Zero Waste Europe welcomes the European Commission’s commitment to developing its Circular Economy efforts as part of the European Green Deal and we are happy to submit our recommendations in line with our vision to create a zero waste Europe. Read our response to the new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) Consultation.
Available in English.
The revised Renewable Energy Directive sets a framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources, such as biomass. This document intends to provide a methodology to guide Member States in implementing it in alignment with the circular economy.
Available in English
Waste-to-Energy incineration is sometimes promoted as a low-carbon source of energy, justifying increasing quantities of waste burned to produce electricity. The evidence, however, suggests that the carbon intensity of energy produced through incineration is greater than the one of the current EU average electricity grid intensity while having significantly more adverse climate impacts than conventional electricity generation.
Available in English & French
The EU has excluded waste-to-energy incineration from a list of economic activities considered ‘sustainable finance’, those that can make a substantial contribution to climate change mitigation and which do no significant harm to other environmental objectives such as transition to a circular economy, waste prevention and recycling.
Available in English
The revised Renewable Energy Directive sets a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources such as biomass. This document intends to provide a methodology to guide Member States in implementing it in alignment with the circular economy.
Available in English
In May 2019 the EU formally approved a pioneer legislation to curb single-use plastics – and no, it is not just about banning straws. This paper presents an overview of the new Single-Use Plastics Directive, and our recommendations for an effective implementation at the national level.
Available in English
We want our products to be long-lasting, repairable, recyclable and toxic-free. Here are our recommendations to rethink EU product policy and improve product design with circularity in mind.
Available in English
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 Europe Policy Briefing on Food Systems.
Available in English and in Hungarian
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 policy briefing!
Available in: English
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 gases and could undermine the GCF’s climate mitigation efforts.
Available in English
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 and how this could be used to reinforce circular economy practice.
Available in: English
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.
Available in English
This policy paper looks at the harmful subsidies which are directed to waste-to-energy under the guise of renewable energy.
Available in English
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 greenhouse gas emissions.
Available in English
