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The European Union (EU) is about to revise its Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PWWD). This provides an opportunity to eliminate unnecessary packaging
and transition from single-use to reusable packaging, and hence significantly reduce resource use, waste and pollution. The fact that the current PPWD includes only
recycling targets creates an excessive focus on recycling, whereas upstream measures
should be given priority. Setting reuse targets in the PPWD is one of the tools the EU
can and should use to make reusable packaging the new norm.
Citizens, municipalities and businesses across Europe are calling for reusable packaging to be scaled up and for robust reuse systems to be put in place. Even though the concept of reuse is high on the public agenda, it is sometimes used interchangeably with other concepts such as recycling. Here’s your guide to understand what reuse is and what it is not!
The Break Free From Plastic movement, Environmental Investigation Agency and Rethink Plastic alliance present five plastic policy measures which they urge policy-makers to implement to help supermarket and others in the retail sector achieve stronger plastic pollution reduction.
To make reuse systems widespread, we will need harmonised rules, reusable containers… and standards will be key in the process. How would this work in practice? Together with ECOS and Break Free From Plastic, we have summarised this technical topic in a handy infographic.
In May 2021, ECOS, Zero Waste Europe, and the Rethink Plastic alliance have sent a letter calling on the European Commission to put on hold the development of overarching standards on plastics recyclability until related EU laws are adopted.
The aim of this report is to understand the factors enabling the misdeclaration of plastic waste exported from Spain, with particular interest in intra-EU shipment flows.
This two page brief, highlights what the EU can do to stop illegal plastic waste trade, complementing investigative report “Understanding illegal plastic waste shipments: a focus on Spain.”
On the occasion of the European Week of Waste Reduction, Break Free From Plastic, the Rethink Plastic alliance and over 30 signatories sent an open letter to European Vice President Timmermans and Commissioner Sinkevicius on reuse to achieve waste reduction.