The Dutch asphalt sector can reduce emissions by 30% to 60% by using biobased asphalt in which fossil bitumen has been replaced by lignin and other components from plant residues, according to new figures from Wageningen Food & Biobased Research. The potential savings are huge, since 10 million tonnes of asphalt containing 300,000 tonnes of bitumen are produced annually in the Netherlands alone. In traditional asphalt, bitumen is used as a binder. It binds the gravel in the asphalt mixture together and gives strength. However, bitumen is a crude oil product that is becoming…

Republished from: https://www.undp.org/philippines/blog/japan-undp-and-denr-push-philippines-transition-circular-economy Representatives from both the public and private sectors convened last 17 October in a national forum to amplify the call for the Philippines to transition to circular economy, amid the country’s efforts to recover from the compounded impacts of the pandemic and the recurring climate-related disasters. The forum was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Government of Japan, and in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “Our collaboration with the UNDP and the DENR, through the ‘Accelerating Nationally Determined Contributions through…

Very relevant and must-read: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has launched its first biodiversity study ‘The Nature Imperative: How the circular economy can tackle biodiversity loss’.The paper aims to detail the specific role of each circular economy principle, and their applicability across sectors. By showcasing four sectors - food, built environment, fashion, and plastics - the paper illustrates how the circular economy offers a framework for transformative change, and sets out actions business and policymakers can take to achieve this shift. For further info and to download the full report: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/news/new-study-explores-how-the-circular-economy-can-tackle-biodiversity-loss It's accompanying interview with…