GLOBE EU Events

On April 21, GLOBE EU members hosted students from the Climate Academy and their teachers for the fifth annual Overshoot Day event. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity exhausts the ecological resources that Earth’s ecosystems can regenerate in a year. For 2025, the Global Footprint Network set this day as July 24, while the EU’s date was April 29. This year, for the EU, it falls on May 3.

GLOBE EU President Manuela Ripa, along with Sara Matthieu in the first session, addressed questions from Pelagie, Slav, Sofia, and Bruno regarding fossil fuel subsidies, binding targets, and circular economy rules. In the second session, Ripa was joined by GLOBE EU Vice President Bruno Tobback to respond to inquiries from Karolina, Saumya, Amaury, and Nolan about transparency rollbacks, accountability, and alignment with the Green Deal.

The event was further honored by a visit from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who engaged with the students about their experiences.

Credit: Daïna Le Lardic, European Parliament

Credit: Daïna Le Lardic, European Parliament

Credit: Daïna Le Lardic, European Parliament

On November 20, GLOBE EU organized an event to discuss the future of sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems. Manuela Ripa MEP hosted the event and welcomed representatives from Bee Group members Unilever, Grodan (Rockwool), and Nestlé, as well as DG AGRI, the European Council of Young Farmers, Rabobank, Soil Capital, and the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture. Speakers highlighted the EU’s commitment to fostering the next generation of farmers through innovative practices and targeted policies. They emphasized the importance of generational renewal, with initiatives aimed at doubling young farmer participation by 2040 by improving access to land, credit, and knowledge. The promotion of regenerative agriculture by leading companies like Unilever demonstrated a focus on sustainable practices that enhance soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.

Final agenda

Summary

Speakers Compilation

On September 30, MEPs Sirpa Pietikäinen, Pascal Canfin, and Bruno Tobback hosted a conference focused on the role of circularity in preserving the EU’s critical raw materials. This event was co-organized with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, with a keynote address delivered by CEO Jonquil Hackenberg. The conference featured two panel discussions with contributions from representatives of Bee Group members Eastman and Tarkett, as well as partners like GLOBE EU, WRI, and EMF. Additional insights were provided by The Club of Rome, DG-GROW, Eurometaux, and Umicore, all exploring the intersections of the Green Deal and material security within the EU.

Jonquil Hackenberg

Anders Wijkman

Eric Dehouck

Wen-Yu Weng

Joan Canton

Kamila Slupek

MyriamTryjefaczka

Wouter Ghyoot

Ke Wang

Final Program

Speakers Compilation

Summary

MEPs and GLOBE EU members Sirpa Pietikäinen, Bruno Tobback, and Martin Hojsík on July 1 welcomed Peter Bakker (WBCSD) and a diverse group of experts and business representatives to discuss the conditions necessary for European industrial sectors to remain competitive while continuously improving their long-term sustainability.

The event featured presentations by Bee Group members Amcor, Dow, Ecolab, and Rockwool, who shared successful strategies for enhancing resource efficiency across the value chain. Following these presentations, funding specialists examined the structural changes required to facilitate investment in start-ups and provide the support these companies need to grow.

The third panel discussion was dedicated to exploring the role of digitalization and artificial intelligence, with insights from representatives of Deutsche Telekom, Google, Cisco, and Kyndryl.

Key suggestions for policy improvements to facilitate the green industrial transition in Europe included implementing better circular economy incentives, reforming electricity market design to promote renewable energy sources, and developing more effective funding mechanisms to support large-scale investments — highlighting that public funding alone is insufficient.

Additionally, participants called for harmonizing and simplifying regulations, especially concerning waste and secondary raw materials, to reduce business complexity and enable scalable circular solutions. They also stressed the importance of stable regulatory environments, long-term visions, and policies that balance clarity with substance to attract investments and support innovation in green technologies.

Agenda

Speakers’ Compilation

Summary

Rockwool presentation

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