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This week is a bit of a mixed bag - on one hand, we're celebrating the 15th anniversary of the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), a moment we look forward to every year; and on the other, we're still digesting yesterday's EP vote on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), where reuse suffered a major loss to the benefit of recycling, a move that essentially turns the EU waste hierarchy on its head.
However, despite the disappointing outcome, our movement is here to fight another day.
Read on to see what they are doing - and how you can help. | |
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Activists from the Rethink Plastic alliance (RPa) in front of the EP ahead of the vote. Credit: RPa
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The European Parliament’s vote on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: a position for the wrong century | |
On Wednesday, all 705 Members of the European Parliament voted on the text of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in Strasbourg, a legislative process that has been described as a majorly missed opportunity for reuse and a victory for the industry, whose intensive lobbying campaign ultimatively pushed lawmakers to prioritise recycling.
However, this setback isn't the end of the road for reuse - instead, we look to the upcoming trilogues, which are scheduled to take place next month.
Want to ensure Europe is moving in the right direction? Share our 2024 EP Elections Pledge with your current or prospective MEPs. | |
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| European Week for Waste Reduction: Don't get wrapped up! | |
This week, the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) campaign is marking its 15th anniversary with a spotlight on packaging and its massive environmental impact.
In light of yesterday's PPWR vote in the European Parliament, the thousands of EWWR actions across the continent send a clear message to policy-makers: Europe is done with single-use packaging, period.
This week, our members are organising a wide range of actions: As part of EWWR 2023, ZWE has also published two new factsheets: Want even more EWWR? You can follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates on the campaign. | |
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| 2024 European Parliament elections – our pledge for a zero waste Europe | |
With the 2024 European Parliament elections right around the corner, ZWE calls on EU decision makers to commit to the principles of sufficiency, resilience, and wellbeing for the next mandate.
By signing our pledge for a zero waste Europe, Members of the European Parliament and political parties will commit to:
- Placing strategic resource use at the forefront of EU policies;
- Preventing waste before it's generated and;
- Reducing resource leakage from the circular economy.
Ahead of the last election in 2019, we gathered 51 signatories from the whole spectrum of political parties. MEP Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA) has already signed our pledge for 2024, but we need to engage many more to ensure the political direction of the next mandate aligns with planetary boundaries.
Share our call with current and prospective MEPs from your country to help us build a truly zero waste Europe! | |
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| ZW Belgium: First Zero Waste Week in French and Flemish | |
In collaboration with the City of Brussels and several other Belgian NGOs, our member
Zero Waste Belgium organised the first-ever Zero Waste Festival in Brussels one week ahead of the EWWR.
This first edition of the Semaine du Zéro Déchet / Zero Afval Week included workshops on food waste prevention, sewing, furniture restoration, repairing with kintsugi, home composting, DIY'ing household products, using the furoshiki method instead of single-use packaging, and other good zero waste practices. | |
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ZW Latvia: Digital hub for reuse, rent, and repair spots in Latvia | | Our member Zero Waste Latvija has developed a digital platform to promote circular economy alternatives instead of overconsumption. Under the headline "Things like to be used", the platform features a digital 'library of things' and a map of different CE alternatives, including libraries, rental and repair shops, as well as a wide range of second hand and exchange services. The platform organises repair and DIY workshops every month, with November's workshops being centred around clothes upcycling and bike repair.
| | Ecoidea: More sustainable mourning practices | | In Belarus, our member Ecoidea is shedding a light on the unsustainable practice of placing plastic flowers on graves to honour deceased loved ones.
In preparation of Dziady, the Slavic day for commemoration of the dead on 2 November, Ecoidea shared an explainer on the practice and how the leeching of toxic chemicals from the artificial flowers (often made of PVC and polystyrene foam) can harm the environment. In the explainer, they also shared several eco-friendly alternatives to the plastic decorations, including a wreath made of pine branches and dried flowers. | | | |
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Each month, our ZWE Changemakers campaign sheds a spotlight on one of our member organisations. In November, we are putting the spotlight one our Central European members, Polish Zero Waste Association. | |
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| Considering Pyrolysis Oil in the EU Legislative Framework | | | Economics of reuse for street vendors in india | | | |
| Prevention and reuse – the only solution to record levels of packaging waste | | | |
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| Is the European Waste Hierarchy wrong? | | | Global Plastic Treaty: the show must go on? | | | |
| Using biobased plastic to meet the recycled content target for plastic packaging – a false “bonne idée” | | | Ivry-Paris XIII incinerator: Dioxin emissions are not properly monitored | | | |
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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 © 2023 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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