Circular Economy and AI: AIDEAS Competition Seeks Ideas

Circular Economy and AI: AIDEAS Competition Seeks Ideas

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The competition is seeking ideas and concepts for circular business models involving AI. The focus is on approaches that make material and product flows visible, reduce resource use, extend product lifespans, or create new data-driven services for the circular economy. Please note: Submitters have until October 16 to submit their concepts!

Eligible participants:
• Colleges, universities, and research institutions
• Startups, scale-ups, and grown-ups
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Large, established companies
• Collaborative projects and consortia
• Individuals
• Groups consisting of several people or organizations
• Civil society initiatives

 

To participate, you must be based in Germany.

Individuals must reside in Germany, and companies and organizations must have their headquarters in Germany. Individual collaboration partners may also be based abroad. In addition, applicants must ensure that the work on their contribution to AIDEAS is not already being funded by other public grants.

Participants can submit their concepts online via a form on the Circular AI Hub website. An interdisciplinary jury comprising representatives from business, AI development, and politics will select the ten most compelling concepts. In doing so, the jury will assess whether the idea can be developed into a viable and scalable business model: How innovative and creative is the approach? Is it realistically feasible? Does the idea offer economic potential? And does the team have the appropriate experience and necessary expertise?

 

Support for the Ten Best Ideas

The ten selected teams will each receive 10,000 euros to further develop their concepts. During the implementation phase, the teams will refine their business models using the Innovation Readiness Level (IRL) methodology and ultimately produce an IRL report. All concepts will then be presented at the Circular AI Hub Forum on November 10, 2026.

For more information on the rules and how the contest works: https://circular-ai-hub.org/aideas/

 

The Circular AI Hub
The AIDEAS innovation competition is organized by the Circular AI Hub of the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The Circular AI Hub aims to advance the use of artificial intelligence in the circular economy. As a one-stop shop, it supports AI solutions for the circular economy throughout the entire development process—from the initial idea through testing to scaling up in practical applications. The focus is on transfer projects, the reuse of successful solutions, and the establishment of a strong innovation ecosystem for AI in the circular economy. The Circular AI Hub is operated by Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft. Its technology partners are the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and the VDI Technology Center.
https://circular-ai-hub.org

 

The VDI Technology Center
As an innovation agency and a leading project organizer in Germany, the VDI Technology Center is dedicated to the topics and technologies of the future, with the goal of strengthening the future-oriented competencies of Germany and Europe. On behalf of federal and state ministries, the European Commission, and various foundations, the VDI Technology Center implements research and innovation funding programs and offers measures to support innovation. Its focus is on topics such as sustainability and climate, digitalization, key technologies, health, innovation and education, security, as well as resource efficiency and the circular economy. The VDI Technology Center is part of the VDI Group.
https://www.vditz.de/

2026 World Biodiversity Conference: Why the Future of Nature Is at Stake Right Now

2026 World Biodiversity Conference: Why the Future of Nature Is at Stake Right Now

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Along with climate change, the global loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. Forests are disappearing, natural habitats are being destroyed, and more and more animal and plant species are coming under pressure. Of the eight to ten million species, about one million are threatened with extinction. Scientists refer to this as the sixth mass extinction on our planet—and the first one caused by humans. 

 

From October 19 to 30, 2026, representatives from the 195 member states and the EU (the U.S. will not participate) will therefore gather in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, for the 17th UN Conference on Biological Diversity, or COP17 for short. This year’s host country is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, home to many plant and animal species found only there (endemic species).

The focus is on one crucial question: Is the world actually making progress in protecting biodiversity—or are international promises largely unfulfilled?

 

A Global Pledge for Nature

As early as 2022, the international community agreed on a comprehensive plan to protect biodiversity—the so-calledKunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). A total of 23 targets are to be achieved by 2030, with the overall goal of halting the massive loss of species.

World Nature Summit – Combating the Dramatic Decline in Species

The best-known initiative is the so-called 30×30 goal: At least 30 percent of the world’s land and marine areas are to be effectively protected and conserved by 2030. However, there remains a significant gap between political commitments and actual implementation.

The rights of indigenous peoples, who play an important role in preserving biodiversity, were also strengthened at the recent conference in Rome through the creation of a permanent body.

A preliminary international progress report shows that more than three-quarters of countries have now set their own biodiversity targets. However, progress to date on none of the 23 global targets is sufficient to fully achieve them within the intended timeframe.

 

How much of nature is actually protected?

Progress is certainly being made in expanding protected areas. Worldwide, approximately 18.4 percent of land areas and about 10 percent of marine areas are now protected. This means the world is still a long way from the agreed-upon goal.

Furthermore, it is not just the size of protected areas that matters. Their ecological quality, habitat connectivity, and the actual effectiveness of conservation measures also play an important role. A protected area on paper does not guarantee that threatened species and natural ecosystems will be preserved in the long term.

 

Nature conservation requires billions

One of the biggest points of contention at the upcoming conference is likely to be financing. The international community has agreed to mobilize at least $200 billion annually from public and private sources by 2030 to preserve biodiversity. However, according to current estimates, only about $78 billion to $91 billion per year is currently being provided.

The situation is particularly difficult for economically weaker countries. Many of them are home to exceptionally species-rich ecosystems but lack the financial resources to protect them in the long term. Without additional investment in protected areas, sustainable agriculture, the restoration of destroyed habitats, and effective monitoring, many international goals will be virtually unattainable.

 

Facts & Figures

196 Parties are members of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity
According to scientific estimates, 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction
30% of land and marine areas are to be protected by 2030
23 global biodiversity targets have been agreed upon
18.4% of the world’s land area is currently under protection
10% of the world’s marine areas are protected
$200 billion is to be mobilized annually for biodiversity conservation by 2030

 

Why Biodiversity Also Affects Our Economy

The loss of biodiversity is no longer solely a problem for nature conservation. Healthy ecosystems provide clean drinking water, fertile soil, pollination for crops, and natural raw materials. They regulate the water cycle, store carbon, and can mitigate the effects of extreme weather events.

If these natural systems are damaged, significant economic risks will also arise in the long term. This is particularly evident in agriculture, water supply, and in regions whose economic development depends heavily on intact landscapes and natural resources.

The extinction of species is taking on apocalyptic proportions

The first comprehensive interim assessment will be conducted in 2026

The World Biodiversity Conference in Armenia will, for the first time, conduct a comprehensive international midterm review of the implementation of the nature conservation goals agreed upon in 2022. This will reveal which countries have already translated their commitments into concrete actions and where there remains a significant need for further action.

The main challenge now is less about setting new goals than about actually implementing them. After all, protecting biodiversity is not a task that can be put off indefinitely. With every habitat destroyed and every species that goes extinct, natural functions are lost—functions that are often difficult, if not impossible, to restore.

COP17 could therefore mark an important turning point: moving away from international declarations of intent and toward measurable progress in protecting nature.

Greenpeace Report: IKEA Destroys European Protected Area for Cheap Furniture

Greenpeace Report: IKEA Destroys European Protected Area for Cheap Furniture

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A Greenpeace report released today reveals that, despite its sustainability pledges, the international furniture giant IKEA has cleared valuable natural forests in a Romanian Natura 2000 protected area and used the wood to manufacture disposable furniture. IKEA products are also available in Austria, and the wood used in them most likely comes from protected forests in Europe—for example, the “Neiden” spruce bed. Ahead of the upcoming UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP17 in Armenia—where corporate supply chain accountability and transparency are key topics—Greenpeace is calling on corporations like IKEA to take action rather than engage in greenwashing.

 

“Europe’s ancient forests are home to countless species. Here, lynx, red deer, and brown bears roam through nearly untouched woodlands, where many of the trees are hundreds of years old. Forests are also crucial for regulating our climate and storing water. Ikea prides itself on making grand sustainability promises—yet at the same time, Greenpeace investigations once again show that Ikea’s suppliers are flouting conservation regulations and destroying valuable forests.”

Ursula Bittner, Greenpeace biodiversity expert

 

On paper, IKEA sets ambitious goals, but the company lacks concrete, measurable species conservation targets. IKEA continues to source wood from forests worthy of protection—statistically speaking, a tree is felled every two seconds for the furniture giant. For over 25 years, Greenpeace has analyzed “tree cover loss” in Poland, Sweden, Germany, Romania, and Finland. These countries supply nearly half of the fresh wood used by IKEA. The alarming rate of tree cover loss in these countries shows that even Natura 2000 protected areas do not shield them from deforestation. That is why we need strictly protected areas free from industrial logging.

 

Case Study: Romania—Clear-Cutting in a Natura 2000 Protected Area

The case study documented in the report paints a devastating picture: In the Rusca Montană forest district (parcel 37), located within a protected Natura 2000 site in the Romanian Carpathians, massive logging took place. Across an area of 15 hectares, all trees were cleared, and the deadwood essential for the ecosystem was removed. The harvested timber was verifiably incorporated into the supply chain of IKEA suppliers.

At the Conference on Species Conservation, 196 countries agreed to effectively protect 30 percent of land and marine areas—with the EU committing to strictly protect one-third of that total. The area in question should originally have been placed under strict protection as part of that agreement. Since it has been cleared, it has now been removed from the list of protected areas.

Success at species conservation conference in Rome

Certifications such as FSC do not provide genuine forest protection

Ikea continues to base its sustainability promises primarily on FSC certifications. But even though corporations can hide behind such certification systems under the new EU Empowering Consumers Directive, the reality is that these labels do not guarantee genuine forest protection. The regulatory framework is flawed and allows for exceptions that permit the sourcing of wood from valuable old-growth forests and protected areas. Instead of holistically assessing the actual ecological condition, certifications and IKEA’s audits often rely solely on utilization criteria and superficial metrics such as tree counts.

“Policymakers are implementing species conservation goals at a snail’s pace. Meanwhile, companies continue to clear forest areas that are actually designated as future protected areas. But market leaders like Ikea, in particular, must finally take responsibility for their entire supply chain.”

Ursula Bittner, Greenpeace biodiversity expert

 

The upcoming UN Conference on Biodiversity makes it unmistakably clear: If countries and large corporations do not act now, we will fail to meet global biodiversity targets and destroy the very foundations of our existence. Greenpeace is calling on IKEA to stop purchasing wood from areas worthy of protection. The company must not hide behind certification labels such as the FSC, which have demonstrably failed to prevent logging in protected forests. In line with its supply chain responsibility, Greenpeace demands that IKEA go beyond simply counting trees and assess the actual condition of the forest before logging begins. Furthermore, the company must use its market power to advocate for strict legal protection of at least 10 percent of the EU’s land area.

 

Link to the report (in English) and photos: https://bit.ly/Ikea-Report

Fast Tech – The Blind Spot of Electronic Waste

Fast Tech – The Blind Spot of Electronic Waste

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On October 14, the WEEE Forum—an association of European collection systems—will host its ninth annual “International E-Waste Day.” This year’s theme is “Fast Tech”—the small, inexpensive electronic devices that have long been part of our everyday lives and are becoming more numerous with every new social media trend. The goal is to raise awareness among all of us of the treasure—the valuable resources—associated with these devices.

 

What happens to old electronic devices when they are no longer needed? According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2024, Europe generates 17.6 kilograms of electronic waste per capita, but only 7.5 kilograms are verifiably collected and recycled. There is therefore still a need for action when it comes to collection and return. When end-of-life devices are returned properly, recyclable materials can be recovered and hazardous substances can be handled appropriately. International E-Waste Day on October 14 and the “Every Plug Counts” campaign in Germany draw attention to this issue.

 

“Fast-moving technology is the blind spot in the world of electronic waste. These products are generally not recognized as electronic devices that require responsible disposal. Yet every pair of headphones, every cable, every disposable e-cigarette, and every electronic toy contains valuable materials and hazardous substances. On October 14, we invite all organizations committed to the circular economy to join us and help bridge this knowledge gap.”
– Pascal Leroy, Executive Director, WEEE Forum

 

 

What is Fast-Tech?

Based on the concept of “fast fashion,” so-called “fast-tech” devices are usually recognized by their low price, short lifespan, and the large quantities in which they are produced. And they contain batteries, rechargeable batteries, or other electronic components that must be recycled properly. We all have them at home. And many of them we no longer use. With appliances like washing machines or refrigerators, it’s immediately clear to everyone that they must be disposed of properly—but unfortunately, small “fast-tech” devices all too often end up in the general waste or gather dust in a drawer, meaning their valuable resources cannot be reused and they cause problems during waste processing.

In addition, fast-tech waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams: According to a study by Material Focus, more than half a billion small fast-tech electronic devices were purchased in the United Kingdom alone in 2023—that’s 16 devices per second!

These small electrical appliances, known as "Fast-Tech," include, among others:


Mini Fan
Selfie Ring Light
USB Clip-On Light
Electric Fly Swatter
Electric (Pet) Toys
Electric Beauty Gadgets, such as electric nail files or nail clippers
Rechargeable Lint Remover
LED String Lights Disposable E-Cigarettes

 

Tips for the correct handling of electronic waste

Dispose of correctly, protect the climate
No disposal in household waste: The symbol of the crossed-out dustbin indicates that defective electrical appliances and batteries must not be disposed of in household waste, but must be handed in at municipal recycling centers or at return points set up by distributors or retailers. There are over 2,000 municipal collection points throughout Austria. If a new electrical appliance of the same type is purchased, the old one can be returned directly to the retailer free of charge. This also applies to online purchases.

 

Keeping resources in the cycle
Electrical appliances and batteries contain many valuable raw materials, including iron, aluminum, copper and plastics or, increasingly, lithium and cobalt in small appliances. These can be collected through recycling and put to new use. In addition, environmentally harmful substances such as lead and mercury are treated professionally.

 

Prevent Fire Hazards – Safely!
Lithium batteries pose an increased fire hazard. Therefore, when disposing of them, follow these steps: Remove the batteries from the device, tape over the contacts, and take them separately to a collection point. For permanently installed batteries, the entire device must be disposed of to prevent a fire hazard.

 

Repairing instead of throwing away
Appliances that are defective or no longer needed do not always have to be disposed of. It often makes more ecological sense to repair the broken parts or to pass on devices that are barely used.

 

Link

WEEE Forum onInternational E-Waste Day 2026

Properly Disposing of Electronic Waste in Germany