Capteurs d'Avenir
by PollutecNews and market updates for environment professionals
A new methodology to calculate material footprint
Accurate knowledge of the quantity of raw materials consumed by an economy is a pre-requisite for any circular economy policy. From this perspective the ad-hoc indicator is the material footprint. This is currently calculated using a methodology developed by Eurostat...
The environment is increasingly central to the maritime economy
Environmental matters are more central than ever to issues surrounding the seas and oceans. In late 2018, the French government’s Strategic Contract for Maritime Industries placed particular emphasis on the decarbonisation of propulsion and on-board energy (‘green...
Adaptation in question
Faced with climate change, humankind has long believed that it would equally be capable of implementing suitable adaptation solutions. However, it should firstly be noted that adaptation is not an alternative to attenuation. And secondly, some of the impacts of climate change that have often been predicted for 2030, 2050 or even 2100 are already here so we can no longer speak in the future tense.
Ten Years on from Grenelle de la Mer: Where Are We Now?
In 2009, France organised “Grenelle de la Mer” based on the same framework as the “Grenelle de l’Environnement”. Ten years on, the CNML, France’s National Coastal and Ocean Council, has produced a report highlighting the main issues that need to be further addressed. Let’s take a look at the key findings.
Water, cornerstone of Pollutec
Accounting for almost a third of exhibitors, water ranks alongside waste as one of the cornerstones of Pollutec. This traditional show sector is however by no means any less dynamic and is constantly innovating.
Heating and cooling networks: a sector worth boosting
Heating currently accounts for almost half of final energy consumption in France, but remains largely reliant on fossil fuels. Alongside fuelwood, solar energy, air source heat pumps (ASHP) and other renewable heat solutions, heating and cooling networks have their part to play too.
Bio-waste: one of the key issues for the coming years
Currently, residual household waste in France is either disposed of in landfill or incinerated. However, almost a third of this RHW is made up of bio-waste which may have a water content of 60%-90%. Instead of burying or incinerating bio-waste, is it possible to adopt a process for returning it to the soil? This is the aim of source separation for recycling.
The many environmental benefits of satellite applications
Earth observation is a key field of satellite applications. With applications ranging from resource management to land-use planning, ocean and coastline, air quality, natural hazards and climate change, its uses are becoming more widespread as technology and data analysis systems develop.
Strategic and critical rare metals: what exactly are they?
Though they’ve been talked about for quite a few years, most of us have a rather vague notion of what strategic and critical rare metals and rare earths actually are. Some of these concepts relate to geology, while others have an economic dimension. This makes them difficult to consider like-for-like. Here are some key points for each.
Pollutec Maroc, 11 years at the service of the environment
International exhibition of environment equipments, technologies and services, the 11th edition of Pollutec Maroc was held from 30 October to 02 November 2019 at the Casablanca International Fair. Report on this event.
Report on the Circular Economy Summit
The Circular Economy Summit took place at Pollutec on 28 November 2018. It gathered over 600 participants, hailing from 28 different countries, to discuss the challenges and stakes of circular economy for cities and regions.
Environmental health – a hot topic
Studying the links between health and the environment is nothing new. But it was only in 1989 that a definition of environmental health was proposed by the World Health Organization. Thirty years on, how does the land lie in this eminently cross-disciplinary topic?
3 questions for Alexis de Gérard – new director of Pollutec
At the beginning of September, the whole Pollutec team was pleased to welcome Alexis de Gérard as our new Event Director following the departure of Stéphanie Gay-Torrente who left the company early in 2019 after 17 years. In this interview, Alexis de Gérard looks back on his career so far and reveals what we can expect from the show’s 2020 edition.
Pollutec, the shop window for eco-materials
Pollutec did not wait for the concept of the circular economy to showcase materials produced from recycling or from renewable sources (i.e. bio-sourced). Recycling and recovery have been at the heart of the show for decades.
A call for demonstrator projects on the circular economy and eco-efficiency
This summer, the French government and its General Secretariat for Investment launched three new calls for innovation projects on ecological transition. One of them is looking for projects contributing to the move towards a circular economy as a whole.
![[Part 2] Ocean Economy: Maritime transport is changing](https://blog.pollutec.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/09/Transports-maritimes-1024x633-400x250.jpg)
[Part 2] Ocean Economy: Maritime transport is changing
Nowadays, 90% of all goods traded around the world are carried by sea. In France alone, a merchant vessel will dock in port every six minutes. But like all human activity, sea transport has its impact on the environment and on the climate. So faced with this, the industry is organising itself through voluntary and collaborative initiatives.
![[Video] Corporate citizenship, by Guido Locatelli](https://blog.pollutec.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/08/Entreprise-contributive-1024x633-2-400x250.jpg)
[Video] Corporate citizenship, by Guido Locatelli
At the last Pollutec, we were fortunate to meet Guido Locatelli, CEO of ENVIE Rhône-Alpes. He went on camera to talk about the principle of corporate citizenship.
What are the impacts of heatwaves and drought?
While it remains too soon to assess the economic implications, the heatwaves of 2019’s summer have undeniably broken records and people have seen the direct effects at various levels. Now, we look back at the June and July episodes and their main impacts.
![[Part 1] Ocean Economy: The Various Sectors](https://blog.pollutec.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/06/Eolien-en-mer-1024x633-400x250.jpg)
[Part 1] Ocean Economy: The Various Sectors
The OECD defines the ocean economy as ocean-based industries together with the natural assets and ecosystem services this provides. The ocean economy has seen considerable expansion.However, this growth is under threat from damage to marine environments, linked to pollution from land-based activities and to climate change.
Pollutec: historic crossroads of innovation in waste management
European regulations have changed significantly in recent years. The aim is to improve waste management across the EU, and convert this into a sustainable materials management process.
An overview of endocrine disruptors
Endocrine disruptors are frequently discussed but what exactly are they? And what is the current position from a research and regulatory perspective? Here’s some food for thought.
![[Video] Meeting with the Syndicat des Entreprises de Déconstruction, Dépollution et Recyclage (SEDDRe)](https://blog.pollutec.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/07/Terres-excavées-1024x633-400x250.jpg)
[Video] Meeting with the Syndicat des Entreprises de Déconstruction, Dépollution et Recyclage (SEDDRe)
Last November, during the last edition of Pollutec, our teams met with Sébastien Sureau, General delegate of the SEDDRe, the French Union of Companies working in Deconstruction, Depollution and Recycling.
Polluted site and soil expertise showcased at Pollutec
Although it may seem paradoxical, the issue of soil decontamination ought not to have a future. However, it is one of the villages most often repeated at Pollutec since it was first created in 2003 in partnership with UPDS.
What does the future hold for the water sector?
This is the key question posed by the study published on 27 June by the PIPAME. After outlining the context, issues and challenges facing the sector, the study investigates eleven families of solutions and prioritises four of these.
Renewables increasingly part of Pollutec solutions
With its multidisciplinary approach, Pollutec has been comparing all the renewables strategies since they first emerged 20-25 years ago, providing an overview of energy issues, fully integrated with other environmental problems.