News
Cooperations
Since its creation, ACR+ has been cooperating and supporting other networks and platforms, in order to join forces and achieve resource efficiency.
Circular Economy Cross-KIC Initiative
The European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) Cross-Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) activity on circular economy has been created by EIT Climate-KIC, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing and EIT Urban Mobility to strengthen the collaboration of their activities related to the circular economy. A coordinated and efficient collaboration between the different KICs will help the EU achieve its Circular Economy Action Plan.
The initiative aims to establish discussions among the KICs to find ways to develop a joint offer around circular economy and improve coordination with the Commission on this issue. It will also strengthen collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, support the European Institute of Technology in discussions with the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission and facilitate the access to markets for innovative solutions developed in participating KICs.
Since June 2021, ACR+ and the EIT Cross-KIC activity on circular economy agreed to cooperate on technical reports, events and project proposals, as well as investigate potential collaboration in the framework of the European Week for Waste Reduction.
Climate Chance coalition on circular economy
Together with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the French OREE association, ACR+ is a co-pilot of the Climate Chance coalition on circular economy, an international coalition of non-state actors on the circular economy. It aims at defining common priorities of action in terms of co-working and governance, implementation and monitoring of concrete actions to boost the circular economy.
A roadmap of actions in the field of a circular economy for the upcoming years has already been published. It identifies 4 main priority fields: awareness-raising, exchange of best practices and capacity building, policy recommendations and methodology and evaluation.
The Climate Chance initiative was launched by ACR+ member Nantes Métropole in order to involve no-state actors in climate negotiations and international action on climate change.
Close the Glass Loop
Sustainability is high on the public agenda, and packaging is no exception. In May 2020, ACR+ joined Close the Glass Loop and its other founding members to work together to collect 90% of all glass packaging placed on the EU market by 2030. The platform gathers stakeholders throughout the glass collection and recycling value chain to shape a material stewardship programme for more bottle-to-bottle recycling – connecting businesses, brands, retailers, municipalities, EPR schemes and associations alike, at European and national level. It is set to increase the quantity and quality of available recycled glass to ensure our Circular Economy works better for all.
Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
ACR+ is a supporter of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy since February 2016.
This European movement brings together thousands of local and regional authorities in the fight against climate change. It is based on a voluntary commitment by signatories to implement EU climate and energy objectives on their territory. New signatories now pledge to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and to adopt an integrated approach to tackling mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Signatories endorse a shared vision for 2050: accelerating the decarbonisation of their territories, strengthening their capacity to adapt to unavoidable climate change impact, and allowing their citizens to access secure, sustainable and affordable energy.
Energy Cities
Energy Cities is a learning community for cities engaged in future proofing their economies, driven by the desire to strengthen the role and skills of local governments. Being active in more than 30 countries, Energy Cities works with its members to showcase concrete alternatives deployed by cities, advocate to change politic and economic governance at all levels and foster a wide cultural change leading to a futureproofed society.
ACR+ and Energy Cities joined forces in a strategic partnership in 2023: they mutualise resources and knowledge with members of both networks having access to more peer to peer exchanges, learning, and funding opportunities. In addition, ACR+ and Energy Cities will lead common initiatives and actions towards future-proof cities.
Ecomondo
Taking place in Rimini, Italy, Ecomondo is one of the reference events in Europe for the ecological transition and the circular and regenerative economy. This international event with an innovative format brings together all sectors of the circular economy on a single platform: from the recovery of materials and energy to sustainable development. It offers a broad programme of conferences, workshops, and seminars to present international evidence and new trends relating to strands of the circular economy, including building, packaging, and electronics. In 2022 it will take place from 8-11 November.
ACR+ has been actively joining Ecomondo for several years, presenting its activities and projects during the fair and inviting its members to participate in this event.
European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ESCESP) was launched jointly by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee during the Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference that took place in Brussels on 9 - 10 March 2017. It brings together stakeholders active in the broad field of the circular economy in Europe. As a "network of networks", it goes beyond sectorial activities and highlights cross-sector opportunities and challenges, providing a meeting place for stakeholders to share their solutions and team up to address specific challenges, while bridging existing initiatives, and advocating the circular economy at national, regional and local level, and supporting its implementation.
In 2020, the ECESP renewed ACR+ and two of its members - OVAM and Institut de l’économie circulaire – to be part of its Coordination Group. Composed of a broad spectrum of organisations with a pan-European reach, the Coordination Group enables and implements change through its workplan of activities, showing concretely how synergies can accelerate the transition. With a mandate until 2023, the Group brings together 24 members selected from civil society organisations, business and trade union representatives, think-tanks, research centres and public bodies that have a stake in the circular economy. Within the ECESP, ACR+ is coordinating the leadership group on cities and regions.
http://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/
European Resource Efficiency Knowledge Centre
The European Resource Efficiency Knowledge Centre (EREK) is a new European initiative that enables small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) to make better use of their resources, produce less waste and increase their overall productivity and competitiveness. Via its online platform, EREK is bringing together a network of business support organisations from different regions and sectors across the continent. The platform is an open, collaborative space for the sharing of knowledge and expertise on resource efficiency. Some of the tools that it makes available, which one can explore on its website, include a self-assessment tool, a database of almost 500 good practices, workshops and a document library. With EREK, European SMEs can take their first step towards combining competitiveness with resource efficiency in their business operations. The expertise and tools offered help businesses save resources and cut costs.
As of May 2019, ACR+ facilitates its members’ access to materials and news about resource efficiency in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) thanks to this partnership with EREK. The collaboration entails mutual promotion and exchange of good practices.
Green City Accord
The Green City Accord is a movement of European mayors committed to making cities cleaner and healthier. It aims to improve the quality of life of all Europeans, and accelerate the implementation of relevant EU environmental laws. By signing the Accord, cities commit to addressing five areas of environmental management: air, water, nature and biodiversity, circular economy and waste, and noise.
As a supporter of the Green City Accord, since July 2021, ACR+ will participate in the exchange of experiences and will support its members in signing and joining the Green City Accord.
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/topics/urban-environment/green-city-accord_en
International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
ACR+ is a silver member of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
ISWA is a global, independent and non-profit making association, working in the public interest and is the only worldwide association promoting sustainable, comprehensive and professional waste management.
Medcities
MedCities is a network of Mediterranean cities created in Barcelona in November 1991 at the initiative of the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme (METAP).
The creation of MedCities was a consequence of METAP's objective of strengthening decentralised actions involving technical assistance as the best means of promoting awareness of urban environmental problems and making those actions into a vehicle for empowering municipalities in developing countries in respect of the management of urban environmental issues. MedCities continues offering this support. Since then, MedCities has extended its activities from the initial local environment to the wider local sustainable development field.
Being a network of Mediterranean towns and cities belonging to different countries, its purpose is urban sustainable development as a way to improve living conditions in the Mediterranean region.
Urban Agenda Partnership on Circular Economy
The Urban Agenda for the EU is a joint effort of the European Commission, Member states and European cities to strengthen the policies addressing urban areas. The process was launched in 2016 and currently, 12 partnerships are ongoing, including the Urban Agenda Partnership on Circular Economy (UAPCE). It aims to stimulate the re-use, repair, refurbishment and recycling of existing materials and products to promote new growth and job opportunities. The focus will be on: waste management (turning waste into resources), the sharing economy, and resource efficiency. The UAPCE is coordinated by the city of Oslo and gathers, in particular, ACR+ and four of its members (OVAM, The Hague, Prato, and Maribor).
This initiative will allow ACR+ to further influence and promote actions that will benefit cities, including ACR+ members, as well as create synergies with the work done so far, in particular with the Circular Europe Network.
https://ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/circular-economy
Media and events partners
EU Green Week
The EU's landmark event celebrating sustainability — the EU Green Week — takes place every year with events hosted across the bloc, culminating with a high-level summit in Brussels. In 2020, the EU Green Week will be held between 2-5 June and will focus on nature and biodiversity. The EU Green Week will explore how a range of EU policies like the European Green Deal can help protect, restore and sustainably manage nature, leaving it room to recover and thrive.
For its 2019 edition, the EU Green Week named ACR+ an Associate Partner in recognition of its support for and participation in numerous EU Green Week events over the years, such as the European Week for Waste Reduction Awards Ceremony. ACR+ members are also actively involved in EU Green Week initiatives like workshops and partner events.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/eu-green-week-2020_en
Smart City Expo World Congress
Smart City Expo World Congress is the leading international event for the smart city sector, a key meeting point for experts and leaders of the world’s most innovative cities, companies, research centers and international organizations. Over 25,000 professional visitors attended in 2019, with over 1,000 exhibitors, along with high level representatives from more than 700 cities and over 400 international speakers that shared their experience and vision on how to build a more sustainable and livable urban future.
Tomorrow.city
Building on the success and the consolidated ecosystem of the Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s leading event for cities, Tomorrow.City is a step forward towards a new way of connecting projects, sharing knowledge, fostering talent and accelerating solutions. Tomorrow.City is a digital content, training, knowledge and business connector platform aimed at linking cities with companies, building the agenda and accelerating the smart city industry. Trusted by the world's biggest corporations, 700+ cities worldwide and a network of 70,000 global professionals, Tomorrow.City convenes the smart city ecosystem to fuel sustainable and inclusive urban projects. We find ways to connect, inspire and mobilize city professionals to take action offering 365 days of live b2b events, articles, podcasts, VOD about smart cities and more!
Register for free and enjoy all available contents at www.tomorrow.city
