A new survey of 1,019 people finds that:
– Reusable cup systems score 4.04 out of 5
– 69% of respondents returned their cup at their last event
– A majority prefer events that actively reduce waste
Concerns are less about sustainability and more about practicalities, hygiene and return logistics top the list.
The takeaway? public willingness is there, but smooth, well-organised systems are what will make reuse the norm.
This survey was conducted in the frame of the Elevating Reuse In Cities (ERIC) project in collaboration with Ekologi brez meja.
Factsheet available in English.
Lyon Métropole proves zero single-use plastic in public catering is achievable and replicable. By embedding binding requirements into procurement contracts, they eliminated disposable plastics across 58 municipalities. Four years on, suppliers have permanently transformed their practices, offering other authorities a ready-to-use template with no excuse not to act.
With the support of Zero Waste France and in the frame of the Elevating Reuse In Cities (ERIC) project.
Case study available in English, and French.
Andebolmania is a long-running handball tournament in São João da Madeira, Portugal. In 2026, organisers, the municipality, and Portuguese organisation ZERO teamed up to tackle the event’s significant waste problem, and the results speak for themselves: 72% less waste and 52% fewer single-use items compared to the previous edition.
This factsheet, produced as part of the Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) project, breaks down what changed, how it was implemented, and what comes next on the road to a fully zero waste event.
Available in English.
In December 2025, Viladecans (Catalonia) piloted a reuse system at CONAMA Local, a three-day congress welcoming more than 600 participants.
The initiative, developed by Rezero as part of the Elevating Reuse In Cities (ERIC) project, deployed six water fountains, a reusable cup return system, and reusable catering items.
Over three days, nearly 3,900 single-use items were avoided, cutting 57.7 kg of waste and 327 kg of CO₂ equivalent. The pilot demonstrated that reuse systems are practical and impactful at professional multi-venue events.
Case study available in English, Spanish, and Estonian.
A coalition of frontrunner European cities and progressive businesses launched an open manifesto calling for a bold overhaul of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems under the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act.
Current EPR systems are failing to address the root causes of the waste crisis. They remain stuck in outdated, end-of-pipe solutions that neither incentivise true waste prevention nor support reuse at scale.
Our message to EU policymakers is clear:
We need EPR systems that prioritise waste prevention, enable reuse, and hold producers accountable for the full lifecycle of their packaging.
Check the campaign here.
This work is part of the Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) project.
The Manifesto is available in English, Greek, and Portuguese.
Polystyrene fishboxes are polluting our seas with toxic microplastics, but a sustainable switch is underway.
In this factsheet, discover how the BlueFishers project in Tuscany is replacing disposable foam crates with reusable, recyclable alternatives, cutting 35,000 boxes in just 6 months.
Find out how local fishers are leading a practical, circular solution , and how it could scale across Europe.
This work is part of the Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) project.
Available in English.
The eco crèches project in Brussels is replacing disposable nappies with washable, reusable ones, an innovative solution that could prevent millions of nappies from ending up in incinerators. With 40 crèches set to go fully reusable by 2027, this project will save 1,400 tonnes of CO2, while reducing waste and improving babies’ skin health.
Dive into the factsheet to discover how simple changes, like using reusable nappies, are transforming municipal childcare with zero-waste solutions, and why it’s a model worth replicating.
This work is part of the Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) project.
Factsheet available in English, French, Dutch, Polish, and Hungarian.