may struggle to maintain uniform strategies.
Social recycling policies. How are communities involved in recycling efforts?
Waste management: how can the goals of the Circular Economy be reconciled with the principle of prevention.
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TOPIC 16. EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS
By Prof. Giovanni De Feo, University of Salerno (IT)
Addressing the challenges of sustainable waste management requires not only technological and infrastructural advancements but also an emphasis on the human dimension. This topic explores the pivotal role of education, communication and social engagement in fostering sustainable practices. Topics of interest include the design and implementation of public and private educational initiatives, strategies for participatory engagement and dispute resolution and the influence of communication campaigns on individual behaviours. The topic will also explore the integration of waste-related issues into formal curricula, the intersection of waste and art and the psychological and social factors that drive source segregation, recycling and the adoption of circular economy principles. By investigating these areas, we aim to inspire innovative approaches and interdisciplinary research that amplify public awareness, enhance behavioural change and contribute to a more sustainable future.
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TOPIC 21. SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL CIRCULAR ECONOMY MODELS
By Prof. Jutta Gutberlet, University of Victoria (CA)
We invite researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to submit papers exploring the following themes:
We welcome submissions of case studies, policy analyses, and theoretical frameworks, particularly those emphasizing social equity, environmental justice and circular economy principles. We look forward to your contributions and engaging discussions.
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