While disposable sanitary products come at a high cost for women and the environment, but better solutions exist! #breakfreefromplastic made an infographic on how reusable and toxic-free alternatives will make
Reusable & toxic-free menstrual products: making women’s lives better while fighting plastic pollution
Beyond representing a major source of plastic pollution, disposable menstrual products come at a high cost for women, in terms of both budget and health hazard. Zero Waste Europe calls
Burning waste in cement kilns: the case of Lafarge Trbovlje
Burning waste in cement kilns is a widespread practice, but what impact does it have on citizens’ health and the environment? The case of the Lafarge Trbovlje cement plant highlights
Why “bioplastics” won’t solve plastic pollution
The so called “bioplastics” are still plastics, and neither bio-based nor bio-degradable plastics will solve the plastic pollution crisis. The Rethink Plastic alliance made an infographic to illustrate why. Available
The Story of Recircle
Recircle has arrived to transform take-away restaurants. In two years, more than 400 restaurants across Switzerland are already using Recircle’s 70,000 reusable meal boxes. A winning solution that prevents waste
Burning waste in cement kilns: the story of Calusco d’Adda
Burning waste in cement kilns is a widespread practice, but what is its impact on citizens’ health and the environment? The story Calusco d’Adda shows how waste-based fuels can increase
Statement on incineration in Latin America
Zero waste good practices are cheaper, more flexible, less pollutant, more participatory, and generate more jobs than incineration. Read Zero Waste Europe statement on waste incineration in Europe and Latin
Annual Report 2017
Whilst the zero waste movement has been around for decades the creation of Zero Waste Europe as an organisation is rather recent. However, in few years, we have already managed
Unwrapped: how throwaway plastic is failing to solve Europe’s food waste problem (and what we need to do instead)
Food waste and plastic waste are two major economic, environmental and social challenges facing Europe. The report shows how a rise in plastic food packaging is failing to reduce Europe’s
Smartphone regulation – Open letter to president Juncker
Smartphone regulation – Open letter to President Juncker. Available in English.
The Story of Sardinia
Fifteen years ago Sardinia was Italy’s worst performing region in waste management. Today, it is the best performing island in the Mediterranean. Who said Zero Waste cannot work in tourist
The Story of Besançon
Located in Eastern France, the city of Besançon has rolled out an extensive system of decentralized composting, managing to cover 70% of its population and to significantly reduce the waste
Circular economy opportunities for digital products
The joint policy paper by Zero Waste Europe, ECOS, EEB, IFIXIT and Rreuse complements Digital Europe’s publication “The Contribution of the Digital Industry in a Circular Economy” with additional perspectives, and
EPR in the EU Plastics Strategy and the Circular Economy: A focus on plastic packaging
Published by IEEP, with the support of the MAVA Foundation, Zero Waste Europe and EEB, this reports highlights policy options aimed at enhancing the ambition of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes
Choosing between Composting and Anaerobic Digestion: soil, fuel or both?
Zero Waste International Alliance’s (ZWIA) briefing on anaerobic digestion and composting. Available in English
Climate Finance for the Waste Management Sector
This policy briefing looks at the false climate solutions promoted by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The false solutions including the burning of refuse derived fuel (RDF) are emitters of greenhouse
Seizing the opportunity: using plastic only where it makes sense
The policy paper looks at existing alternatives to fast-moving and short-lived plastic applications and calls for the EU to introduce reduction targets for single-use plastics within the EU Strategy on Plastics
Embodied Energy: A driver for the circular economy?
A briefing paper on the use of embodied energy in product policy. The paper looks at the basis for an indicator of the energy which is embodied in a product
Rethinking Economic Incentives for Separate Collection
A study produced by Rezero for Zero Waste Europe & Reloop Platform looking at how the circular economy can be taken to the next level through the extended use of
Separate Collection: The path to composting
A report produced by Amigos de la Tierra (Friends of the Earth Spain) and translated by Zero Waste Europe examining various separate collection methods and the impact and effectiveness of
My Zero Waste Event Guide
A guide on how to run zero waste events. Produced by Zero Waste France, and translated by Zero Waste Europe. Available in English
Annual Report 2016
Whilst the zero waste movement has been around for decades the creation of Zero Waste Europe as an organisation is rather recent. However, in few years, we have already managed
Creating a Toxic Free World: avoiding a collision between the EU and the Circular Economy
Our briefing in advance of the 2017 ex-COP. Calling for the EU to align its international policy on toxics with the Circular Economy, for a clean and toxic free future.
Position on the Revised Renewable Energy Directive
Zero Waste Europe’s March 2017 position paper on the revised Renewable Energy Directive. Highlighting key contradictions between RED II and Circular Economy policies. Available in English
Harmful subsidies to waste-to-energy incineration
This policy paper looks at the harmful subsidies which are directed to waste-to-energy under the guise of renewable energy. Available in English
Extended Producer Responsibility: creating the frame for circular products
This position paper outlines that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), if used well, can be one of the cornerstones of the transition towards a circular economy. It is a tool that
Joint position paper Bioplastics in a Circular Economy: The need to focus on waste reduction and prevention to avoid false solutions
A joint position paper with a number of European NGO’s exploring ‘false solutions’ to waste reduction and the role that bioplastics play. The report emphasises the need to focus on
The Story of Roubaix
Lacking the power to implement waste collection and management practices, Roubaix had to find new ways to transition to zero waste. The Town is addressing waste at source, by creating
The Story of Parma
In the North of Italy, the City of Parma presents a vivid example of a transition from traditional waste management to Zero Waste in only 4 years. The key for
The Waste Sector Under the Effort Sharing Decision Effort Sharing Decision
This policy paper lays out Zero Waste Europe’s position on the waste sector under the Effort Sharing Decision, based on research demonstrating the true impact of that waste has on
Annual Report 2015
Whilst the zero waste movement has been around for decades the creation of Zero Waste Europe as an organisation is rather recent. However, in few years, we have already managed
Zero Waste to Landfill: false paths to a Circular Economy
This policy paper warns against the use of landfill bans and advocates for the use of more effective instruments to reduce residual waste and advance towards a circular economy. Available
Air Pollution from Waste Disposal: Not for Public Breath
This report looks at the many problems, legal, environmental and epidemiological that waste incineration plants across Europe are facing.
The Potential Contribution of Waste Management to a Low Carbon Economy
A report into the potential that waste management poses for the transition to a low carbon economy. This report commissioned by Zero Waste Europe, in partnership with Zero Waste France
Redesigning Producer Responsibility: A new EPR is needed for a circular economy
A new study commissioned by Zero Waste Europe finding majority of product waste is not covered by current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and calling for redesign in order to
The story of Gipuzkoa
The province of Gipuzkoa, in Spanish Basque Country, has managed to almost double their recycling rates in 4 years. In 2011 they struggled to meet EU targets and now they
The story of Ljubljana
The Slovenian capital is the first capital in Europe to declare the Zero Waste goal and in 2014 separately collected 61% of its municipal waste. The city has committed to
The Potential Contribution of Waste Management to a Low Carbon Economy – Executive Summary
The Executive Summary of our report into the potential that waste management poses for the transition to a low carbon economy. This report commissioned by Zero Waste Europe, in partnership
Presentations of Best EU and US zero waste practices
Power point presentation describing Zero Waste Cities best practices across Europe and the United States. Avaiable in English.
