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Powering the science of sustainable resource management

Our world faces a growing challenge to address how people create, use, and discard the materials that make our lives. With more than 30 years of experience, EREF is the proven source for unbiased, scientific reports and analysis on sustainable materials management.

Advancing a sustainable economy

Instead of a linear economy—which moves raw materials through manufacturing, distribution, and consumption to create waste—we imagine a circular economy that keeps materials moving through reuse, repair, redistribution, and recycling to preserve natural resources and minimize climate-altering emissions.

How we advance circularity

Our impact is driven by our core research pillars

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GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

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EMERGING CONTAMINANTS

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ADVANCING MATERIALS REUSE & RECYCLING

active projects
scholars funded in 2024
funded in research & scholarships since 1992

Featured report

Fires in the Materials Management Sector

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Our Most Popular Resources

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News

April 12, 2025

Advancing PFAS Research: Meet Sonia Moavenzadeh at WasteExpo

Imagine trying to clean up a spill you can’t even see. That’s the challenge Sonia Moavenzadeh tackles every day. A Ph.D. candidate in Civil and…

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April 2, 2025

We’ve Made it Too Hard to Recycle Correctly. How Can We Fix It?

by Stephen Aber Picture this: you’ve finished a long day of work, grabbed some take-out on the way home, enjoyed your dinner, and now you…

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Events

Fires in the Materials Management Sector: Key Findings and Implications

Explore the critical findings of EREF’s recent report on fires in the materials management sector. We’ll discuss the prevalence of fires, common causes – including…

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2025 Annual Charitable Auction

The EREF Annual Charitable Auction offers companies a special opportunity to showcase their products and demonstrate their dedication to supporting credible scientific research in the…

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