Resource Use, Waste & Chemicals

Our Work

IEEP has been increasing its work on resource use, in parallel to the stronger focus in EU policies on minimising natural resource use and maximising resource efficiency. The Institute is a partner in a major framework contract for DG Environment on the Sustainable Management of Resources, which has so far given rise to projects on natural resources (reviewing the Natural Resources Thematic Strategy, analysing key contributions to resource efficiency, and on waste and on sustainable consumption and production).

Over recent years IEEP has greatly increased its portfolio of projects on natural resources and waste, contributing to the development and assessment of EU waste legislation and policy, undertaking research into natural resource use, and tracking and advising on the development of chemicals policies. Our work on natural resources and waste is predominantly carried out by members of the Industry, Waste and Water Programme.

At an early stage, the EU recognised waste as a key environmental challenge. The first Waste Framework Directive was adopted in 1975 and sought to create a coherent set of measures applicable in all Member States. Since then, legislation has expanded to cover various areas of waste management (hazardous waste, shipment of waste, landfill of waste, incineration and waste statistics) and a wide range of specific waste streams (mining waste, ship generated waste, sewage sludge, PCBs, packaging waste, batteries and accumulators, end-of-life vehicles (ELV), waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and hazardous substances in electrical/electronic equipment (ROHS).

Projects related to this waste legislation and wider policy form the core of IEEP’s work on waste. Recent projects include the analysis of existing EU legislation and policy and significant contributions to the development of future waste policy.

European policies explicitly addressing waste are complemented by parallel efforts to minimise natural resource use, promote eco-design principles, encourage more sustainable consumption and production and move towards a full ‘life cycle’ approach to resource and product use. Rather than merely dealing with waste once it is generated, such policies are an ongoing attempt to use resources more efficiently from the outset. IEEP’s recent work in this area includes contributing to a major review of the EU’s Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.

IEEP’s work on the regulation of chemicals mainly focuses on the implementation of REACH (the EU Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) both within Member States as well as on a European level.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Resource Use, Waste & Chemicals

  • Exploring key priorities and actions for the 7th EAP

    This policy paper examines how the forthcoming 7EAP can contribute to protecting natural systems and improving the way in which we use natural resources. It also examines a number of cross-cutting actions needed to support the priorities of the 7EAP and ensure better delivery of EU environment policy.

  • What do we mean by Green Economy?

    What is the Green Economy? What policy actions can contribute to achieving it? And how have EU-funded research projects supported these actions?

  • Green Economy in the European Union

    Elements of the green economy concept are relatively well integrated in EU strategic documents - but the focus is on achieving green/sustainable growth, rather than achieving a ‘green economy’.

  • An all-consuming responsibility

    This short paper highlights the challenges that the EU faces in delivering a resource efficient society and argues that achieving this would require action across a range of policy areas.

  • EU Natural Resources policy: Signposts on the roadmap to sustainability

    The EU is committed to building improved resource efficiency into its economic strategy, starting with a “roadmap” this year. A new paper from the Institute sets out the challenges, reviews the mixed results of previous EU policy in this area and suggests a number of ways forward. Both a broad vision and an array of practical policy initiatives are required.

  • Review of the Waste Thematic Strategy

    This report supported the European Commission’s review of the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste. It summarises available data on waste management in the EU, assesses progress towards the EU becoming a ‘recycling society’, outlines the achievements of the Waste Thematic Strategy, and makes recommendations for the development of future EU waste policies.

  • Review of COM 671: European Commission proposal for a Regulation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to food (COM(2003) 671)

    An analysis of Commission proposal for a Regulation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to food (COM(2003) 671). In this Proposal, the Commission ...

Highlights

  • EU Natural Resources policy: Signposts on the roadmap to sustainability

    The EU is committed to building improved resource efficiency into its economic strategy, starting with a “roadmap” this year. A new paper from the Institute sets out the challenges, reviews the mixed results of previous EU policy in this area and suggests a number of ways forward. Both a broad vision and an array of practical policy initiatives are required.

  • Review of the Waste Thematic Strategy

    This report supported the European Commission’s review of the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste. It summarises available data on waste management in the EU, assesses progress towards the EU becoming a ‘recycling society’, outlines the achievements of the Waste Thematic Strategy, and makes recommendations for the development of future EU waste policies.