Latest Documents

International Trade and the Transition to a More Resource Efficient and Circular Economy - Trade and Environment Working Paper

The transition towards a resource efficient and circular economy has linkages with international trade through the emergence of global value chains as well as trade in second-hand goods, end-of-life products, secondary materials and waste. This paper highlights the interaction of international trade and the circular economy in order to map out potential issues to address and to guide further research areas to explore on this topic.

Mapping support for primary and secondary metal production - Environment Working Paper

Public support for metal extraction and processing has received little attention relative to that for the agriculture, energy, or fisheries sectors. This report addresses this knowledge gap by mapping out the most common forms of support provided for primary metals (produced from mineral ores) and secondary metals (produced from scrap).

Improving Plastics Management: Trends, policy responses, and the role of international co-operation and trade - Environment Policy Paper

This Policy Paper comprises the Background Report prepared by the OECD for the G7 Environment, Energy and Oceans Ministers (19-21 September, Canada). It provides an overview of current plastics production and use, the environmental impacts that this is generating and identifies the reasons for currently low plastics recycling rates, as well as what can be done about it.

Improving Markets for Recycled Plastics - Trends, Prospects and Policy Responses

Resource efficiency

Improving resource efficiency is among the top priorities in today’s world, as governments, businesses and civil society are increasingly concerned about natural resource use, environmental impacts, material prices and supply security. Latest country study: Making the Slovak Republic a more source efficient economy.

Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)

The OECD Environmental Strategy clearly outlines the need for governments to look for integrated solutions such as sustainable materials management to address current environmental concerns. Ideally public authorities should try to internalise all negative environmental externalities in the prices facing firms and consumers at all stages of the life-cycle.

Policy Paper: Making the Slovak Republic a more resource efficient economy: Country Study

The Slovak Republic is a country with a limited natural resource base, an important manufacturing sector and rising materials consumption. Coherent polices that aim at increasing resource efficiency and achieving green growth are vital for sustainable growth and increased prosperity. This paper identifies a number of options for improving resource efficiency in the Slovak Republic.

Extended Producer Responsibility - Updated Guidance for Efficient Waste Management

Conference on Transition to the green economy

This event, with involvement from the OECD, on 6-7 September 2016, is of major strategic nature during the Slovak Presidency of the European Council. Its ambition is to improve understanding of the green economy concept, identify conclusions and pathways for transition as well as to involve and mobilise various actors and stakeholders in the discussions of possible future actions.

Policy Guidance on Resource Efficiency