The waste management sector sits at the intersection of two urgent policy agendas: achieving net-zero emissions and building a circular economy. Decisions about waste treatment infrastructure, material recovery systems, and end-of-life pathways carry implications for both carbon and resource efficiency. But often, the two conflict.
With European packaging waste on track to increase CO2 emissions by 40 million tonnes annually by 2050 under current systems (Systemiq, 2025), this session examines how waste management strategies can simultaneously advance both climate and circularity goals. We’ll touch upon topics like carbon accounting methodologies, treatment technology trade-offs, and the industrial transformation required to align zero waste ambition with decarbonization targets without sacrificing jobs or competitiveness.
- Reconciling climate and circularity: Are net-zero and zero waste goals inherently in tension, or can waste management strategies be designed to deliver on both? What does carbon accounting reveal about the true lifecycle impacts of different treatment pathways?
- Infrastructure and investment priorities: Where should Europe direct capital investment in waste management—mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, energy recovery with carbon capture, or alternative treatment technologies—to optimize for both emissions reduction and resource recovery?
- Just transition in waste systems: How can the waste management sector transform to meet climate and circularity targets while protecting existing workforces and creating quality jobs
What to expect from this type of session...
Hear from expert speakers on these mainstage panel discussions as we address the critical sustainability challenges and opportunities within the industry.
