Wind power is expanding quickly; at the same time though, volumes of composite will be rising due to the forthcoming decommissioning, and the EU dependence on critical raw materials, particularly Rare Earth Elements (REEs) will be intensified. This study presents and extends two existing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies – a comparative wind turbine LCA [1] and a magnet to magnet recycling LCA [2], to assess the environmental performance of two direct-drive generator configurations,: DDPMSG and DDSG, under virgin material assumptions, metals recycling scenarios, and an advanced NdFeB magnet-to-magnet recycling scenario. Results show that DDPMSG exhibits approximately 22% lower environmental impact than DDSG under virgin material assumptions. However, this advantage is conditional on magnet recycling: standard metals recycling reduces impacts by 71% for DDSG and 50% for DDPMSG, while advanced magnet-to-magnet recycling restores a 23% DDPMSG advantage with a 72% total impact reduction. Material selection and recyclability therefore emerge as key factors, and the findings directly support EU policy direction under Critical Raw Material Act, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, and Circular Economy Action Plan.

Black plastic materials pose a significant challenge in industrial sorting and recycling due to their invisibility to conventional Near-Infrared (NIR) detection systems. Recently, Mid-Wavelength Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging (MWIR HSI) has emerged as a promising technology to overcome this limitation by enabling spectral discrimination of black polymers. However, the low emission intensity in the MWIR range and the presence of surface reflections and complex geometries hinder the effective spatial identification of such materials. This study proposes a dual masking strategy that relies solely on MWIR hyperspectral data, without support from external sensors, to achieve accurate spatial localization and classification of black plastic samples. The first mask employs a strict threshold-based selection on specific spectral bands to retain only reliable pixels for classification. The second mask applies K-means clustering to L*a*b* and RGB reconstructions of the hyperspectral image to recover spatial information and define object boundaries. The combination of these two masks enables robust, pixel-wise classification while preserving spatial completeness, making the approach suitable for in-line applications. Results demonstrate that the method effectively identifies black plastic samples down to sizes of 1-2 cm, with inter-sample distances above 0.5 cm. Below these thresholds, higher-resolution imaging or pre-trained models may be required.

Islands and popular remote tourist destinations (including ski resorts) are characterized by massive flows of visitors concentrated in specific periods, temporarily increasing the local consumption of resources and products which in terms relates to increased generation of waste materials. This variability in waste generation and seasonal changes in composition (e.g. plastic bottles & food waste) makes the installation and operation of local waste treatment plants in remote areas inefficient. The reason usually is related to the insufficient volume of waste over the entire year to maintain a high-cost recycling investment, to discontinuous saturation and to the demanding requirements in terms of capacity scalability and technical flexibility. Current practices involve:
i) waste collection and transportation to close in-land recycling facilities (e.g. for islands), with high transportation costs and high environmental footprint (increased GHG emissions)
ii) unsustainable disposal of waste, with medium-long term impact in the environment and the beauty of touristic attractions (several examples can be demonstrated).
Examples of the environmental and social consequences of this inefficient waste management schemes lead to the concentration of plastic waste in several beaches, to marine litter and micro-plastics being dispersed in the sea, and to uncontrolled burning of organic waste in hidden areas, typically far from core touristic places and resorts but close to the local residential areas.

The specific problems of waste management in islands and popular remote tourist destinations include: (i) limited land availability for treatment infrastructures including final disposal; (ii) the absence of treatment practices for hazardous wastes; (iii) significant variability of generated waste quantities for the operation of a recycling industry in small remote areas; (iv) no economically viable solutions for waste management causing increasing amounts of solid waste along coastlines and remote areas, mainly plastics; (vi) illegal waste dumping; (vii) high transportation costs for recovered materials. The European Commission through the Circular Economy Action Plan [3], the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation [4] and the Raw Material act [5], is promoting a systemic change towards the implementation of sustainable models decoupling the production of goods and the consumptions of natural resources by fostering local recycling and re-use of materials and components as well as environmentally conscious behavior of consumers.
Consumer behavior - in this case tourists - plays a pivotal role in the generation of waste (plastic waste, textile waste and food waste) in the hospitality sector. A systematic review is required to highlight that guest preferences, dining formats, and portion sizes significantly influence waste generation. Understanding these behavioral patterns is crucial for developing targeted strategies to mitigate and better manage waste.
The aim of this study is to look into applications related to Textile waste, Food waste, Plastic bottles and advanced technologies that can support circular solutions for plastics and textiles.
The main objective is to design and develop decentralised movable solutions, which are able to handle waste generation peaks in islands and remote touristic destinations on demand, meeting the needs of island citizens and tourists.

Island ecosystems, are characterized by isolation, limited land, and tourism-driven economies, face persistent waste management challenges. Spatial constraints and inadequate infrastructure often limit the development of waste recovery and recycling systems, leading to practices such as open dumping or burning that pose serious environmental and health risks. This paper examines how circular economy (CE) principles, reduce, reuse, recycle, can transform waste into a resource and enhance local resilience. A refined definition of “small islands” is introduced, combining UN criteria with a tourism-intensity filter to capture the strong link between visitor flows and solid waste generation. Barriers to CE adoption are classified into institutional, technical, geographical, financial, and social dimensions, and connected to enabling practices in four thematic areas: multi-stakeholder partnerships, recycling and composting innovations, policy and regulatory tools, and community engagement. Comparative case studies from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific reveal that integrated approaches are more durable than isolated efforts. Successful initiatives blend technology with governance, education, financial mechanisms, and community participation. The analysis highlights that no single model fits all islands; strategies must be locally adapted to be effective and transferable. Overall, the study shows that circular transitions are both feasible and necessary, offering environmental gains, economic value, and alignment with the EU Green Deal and global sustainability goals.

Due to a lack of resources and a reliance on conventional, environmentally harmful techniques like landfilling and open burning, waste management is extremely difficult in island locations. Pollution, habitat degradation, and health hazards result from this. The paper, which is implemented within the framework of ReBoat project (funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Innovation Action programme under Grant Agreement No. 101182350), emphasizes in the circular economy (CE) paradigm while its main goal is to argue for a shift to sustainable solutions, especially in the islands and the archipelago. Reduced waste, resource conservation, the establishment of new markets, and job growth are just a few of the environmental, economic, and social advantages that come with adhering to CE principles, which include reducing, reusing, and recycling. The paper presents a number of successful case studies that highlight creative waste management strategies in various island contexts, such as Gili Trawangan and the Galapagos Islands. These examples show how crucial community involvement, multi-stakeholder collaborations, and technology developments are to applying CE principles. The paper concludes that island regions can successfully adopt circular waste management systems with the right policies, investment, and cooperation, improving environmental sustainability, promoting economic growth, and improving the quality of life for locals despite obstacles like infrastructure limitations and funding constraints.