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We're back from Montenegro, Reader! | |
| Our annual Network-Wide Gathering in Bar delivered exactly the energy our movement needed. Let's dive in!
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| Coming together for change: highlights from our annual Network-Wide Gathering in Bar, Montenegro | |
This May, our movement came together in Montenegro for our annual Network-Wide Gathering (NWG). Three energising days in sunny Bar, hosted by our member Zero Waste Montenegro, brought together over 60 changemakers to showcase their wins and lessons learned, discuss strategy, and discover new opportunities for collaboration.
The timing of the gathering was perfect—Montenegro recently passed important waste management legislation introducing Extended Producer Responsibility and banning single-use plastics, with ZW Montenegro leading the charge for policy transformation in the country.
Aside from the rolling green hills and good conversations over pomegranate wine, the gathering's biggest outcome was, however, the network's adoption of ZWE's Strategic Framework for 2025-2030—charting our path forward for the next chapter of zero waste action across Europe. | |
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| New blueprint for high-performing packaging reuse systems launched at the REuse Economy Expo in Paris | |
Earlier this week, the ReuSe Vanguard Project (RSVP) launched the second edition of its Blueprint for harmonising the implementation of takeaway food and drinks packaging systems for reuse in Europe at the REuse Economy Expo in Paris.
Drawing from the experience and data collected in seven pioneering cities across six EU countries (Aarhus [DK], Barcelona [ES], Berlin [DE], Ghent, Leuven, [BE], Paris [FR], Rotterdam [NL]), the Blueprint outlines five essential system criteria for building local reuse systems that are legally compliant, user-friendly, high-performing, and future-proof. The Blueprint also provides snapshots from each of the seven RSVP cities, including data on the local context and specific setup, as well as key learnings and results.
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| Hnutí DUHA: Wilderness? On Concrete! campaign mobilises Czechs against developments in national parks | |
In the Czech Republic, our member Hnutí DUHA is campaigning against a push in the Chamber of Deputies within the Czech Parliament to remove nature protection in national parks and other protected areas. Not only do the amendments threaten the existence of these areas and the wildlife living there; it also opens them up to mass tourism, developments like hotels and golf courses, and potentially even mining projects.
Through the Wilderness On Concrete (Divočina na beton) campaign, Hnutí DUHA is asking citizens to voice their concerns, letting their elected officials know that they will not stand for weakening of nature protection—a campaign that has already secured 23,000 signatures, which were handed over to Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík and MPs Jana Krutáková and Klára Kocmanová during a demonstration on 27 May. | |
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ECOREC: Circular Greece project ensures better waste management in Greece | | Our Greek member ECOREC (Ecological Recycling Society) is driving systemic change through the LIFE-IP CEI-Greece project (Circular Economy Implementation in Greece – Circular Greece), an ambitious 8-year EU project implementing circular economy principles across the country. As one of 19 strategic partners working with Greece's Ministry of Environment and Energy, ECOREC is helping deliver the National Waste Management Plan and National Circular Economy Strategy. Building on a successful Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) pilot, LIFE-IP CEI-Greece now focuses on waste prevention, resource efficiency, and sustainable consumption patterns. | | ZW Switzerland: 11,000 citizens collected plastic trash for the Big Plastic Count 2025 | | ZeroWaste Switzerland participated in this year's Big Plastic Count campaign at the beginning of April, helping mobilise 11,586 participants across the country. According to the campaign organisers, Swiss households discarded 215,463 plastic items in just one week, which represents nearly 9 billion plastic waste items when projected annually—a staggering figure that demonstrates the urgent need for systemic change. The campaign revealed that food and beverage packaging dominates plastic waste streams, providing crucial data to pressure the Swiss government for concrete policy action.
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| Scrutinising scientific standards | | | LIFE BIOBEST: Decision Support Trees | | | |
| LIFE BIOBEST: Statistical analysis | | | |
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| Challenges and opportunities for Extended Producer Responsibility in the EU | | | |
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Do you want to collaborate with Zero Waste Europe and its extended network, and contribute to a truly circular economy? Check out our current opportunities for collaboration:
- Communications Officer – ZWE is looking for a new Communications Officer with proven media relations skills to complement the ZWE Comms team; the ideal candidate should be a proactive team player with an eagerness to contribute to a fairer and more zero waste Europe (and planet).
Deadline: 22 June 2025
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Zero Waste Europe gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the European Union: Commission Directorate General (DG) Environment. The sole responsibility for the content of this newsletter lies with Zero Waste Europe. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the funder mentioned above. The funder cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. | | | |
Copyright © 2024 Zero Waste Europe, all rights reserved.
You are receiving this e-newsletter because you opted in via our website, our social media networks, or expressed interest to a member of our team. | |
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