This publication presents the current state of play of national transpositions of textiles Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) across the EU, as of November 2025. The case studies of established systems in France and the Netherlands are included, as well as examples of other developing EPR systems across Greece, Hungary, Latvia and Spain. This overview should serve as informative for relevant actors and interested audiences.
Textiles EPR is one proposed solution to embed polluter-pays regulations and support stakeholders across the sector who deal with discarded textiles at various points, such as municipalities, waste managers, sorters, reuse operators, social enterprises, repairers and others. Focusing on setting up ambitious national textiles EPR systems across Member States is as timely as ever, due to the ongoing crisis of the reuse sector that deals with growing volumes of donated textiles and a gap in mandatory transposition of textiles EPR.
Available in English.
The 2025 edition of the European Reuse Barometer includes data from 115 reuse companies across Europe, making it the most comprehensive survey on reusable packaging models to date.
Authored by InOff Plastic with support from Zero Waste Europe (through the ReuSe Vanguard Project), New ERA – New European Reuse Alliance, and Planet Reuse, the European Reuse Barometer compiles economic, social and operational data from reuse programmes across retail, e-commerce, hospitality, and transport packaging. The report tracks return rates, funding needs, and business models across reusable systems, demonstrating how reuse is scaling up and making an impact.
Available in English.
In a Reloop-coordinated joint call to European Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné and Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, 112 entities urge the European Commission not to reopen the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) as part of the upcoming Environmental Simplification Package expected in December 2025.
The PPWR is a cornerstone of the European circular economy. It establishes the necessary, comprehensive framework that enables truly reusable and recyclable packaging across the Single Market by 2030. Maintaining the integrity of the existing Regulation is essential to delivering on Europe’s strategic goals, including the Clean Industrial Deal’s target to double the circular material use rate to 24% by 2030. This ambition is wholly dependent on market stability and predictable legislation.
Available in English.
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.
Cities and progressive businesses can endorse the manifesto now and join the call for meaningful change.
Check the campaign and who already signed it here
If you have any questions, please contact Manon Jourdan, [email protected]
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.
Available in English.
Europe faces an urgent need to reduce packaging waste and build circular and resilient systems. With the adoption of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), new obligations create a clear framework for expanding reuse in the takeaway sector
This Blueprint provides public authorities, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), and other stakeholders with a strategic, practical guide for designing and scaling reuse systems. It draws on hands-on learnings from seven leading European cities under the ReuSe Vanguard Project (RSVP).
Recognising that reuse is a dynamic journey, not a one-size-fits-all model, the Blueprint proposes a shared foundation that aims to meet overarching goals of:
– User-friendliness and operational simplicity.
– Environmental and economic performance.
– Scalability and applicability.
The five essential system criteria outlined – effectiveness, recognition, interoperability, inclusiveness, and guaranteed safety – provide a structured approach to building systems that are legally compliant, user-friendly, high-performing,
and future-proof.
By aligning local actions with the spirit and letter of the PPWR, stakeholders can drive a transition that reduces waste, boosts circular innovation, and meets Europe’s ambitious environmental goals.
Available in English, Spanish, French.
Europe’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are failing to deliver on circularity and strategic autonomy.
Our latest study, “Designing EPR to Foster the EU’s Competitiveness and Strategic Autonomy”, analyses 30 years of EPR implementation and proposes a comprehensive framework to transform EPR systems into catalysts for the circular economy transition.
The study lays out a two-pillar plan to unlock EPR’s full potential. The first pillar focuses on system optimisation, calling for harmonised rules across Member States, greater transparency, the creation of a central registry of producers, and the establishment of a European EPR oversight body to reduce administrative burden, tackle free-riding, and support a functioning single market for producer responsibility. The second pillar positions EPR as a circular economy enabler, arguing that EPR fees must go beyond cost-coverage to actively finance waste prevention, reuse, and repair, through dedicated repair funds, reuse infrastructure, and supportive policy measures.
Full repost available in English.
Executive summary available in English, Polish, Estonian, Croatian, and French.
The carbon calculator is a tool designed to quantify the carbon impact of waste management strategies, with a strong focus on prevention and reuse. It enables cities to test different approaches, measure their potential impact before implementation, and make data-driven decisions to shape sustainable urban waste policies.
When applied to Barcelona, the tool assessed the city’s baseline emissions at 172,770 tonnes CO2e per year. It demonstrated how adopting a zero waste strategy could transform the city from a carbon emitter to a carbon saver. By modeling seven targeted actions, including waste prevention, improved recycling, and better organic waste management, Barcelona could slash emissions by over 187,000 tonnes CO2e annually.
Beyond emissions reduction, the tool helps cities monetise their carbon savings, potentially unlocking up to €150 million over a decade to finance sustainable waste management initiatives.
Available in English, Croatian, Estonian, German, and French.
In this open letter to Members of the European Parliament ahead of the hearings of EU Commissioner-designate candidates, a group of NGOs, EU organisations, and sustainable businesses calls out for stronger circular economy policies in Europe.
With the EU’s Circular Material Use Rate showing minimal improvement over the past decade, the letter asks for rigorous questioning of EU Commissioner-designate candidates on twelve critical areas, including binding resource reduction targets, improved Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks, a healthy circular economy, and circular taxation systems.
Available in English.
This first edition of the European Reuse Barometer reveals a rapidly growing reuse industry in Europe, highlighting significant advancements in reusable packaging solutions across sectors such as takeaway, retail, and e-commerce. Key findings indicate that the industry is buoyed by engaged consumers, with 78% of solutions reporting return rates above 75%, showcasing strong consumer commitment. However, the report emphasises the need for legislative support and financial investment to sustain this growth and overcome challenges such as high operational costs and competitive pricing with single-use packaging.
Despite the promising growth, the report underscores the urgent need for streamlined and unified efforts to enhance the reuse ecosystem. Recommendations include increasing consumer engagement through awareness campaigns and restrictive single-use packaging policies, setting ambitious policy frameworks to incentivise reuse, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to build shared infrastructure. By addressing these critical areas, the European Reuse Barometer aims to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and economically viable reuse system across Europe.
Report available in English.
This joint statement on the Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a crucial to furthering EU financial instruments aimed at ensuring that no region or community is left behind as the EU transitions towards climate neutrality. With a focus on the socio-economic impacts of this transformation, particularly in coal-reliant regions, the JTF has proven essential in fostering long-term economic diversification and decarbonisation. As the EU prepares its Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, it is vital that decision-makers extend the JTF to maintain momentum in these regions. The continuation of this dedicated fund will enable vulnerable areas to build on their progress, helping to ensure that the green transition is both just and inclusive.
Available in English.
This report highlights the critical role of public authorities in advancing reuse systems for takeaway packaging. The report, developed in partnership with Eunomia Research & Consulting, shows that switching from single-use to reuse could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower hidden costs like litter and carbon impacts. Case studies in Aarhus and Berlin reveal that small vendors may save on costs, while large businesses could face initial higher expenses. To level the playing field and unlock the full potential of reuse, the report calls for strong policy interventions such as levies, reuse targets, and bans on single-use packaging.
Full report available in English.
Executive Summary available in French, Portuguese, Croatian, and Dutch.
This report developed by Equnimator urges for the immediate and comprehensive inclusion of municipal waste incineration in the EU’s emission trading system (ETS). It emphasises the critical need to include both electricity and heat incineration, along with biogenic CO2, in the ETS. This move is seen as essential for the EU to meet its climate goals and ensure that all sectors contribute fairly to emission reductions.
The report follows the European Parliament’s 2022 ETS reforms, which opened the possibility of including municipal waste incineration within its scope. Despite this, as of January 2024, these facilities are only required to monitor, report, and verify their emissions without the need to surrender allowances. Zero Waste Europe calls for the European Commission to study the feasibility of full inclusion by July 2026, with a potential implementation by 2028.
Available in English.
A significant discrepancy has been uncovered in Spain’s plastic bottle recycling data, revealing that the actual separate collection rate is a mere 36%, far below the 71% claimed by Ecoembes and the 70% target mandated by Spanish law for 2023. This alarming revelation comes from a detailed report by Eunomia, commissioned by Zero Waste Europe and the Spanish Zero Waste Alliance (Alianza Residuo Cero), highlighting the urgent need for a Deposit Return System (DRS) to meet legal recycling targets and address data transparency issues.
This report points to significant flaws in current data collection and reporting methods. Stakeholders, including Zero Waste Europe and the Zero Waste Alliance, are now pressing the Spanish Minister of Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, to acknowledge the non-compliance and implement a DRS. Such systems, already effective in over 50 regions globally, could ensure the recycling of up to 90% of beverage containers, positioning Spain back on track to meet its environmental commitments.
Available in English and Spanish.
After the well-deserved spotlight given to single-use plastics when it comes to their serious environmental impacts, single-use paper-based and cardboard packaging have covertly taken their space, supposedly as a more ‘sustainable alternative’. The associated narrative has, however, created room for doubts (both from consumers and policy-makers) and for misleading solutions But is switching from one single-use material to another (e.g. plastic to paper) really a solution for the ever-growing packaging waste crisis? While the paper and cardboard industry claims so, evidence has proven that these allegations are distorted and false.
This joint factsheet by Zero Waste Europe, #breakfreefromplastic, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), the Environmental Paper Network (EPN), Recycling Netwerk Benelux (RNB), and the Rethink Plastic alliance explores the material aspects of paper and cardboard packaging used for direct food contact applications – including, among others, the findings from the “Functionalisation of Paper and Cardboard” report by M.+Me Recyclage.
Available in English, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Slovenian, German, Montenegrin, and Croatian.
The Sicilian municipality of Calatafimi Segesta may be small, but it provides one of Europe’s leading examples of how an island municipality can implement an effective zero waste strategy whilst also focusing on improving the lives of the local community. Despite receiving high-levels of tourism each year and having a dense, historic area in its centre, Calatafimi Segesta still achieved a 85% separate collection rate and generated just 88kgs of residual waste per person in 2022.
The municipality achieved these impressive results through a process of implementing a zero waste strategy at its core, with a focus on door-to-door collection of materials and the prioritisation of capturing organics, with supplementary incentives offered to residents who home composted. The decision not to build or extend local incineration capacity has allowed the municipality to implement ambitious policies that have delivered results.
Since its political commitment to become a Zero Waste City in 2011, the municipality has doubled the amount of materials separately collected for recycling and reuse. In this same timespan, they have reduced the volume of residual waste by two-thirds.
Available in English, Italian, Croatian, Estonian, and Ukrainian.
Zero Waste Europe welcomes the overall ambition of the European Commission to encourage the prevention and reuse of waste for the first time for a wide range of packaging types, in line with the waste hierarchy. Although the proposal is going in the right direction by prioritising prevention and reuse of packaging, it needs to be more ambitious if the European Commission is willing to achieve the EU Green Deal goals.
Available in English.
