Zero Waste Europe

📢 Breaking: The #LIFEBIOBEST project has just released a new guidance for the EU to unlock the full potential of bio-waste management in Europe! With 18 Member States at risk of missing 2025 recycling targets and 74% of kitchen waste still being burnt or buried, we need urgent policy action. Our new guidance offers a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers to transform #biowaste management across Europe ♻️ Together with the #guidance, we've created an explainer video that breaks down the current challenges and opportunities in European bio-waste management. Check the comments for direct links to the guidance and video (incl. subtitles in 11 EU languages) 👇 LIFE Programme CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency European Commission ENT ACR+ | Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management European Compost Network e.V. Consorzio Italiano Compostatori - CIC Manon Jourdan Jack McQuibban Nanna Bille Cornelsen Ana Oliveira

🔍 The missing link in Europe's #CircularEconomy? Proper #biowaste management! Our #LIFEBIOBEST infographic reveals the key barriers holding us back and evidence-based solutions to transform EU bio-waste systems. See the complete picture ⤵️ 📌 zurl.co/uKygI

Europe is facing packaging waste crisis - but member states can stop it! 🗨️ Larissa Copello de Souza: "Member States must adopt additional rules to accelerate the shift towards reusable packaging systems – not as an option, but as a necessity for a sustainable, circular economy." Read Rethink Plastic Alliance's press release in the comments below 👇

🚨 Are toxic chemicals hiding in your clothes?👕 The textile industry uses over 8,000 chemicals, making up 25% of global chemical production, many of which are toxic. That means the clothes we wear every day could contain substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and environmental harm. 😨 ⚠️From carcinogenic dyes to PFAS “forever chemicals”, these toxins can enter your body through skin contact, inhalation, and even textile dust. Tests have even found PFAS in 100% of recycled fabrics, proving that hazardous chemicals are being passed on in the circular economy. Despite some progress, many brands still rely on toxic substances. 📅With 30 March marking the International Day of Zero Waste, it’s a crucial moment to ask for stronger regulations that ensure transparency, safer materials, and toxic chemical-free fashion. We deserve clothes that are safe, not a hidden health risk. ⚕️ 🔍 Want to dive deeper? Check the link in the comments below 👇 #ZeroWasteDay #TextileWaste #BeatWastePollution #PFAS UN Environment Programme European Commission EU Environment and Climate European Parliament

Jack McQuibban spoke with TEXroad about the opportunities the upcoming #EPR for #textiles presents for European municipalities, social enterprises, brands and waste management actors 🧵👗 #STICT

Giulia Lodi core mission? Amplifying and centring the voices of ZWE's members 🐝 As our Comms & Network Officer, Giulia connects 37 organisations in 29 countries, sharing their stories and weaving them into a powerful, collective narrative about the European #zerowaste movement. Read the full interview via the comments ☔️ #MeetTheTeam Friends of the Earth Malta Friends of the Earth Cyprus Rezero Stephanie Yates Esra Tat Ekologi brez meja / Ecologists Without Borders Association Environmental Association Za Zemiata - Friends of the Earth Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s plastic waste statistics don’t add up. And when data is manipulated, communities pay the price. 🗨️ Evgeniya T. says, "Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging in Bulgaria fails to cover the true costs of managing packaging waste. As a result, these costs are unfairly shifted onto citizens. Bulgarians end up paying more than many other EU citizens for inferior service.” Why are we doing this work, and not the EU? Exactly. There should be an independent watchdog who can hold Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) accountable, instead of allowing them to misreport inaccurate data. To read the full report and our press release, check out the comments below 👇

🥛 A reusable cup success story in Slovenia An increasing number of event organisers are seeking sustainable alternatives to reduce single-use plastic waste. However, many face challenges due to a lack of access to the right resources and services. In Škofja Loka and Železniki, a new cup rental service is making waves! Thanks to a joint effort between the municipality, waste management company, and event organisers, reusable cups became the go-to choice. Since launching in March 2024, their impact has been significant: ✅ 23,000 single-use cups avoided ✅ Positive feedback from organisers and participants ✅ Affordable and convenient rental system 💡 What makes this initiative work? 🔹 A deposit system to encourage returns 🔹 Collaboration with local municipalities to support waste prevention 🔹 Plans to expand the service to include reusable plates and cutlery This initiative, supported by Ekologi brez meja / Ecologists Without Borders Association and part of the Elevating Reuse In Cities #ERICproject, is inspiring other municipalities like Kranj and Laško to follow suit. The message is clear: reuse works when properly supported! Is this the future of all events? Read more 👉 https://zurl.co/0rmCF #CitiesAndCommunities #SingleUseFreeCities

🎉 In 2 weeks, we’ll celebrate the International Day of Zero Waste! This year, the focus will be on textiles, one of the fastest-growing and most harmful waste streams. Why does textile waste matter? 👕👗 #Fastfashion has fueled a culture of overconsumption, with brands churning out weekly collections, turning clothes into disposable items rather than durable goods. 🚨 The result? 🔹Massive overproduction, flooding the market with low-quality garments 🔹Significant discard of textiles, 11 kg per person per year in the EU 🔹Very low recycling rate into new fibers, less than 1% 🔹Most discarded clothing is exported, incinerated, or dumped, often harming communities in the Global South. 🚀 The challenge is big, but the solution is clear: prioritise sufficiency and mindful resource use! By reducing waste at the source, local governments can fight fast fashion, protect communities, and transform discarded textiles into valuable resources. 📖 Ready for change? Discover the solutions in the comments below ⤵️ #ZeroWasteDay #TextileWaste #BeatWastePollution

Don't miss the last #LIFEBIOBEST capacity-building workshop on 10 April!     Join us online to discover practical decision-making tools for optimising your #biowaste management:   🔍 Assessment Matrix for #bestpractices 📊 Self-assessment checklists  🌱 Decision Support Web Tool     Registration via the comments ⬇️