ZERO WASTE EUROPE

The Paris Olympic Games are approaching with world records expected to be broken by elite athletes. A number of other positive records are also expected to be broken since, for the first time, there will be equal places for male and female athletes, 100 percent renewable energy, half the carbon footprint of previous Olympic Games […]

The post Zero waste practices are here to stay: from the Olympic Games in Paris to Afrobanana Festival in Cyprus appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

What does a global movement look like in practice? What does it mean to be part of a global movement? At the start of July, a small group of ZWE staff and members attended the 2024 International Zero Waste Cities Conference (IZWCC) and the Methane Summit, organised by GAIA and Nipe Fagio in Dar es […]

The post Learning from the global zero waste movement at the 2024 International Zero Waste Cities Conference 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 – Jack McQuibban appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

The packaging waste crisis Packaging waste in Europe has reached endemic proportions. The European Union predicts a shocking 19% increase in packaging waste by 2030 if current trends continue.  This grim projection is also a call for urgent action. Recognising the gravity of the situation, the EU has introduced the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation […]

The post Embracing reuse: European cities lead the way appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Imagine a space where everyone sees reuse as essential to preserve our environment and improve our society. This was the scene at the second Reuse Festival organised by Zelena Akcija/Zero Waste Croatia in Zagreb on 5-7 June 2024. Over three days, our community came together to celebrate, learn, and engage in the practices of reuse […]

The post A community comes together: highlights from Zagreb’s second Reuse Festival appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

On World Environment Day, the municipality of Calatafimi Segesta in Sicily hosted a conference on June 5th to address the environmental dangers posed by single-use plastics and explore viable alternatives. This event was organised by Zero Waste Italy in the frame of the European project Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) which aims to reduce cities’ […]

The post Calatafimi Segesta promotes a future without single-use plastics on World Environment Day appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Circular Economy Portugal (CEP) is this month’s ZWE Changemaker! They promote circular economy by developing projects focused on waste prevention, reuse, and repair. Key initiatives include the Circular Pioneers Network, which supports small businesses leading the circular transition, and Liga Ação, a platform facilitating zero waste choices and community empowerment. Other projects include Circular Way […]

The post Zero Waste Europe Changemakers: Circular Economy Portugal appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

At Zero Waste Europe, our aim is to accelerate the adoption of zero waste solutions, right at the grassroots level, where cities and businesses collaborate with their communities. Of course, this cannot be driven solely by a team from Brussels. This work is made possible only through the actions and knowledge of ZWE members. Today, […]

The post Transforming cities with the ERIC project: Paving the way to zero waste appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

As people and communities’ demands for sustainable waste management solutions intensify globally, waste incinerators are often promoted by the industry as a viable solution to reduce landfill use and generate energy. The European incinerator plants are often described by industry players as modern and safe” in terms of their environmental performance. However, the potential health […]

The post Emissions reality check: the crucial role of biomonitoring in understanding the real impact of waste incinerators appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

This year, the Zero Waste Europe Network Wide Gathering (NWG) took place in Ghent, one of Belgium’s oldest cities and a leader in festival cup reuse, involved also in the ReuSe Vanguard (RSVP) project. Fair Resource Foundation (FRF), the Dutch member of Zero Waste Europe active in both The Netherlands and Belgium, enthusiastically joined this […]

The post ZWE Annual meeting 2024: a gathering to remember – Highlights from the Fair Resource Foundation appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

After an eight-year legal battle, Sofia’s court has halted plans for a new waste incinerator. The decision underscores the importance of public participation, accurate data, and thorough health and environmental assessments in urban development. The court highlighted deficiencies in public involvement, health risk assessments, waste data accuracy, and air quality impact analysis. Danita Zarichinova from […]

The post The fight against a new incinerator – A story of activism in Sofia appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

A shift from procedure to policy UN processes often resemble life itself: slow-moving until suddenly time runs out, leaving crucial tasks undone. The recent fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) in Ottawa, Canada, added another chapter to the ongoing saga of the Global Plastics Treaty. However, definitive decisions remain elusive, with the final showdown slated for […]

The post Global Plastics Treaty – another brick in the wall? appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

After three whirlwind days in Ghent, Zero Waste Europe’s Network-Wide Gathering (NWG) Europe was both a marathon and a sprint — a full-on yet infinitely energising experience that left us all more optimistic and charged to strive for a true zero waste society. This NWG, over 60 of Zero Waste Europe’s members and staff flocked […]

The post Going Ghent-ly into that good night: how ZWE’s Network-Wide Gathering had our eyes set on the future appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

This 4th edition of the State of Zero Waste Municipalities Report looks back at 2023, spotlighting innovative local initiatives across Europe that promote environmental and community benefits. Despite facing urgent challenges, including record heat in 2023, this report aims to inspire hope by showcasing the progress towards zero waste cities. It celebrates the tireless efforts of […]

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This April, Recycling Netwerk Benelux (RNB) underwent a transformation rebranding as Fair Resource Foundation. With a fresh name, identity, and strategy, they aim to foster and promote reduce resource consumption and planetary wellbeing through systems change. Committed to a sustainable and equitable relationship with resources, Fair Resource Foundation advocates for policies that respect planetary boundaries […]

The post Zero Waste Europe Changemakers: Fair Resource Foundation (former RNB) appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.

Cities are  faced with one of the most difficult challenges in our war on waste—a tangled web of varying systems, regulations, and frameworks. Yet, amid this chaos, one crucial aspect remains overlooked: the carbon emissions perspective of waste prevention. Since Capannori boldly declared its zero waste goal in 2007, Zero Waste Europe has been at […]

The post New carbon calculator for cities: where zero waste meets climate action appeared first on Zero Waste Europe.