In a circular economy, products, materials and raw materials are continually reused. For example, consumer products like clothes, packaging and toys.

Industry and policymakers are not availing themselves enough of the available scientific knowledge when it comes to smarter ways of dealing with plastics.

On Thursday 20 January, Nature Nanotechnology published the article Quantitative tracing of uptake and transport of submicrometre plastics in crop plants using lanthanide chelates as a dual-functional tracer.

According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) there needs to be a greater (international) focus on, and increased awareness of, the safe recycling of waste.

Companies and organisations in the paint sector are aware that microplastics can cause problems as these particles end up in the environment where they persist and may be harmful to plants and anim

The method developed by RIVM to assess whether waste treatment is sufficiently safe and sustainable, can contribute to the European ambitions for a safe and more circular economy.

As of 7 December 2020, RIVM has become a knowledge partner of the international Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE).

Since the 1970s, European policies to improve air quality have resulted in fewer emissions in many countries.

RIVM has developed a step-by-step plan for the safe reuse of diapers and incontinence material. This plan provides recyclers and licensing authorities with tools to carry out a risk assessment.

If you work on a circular solution or products, you can get lost in the complexity of quality labels, marketing strategies, advice and prohibitions.