Food Waste is an economic, environmental, social and ethical issue. The strategy to tackle it has to cover the whole food system from crop to compost. Read the Zero Waste
The hidden costs of incineration: the case of Madeira and Azores
Nothing prevents islands from achieving ambitious waste reduction and recycling targets – but waste incineration can slow them down. Available in English, French and Spanish
The story of eReuse
Imagine expanding the life of electronic devices while incorporating blockchain traceability technology capable of creating 1 job for every 300 items reused. Now imagine ensuring a 95% recycling rate and transforming a cost for municipalities
Carpet producers support mandatory action to make the sector go circular
Carpet manufacturers, industry associations and civil society join voices to make the carpet industry go circular. Available in English
Hidden emissions: a story from the Netherlands
Although presented as state of the art, the youngest incinerator in the Netherlands is far from a clean: long-term tests reveal emissions of dioxin, furan and persistent organic pollutants far
Changing trends in plastic waste trade: Plastic Waste shipments report
As plastic waste has grown so has the industry surrounding it. A large amount of plastic waste is exported to countries in the Global South. Our report looks at the
Research paper on a European tax on plastics
Environmental taxes are economic instruments aimed at affecting behaviour of industries, consumers, and resource managers through market systems. They can be combined with other market-based instruments such as subsidies, deposit-refund
NGO recommendations for a sustainable EU bioeconomy
In 2012, the EU released the Communication, “Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe”, which is now in the process of being updated. The bioeconomy is an increasing part
Policy briefing on the Cohesion Fund post-2020
The Circular Economy legislation creates an opportunity to be either seized or missed for a long time, and it is key that the Cohesion Fund supports this transition. Read our
Letter to the Members of the European Parliament: cut single-use plastic!
Alongside Rethink Plastic & #breakfreefromplastic, we called on the European Parliament to be at the vanguard of tackling plastic pollution and vote to close the tap of single-use plastic. Read
The story of FreiburgCup
In November 2016, Freiburg decided to stop the flood of disposable coffee cups. Less than two years later, Freiburg has proven how a mid-size city can push for alternatives to
The story of Bruges
After assessing that 750 000 kg of food were wasted every year, the city of Bruges lauched anambitious Zero Food Waste strategy. Becoming a European forerunner with 43% of Food
The price is right… or is it? The case for taxing plastics
An ambitious set of taxes designed to influence both producer and consumer behaviour can help Europe curb plastic pollution by encouraging both plastic reduction and greater recycling. ZWE & the
Reusable & toxic-free menstrual products
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
