Publications

The destruction of returned and unsold textiles in Europe’s circular economy

EU policymakers have recently decided to introduce a direct ban on the destruction of textiles and footwear with some exemptions for small, micro and medium-sized companies. In this briefing, the EEA provides an overview of what is currently known about the volumes and destruction of returned and unsold textiles in Europe. The growth of online shopping, flexible return practices, changed consumer preferences and fast-fashion business strategies in Europe have resulted in increased shares of returned and unsold textiles. Over the past years, fast fashion as well as luxury brands, have been reported to destroy returned or unsold clothing, shoes and other textiles. Textile product destruction, where products are destroyed by retailers, brands or manufacturers before use, is an example of a resource ‘take-make-waste’ approach, highlighting the inefficiency of current linear production-consumption systems which cause avoidable negative impacts on the environment and climate.

Veterinary antimicrobials in Europe’s environment: a One Health perspective

Antimicrobials are an essential tool to prevent or treat disease in humans and animals. In food systems, they help to ensure the health and welfare of animals raised for food. However, their use can also lead to environmental pollution and potentially affect human health, including by contributing to the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This briefing summarises the latest knowledge on how antimicrobials used in food-producing animals may impact the health of humans, animals and ecosystems, and reviews progress in reducing their use in Europe’s food system.

European bathing water quality in 2023

From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, most of Europe’s bathing waters are of excellent quality for swimming when assessed against the two specific health relevant parameters (Escherichia coli – or E. coli – and intestinal enterococci) as required under the Bathing Water Directive (EU, 2006). This briefing provides information on the quality of Europe’s bathing waters, and is complemented by a map viewer to help citizens take informed decisions on where to bathe. The briefing is published in the context of the Zero pollution action plan and is based on analysis of data reported by EU Members States for the 2020-2023 bathing seasons.

Management of used and waste textiles in Europe’s circular economy

The Waste Framework Directive (WFD) mandates that from 2025, EU Member States must establish separate collection systems for used textiles. This briefing provides an overview of the current state of textile waste generation, collection systems, treatment capacity and the different classifications for used textiles in Europe. Additionally, it identifies factors which must be considered when implementing separate collection systems to foster the circularity of textiles without inadvertently increasing exports, incineration, or landfilling.

Europe’s air quality status 2024

Air pollution is Europe’s largest environmental health risk, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that impact health, reduce quality of life and cause preventable deaths. This briefing presents the status of regulated pollutants in ambient air in 2022 and 2023 in relation to current EU air quality standards and World Health Organization (WHO) guideline levels.

Delivering justice in sustainability transitions

The EU is committed to a just and inclusive future of living well within planetary boundaries. To reach this sustainable future, society must go through processes of transition that improve the quality of life of current and future generations. Sustainability transitions must lead to wellbeing for both people and other species, while respecting ecological boundaries and addressing existing injustices linked to environmental degradation and climate change. At the same time, there is a need to make sure that the policies enacted to achieve sustainability do not create new inequalities or exacerbate existing ones. This briefing puts forward a conceptual framework to support the development of just and equitable sustainability transition policies.

Capturing the climate change mitigation benefits of circular economy and waste sector policies and measures

Waste and circular economy actions contribute to reducing the need for new primary materials and the associated greenhouse gas emissions linked to the extraction and processing of resources. Including circular economy and waste activities in the reporting on climate change mitigation policies and measures can help provide a fuller account of a country’s mitigation efforts. This approach can further reveal policy opportunities to unlock additional emission reductions and help countries reach their net-zero targets.

The costs to health and the environment from industrial air pollution in Europe – 2024 update

The economic costs associated with the negative impacts of air pollution caused by Europe’s industrial plants are substantial. The methods of estimating the damage or ‘external’ costs associated with industrial pollution’s impacts on human health, ecosystems, infrastructure and climate continue to evolve. This briefing presents the latest assessment of the trends in externalities of industrial air pollution caused by over 10,000 facilities during the last decade (2012-2021).

How climate change impacts marine life

This briefing summarises some of the ways in which climate change is impacting Europe’s marine ecosystems. It identifies how various ecosystem features are influenced by climate change and spotlights potential areas of concern. It also highlights areas where marine life may be more impacted by climate change compared with other areas. This work supports the recent integration of climate change as a key consideration in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). It does this by presenting a spatial description of the vulnerabilities of marine areas to climate change.

Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease 2023

Air pollution is currently the most important environmental health risk factor in Europe. It remains an important cause of poor health and contributes in particular to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This briefing presents information for 2021 of the estimated harm to human health caused by three key air pollutants: fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. This year’s assessment also presents an estimation of the health impacts associated with specific diseases to which air pollution contributes. Such impacts are expressed using burden of disease metrics, namely ‘morbidity’ (the state of having a disease or disability) and ‘mortality’ (deaths that have occurred due to a specific disease or a group of diseases).

Scaling nature-based solutions for climate resilience and nature restoration

Wider application of nature-based solutions (NBS) to climate change adaptation would deliver multiple societal benefits and contribute to biodiversity conservation. However, there is limited experience scaling solutions beyond local contexts. The lack of standardised methods for assessment and monitoring of NBS is a major challenge for replicating and applying them at a wider scale. This briefing looks into applied assessment frameworks and the scaling potential of selected NBS, and how they may contribute to ecosystem restoration outside protected areas.

Investments in the sustainability transition: leveraging green industrial policy against emerging constraints

To accelerate the green transition, Europe needs a solid socio-economic and fiscal policy framework to ensure the European Green Deal is smoothly implemented in the upcoming EU institutional cycle. This requires some clear political decisions and good policymaking, namely within fiscal and industrial policies. New green industrial policies can help overcome limitations in public finance for the green transition.

Is Europe on track towards climate resilience? Status of reported national adaptation actions in 2023

In March 2023, EU Member States were mandated for the second time to report their national adaptation actions under the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. For the first time they also reported on adaptation aspects in the progress reporting of their national energy and climate plans. Non-EU EEA member countries were invited to provide similar information on a voluntary basis. This briefing presents the current status of national adaptation actions across Europe, with an emphasis on recent developments and lessons learned since the reporting in 2021.

The case for public participation in sustainability transitions

Public participation in environmental decision-making is a legal right in Europe. This principle was established two decades ago by the Aarhus Convention. Since then, it has been increasingly recognised that participation is not only a matter of justice and democracy but also a practical necessity for transitioning into sustainability. This briefing focuses on different forms of public participation from a sustainability transitions perspective, highlights its core tenets, principles and pitfalls.

Human exposure to Bisphenol A in Europe

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical that has been used in high volumes for decades and is known to harm human health. People are exposed to BPA mainly through diet due to BPA being present in a range of materials commonly used in packaging for food and beverages. This briefing presents the latest information on human exposure to BPA in Europe. It also highlights potential health risks resulting from people being exposed to unsafe levels of BPA.

Accelerating the energy efficiency renovation of residential buildings — a behavioural approach

Improving the energy performance of buildings is an important part of reaching the EU’s climate, energy and air pollution targets, but requires an acceleration in renovation rates. This briefing identifies behavioural factors that influence decisions on renovation investment. It also explores how understanding these factors can inform the design of policies that more effectively encourage the renovation of residential buildings, contributing to achieving climate neutrality.

Air pollution in Europe: 2023 reporting status under the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive

This briefing describes the progress made by the EU and its Member States towards reducing emissions of the five main air pollutants regulated under the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive. It presents an assessment of Member State performance against the emission reduction commitments for 2020-2029 as well as their progress towards achieving the more ambitious reduction commitments that will apply from 2030 onward. The briefing also presents the trends for a broader range of air pollutants and the sources of their emissions in Europe. The briefing is based on the latest available data reported by Member States in 2023 for their 2021 emissions.

Environment and climate pressures from household consumption in Europe

Europe and the world face unprecedented sustainability challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion and pollution. These challenges are largely caused by unsustainable consumption as countries strive for economic growth and people pursue well-being. Household consumption pressures and impacts the environment and drive climate change.

Conditions and pathways for sustainable and circular consumption in Europe

Unprecedented sustainability challenges from accumulating environmental and climate pressures and impacts - to a large extent caused by unsustainable consumption - require a fundamental shift in our production and consumption systems in Europe and beyond. Such a shift calls for exploring what conditions and pathways are for sustainable and circular consumption in Europe.

The benefits to biodiversity of a strong circular economy

Biodiversity is vital for healthy ecosystems and the foundation of our well-being and economy. However, it is under severe threat. At the root of the problem, lies our current unsustainable production and consumption systems. The circular economy is key to transforming these systems. This briefing explores how circular economy can reduce the impacts of production and consumption on biodiversity