ZERO WASTE EUROPE

As part of the Waste Framework Directive’s (WFD) latest revision, the European Union has for the first time approved legally binding targets for food waste prevention to be met at the national level by the end of 2030: 10% in food processing and manufacturing and 30% in retail, restaurants, food services, and households. It is […]

The post Methane mitigation and the WFD: Slashing emissions begins with food waste prevention appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Back in May 2025, our members unanimously adopted our 2025-2030 Strategic Framework that emerged from the collective wisdom of our network, also closing a thoughtful collective process.  Our newly adopted Strategic Framework 2025-2030 represents more than just a roadmap. It embodies our commitment to collective wisdom, participatory leadership, and the courage to nurture hope during […]

The post Building hope through collective vision and action: our 2025-2030 Strategic Framework journey appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

In the shift to a circular textile system, it’s easy to focus on the visible parts—collection bins, sorting technology, recycling plants, resale platforms. But there’s an invisible layer that makes or breaks all of it: data. Without reliable, shared data, municipalities, businesses, and recyclers are left guessing. With it, they can design smarter systems, reduce […]

The post Three reasons why circular textiles can’t work without data appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

The LIFE4EPR project towards harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes across the EU is in full swing! Why a project on EPR? EPR supplements the “polluter pays” principle by holding manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products and packaging. While EPR is mandated in EU laws like the Waste Framework Directive, its implementation […]

The post The LIFE4EPR project on Extended Producer Responsibility enters the scene appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

*(or the path forward after failed negotiations) After more than 2 years and 1200 hours of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty, the INC5.2 meeting in Geneva ended without agreement. The script of this last stage of negotiations was a repetition of the script we have been seeing in the five preceding INCs. From Uruguay […]

The post The Global Plastics Treaty: to be or not to be* appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

“Less is more” is a common expression reminding us that the most impactful and satisfying results are sometimes achieved by focusing on simplicity over complexity and abundance. It encourages us to focus on what truly matters.  At ZWE, we believe that a clean, circular approach is what truly matters when it comes to achieving long-term economic […]

The post Behind the EU’s regulatory simplification: clean but not green? appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

It’s time to discover and learn more about the people behind Zero Waste Europe’s work and magic! In addition to the ZWE Changemakers series, where you can learn more about our member organisations, we invite you to get a closer look at our staff, what they do, and what inspires them to work for a […]

The post #MeetTheTeam – Joan Marc Simon appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Across Europe, urban parks are becoming pioneers in the movement towards circular, waste-free living. These green spaces, traditionally seen as places for rest and recreation, are now being transformed into living labs for sustainability thanks to the Zero Waste Urban Parks (ZWUP) project. From parks to prototypes for change Funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ programme, ZWUP is an […]

The post What can urban parks teach us about the shift to Zero Waste cities? More than you might think appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Final reflections from the LIFE BIOBEST project—2.5 years of practical solutions to close the bio-waste management gap Across Europe, the soil beneath our feet is in silent crisis. Today, 60–70% of European soils are classified as unhealthy, and nearly half suffer from dangerously low levels of organic matter. When soils are degraded, they lose their […]

The post Bridging EU bio-waste legislation and practical solutions for healthier soils appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Nestled near Hungary’s border with Slovakia, the tiny municipality of Ipolytölgyes is quietly redefining what rural sustainability can look like. Through a simple initiative called the “Long Ladder” project, the village is tackling isolation, inequality, and waste all at once, by letting locals borrow what they need, instead of buying it. A new model for […]

The post When a village shares: how Ipolytölgyes supports residents and cuts waste appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Over the past two years, Zero Waste Europe and 10 of its member organisations have teamed up with 30 European cities through the Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) project, consolidating a network now covering over 3 million EU citizens. Together, they are developing and implementing local prevention plans to help reduce the generation of single-use […]

The post Breaking the single-use bias: two years of local action through the Elevating Reuse In Cities Project appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

There’s something powerful about our yearly Network-Wide Gathering (NWG). More than just a meeting, it’s a vital moment for our movement to reconnect, reflect, and recharge. Each year, this gathering brings our network closer, helping us deepen our collective work, share stories and strategies, and spark new opportunities for collaboration. In May 2025, over 60 […]

The post Coming together for change: highlights from our annual network gathering appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.