Rome, 15/May/2025
The FREECOVER project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, proudly took part in the 7th National Conference on the Circular Economy, held at the National Central Library in Rome. This prestigious event was organized by the Circular Economy Network and the Fondazione per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile, in collaboration with ENEA, and under the patronage of the European Commission and relevant Italian ministries.
FREECOVER was represented by Dr. Leonardo Piccinetti of SITES, the project’s communication and dissemination leader. His participation reinforced FREECOVER’s alignment with European strategies for advancing circular economy policies and critical raw materials (CRMs).
The 2025 Report on the Circular Economy in Italy was presented during the conference, highlighting key national and EU policy developments — including regulations on ecodesign, repair rights, packaging, critical raw materials, and greenwashing. Discussions also addressed circular consumer behavior, biotechnology, and CRM workforce development.
As Dr. Piccinetti noted, “FREECOVER is more than a research project. It’s part of a broader movement to strengthen Europe’s circular economy by developing green technologies for Rare Earth Element recovery, and by contributing to the skilled workforce needed for future CRM demands.”
FREECOVER’s work supports several of the EU’s recently approved regulations, especially those related to critical raw materials and waste electronics recycling, and continues to build bridges between science, policy, and society.
For more information on FREECOVER and its activities, visit www.freecover.eu
[Watch the conference recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/36xWKDYcQNY].
Media Contact:
Maghraby Elseify
FREECOVER Communication Team
✉ Email: Maghraby.sites@gmail.com
