Circular policies for changing the biowaste system
Updated on 09.02.2023
Five Horizon 2020 projects have teamed up to promote innovative solutions and bring down the regulatory barriers blocking a more sustainable future. This joint initiative is named ROOTS – circulaR pOlicies for changing the biOwasTe System.
ROOTS Initiative
Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions
As up to 50 % of European municipal waste is organic, valorisation of biowaste is a key tenet of a circular economy. However, numerous regulatory bottlenecks hinder the full deployment of revolutionary solutions in the field. On 27 September 2022, the ROOTS group hosted a policy conference in Brussels to present their recommendations and discuss them with European policymakers and stakeholders. Information on the agenda can be found here.
The event saw the participation of several European companies and cities involved to various degrees in the five organising projects (CITYLOOPS, HOOP, SCALIBUR, VALUEWASTE, WaysTUP!). They presented their experiences and achievements related to different topics, from biowaste prevention to insect for feed production, up to citizen awareness. These actors also exposed their concerns and thoughts about the barriers limiting the uptake of circular economy solutions. The event is important for policymakers to learn lessons from the ground, to improve the regulatory framework and to enable the implementation of Circular Systemic Solutions in the area of circular bioeconomy.
Academia and research
Business
e.g. B2B services
Citizens
e.g. households, aware consumers, representatives of influential groups, trainers and educators
Civil society
e.g. NGOs, citizens associations
Education actors
Global/international/EU/national/regional/provincial/local initiatives
Industries
e.g. chemicals, textile, ceramics, glass, cement, steel, bio-based industries
Municipal/city/local authorities
National authorities
Other European institutions
Provincial authorities
Regional authorities
Start-ups
Agriculture
Bioeconomy
including bio-based economy
Business
e.g. B2B services
Fisheries
Food (chain/systems)
CEAP2 key product value chain
Government and public administration
Industry
e.g. chemicals, cosmetics, bio-based industries
Manufacturing
e.g. electrical engineering, furniture and interior, textile and fashion
Nutrients
CEAP2 key product value chain
Services
e.g. healthcare
Waste management
Water
CEAP2 key product value chain