LIFE showcases the path to a circular economy

Some everyday items are currently just too difficult to recycle, presenting significant challenges to the EU's ambitions for a circular economy. That’s why 6 LIFE projects took part in the recent Reuse Economy Expo to show how they reuse, repair, recondition and remanufacture items ranging from giant off-road vehicle tyres to worn-out leather shoes. Held at the Parc Floral in Paris, the event brought together over 170 exhibitors under the theme of ‘making reuse profitable on a large scale in Europe’.  

One such project was LIFE RE-SHOES, led by Italian footwear brand Scarpa, which reprocesses old shoes and leather scraps into a liquid tan for new shoes. The project also aims to reuse excess rubber cut off during the manufacturing process. 

'Every year over 24 billion new shoes are produced in the world, most of which end up in landfill at the end of their life cycle. That’s a huge problem for the environment,’ said Tiziano Giordano, sustainability manager at Scarpa. ‘The project’s sustainable business model means old shoes become a source for new materials used directly to produce new ones.’ 

Also participating were RE-PLAN CITY LIFE — recycling vehicle tyres for use in buildings, sports pitches and road construction — and LIFE InReGEO, which uses high pressure water jets to recycle giant off-road tyres typically used by the mining sector. ‘Both projects showcase practical solutions for reusing products and recycling materials common in our everyday life,’ commented Ettore Musacchi, president of the European Tyre Recycling Association. 

Another LIFE project in Paris, Waste2Build, recovers and reuses construction and demolition waste from local building and public sector works in the Toulouse Metropole in France. ‘Millions of tonnes of construction waste are generated across Europe every year,’ explained project coordinator Jérémie Bernard. ‘LIFE Waste2Build relies on procurement to develop the use of second life materials in construction, renovation or landscaping.’ 

Meanwhile, LIFE RE-ZIP aims to change the way e-commerce parcels use packaging. 'We’re building a truly circular system in which reusable packaging replaces single-use across borders, beginning with large-scale pilots in France, Belgium and Germany,' said Daniel Nygaard from Danish packaging company Re-Zip. This project won the “Rising Star Recognition” this month at the annual LIFE Awards ceremony, for its remarkable contribution to the circular economy. 

Finally, LIFE IP CEI-Greece showcased its work to transform waste management into a circular economy in Greece. ‘We have established enhanced green centres, developed systems to manage hazardous household waste and implemented a Pay as you Throw (PAYT) financial tool,’ explained project manager Mary Plati from the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy. 

Information about funding opportunities for recycling and reuse initiatives under the Call for Proposals 2025 was as well presented in a specific session, and to those coming to the LIFE stand.  

The 6 LIFE projects present in Paris contribute to the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan, the Waste Framework Directive, and the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.