Europe

Island of Krk, Croatia
European cities become ‘part of the solution’ in waste prevention

Disused cobalt mine in Russia
ZWE call for full pricing of resource use in EU Circular Economy Act

Environmental NGO urges policymakers to introduce resource taxes and personal carbon allowances ahead of planned EC consultation

End of life cars stacked up in front of bales of metal
Trade bodies call for stronger recycled content targets in EU vehicle legislation

EuRIC and FEAD call for transparency and full-cost recovery in forthcoming End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations following auto manufacturers' €458 million cartel fine

Global Deposit Dashboard, Reloop
Deposit return schemes reach over 350 million people worldwide
By
Beth Jones
| 10 April 2025 |
Reloop launches Global Deposit Dashboard tracking global legislation, as the UK prepares for nationwide implementation by 2027
Matthew Ekholm, Digital Product Passport and Circularity Specialist at Protokol
The EU’s eco-legislation and navigating greenwashing accusations as a sustainable business
By
Matthew Ekholm, Digital Product Passport and Circularity Specialist at Protokol
| 10 April 2025 |
Matthew Ekholm, Digital Product Passport and Circularity Specialist at Protokol, explains how EU legislation helps businesses demonstrate sustainability credentials
A box full of recovered vegetables and fruits from hypermarket waste
Waste intensity falling in EU, but member states advised to tighten regulation
By
Beth Jones
| 3 April 2025 |
The European Environment Agency report finds many countries overly reliant on voluntary measures and failing to utilise regulatory instruments to prevent rising waste volumes
Old Town of Tallinn, Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn becomes first European capital to seek zero waste certification
By
Beth Jones
| 27 March 2025 |
Estonian city joins Mission Zero Academy programme with ambitious waste reduction and recycling targets
Clothes on hangers
EU requires ‘systemic shift’ for its Textiles Strategy to tackle rising consumption
By
Beth Jones
| 26 March 2025 |
The clothing, footwear, and household fabrics industries are the fifth largest consumer of raw materials, water and land, and produced over 159 million tonnes of CO2 in 2022
Loading scrap metal into electric arc furnace
EU proposes export restrictions as 19M tonnes of metal scrap leave Europe annually
By
Beth Jones
| 21 March 2025 |
The European Steel and Metals Action Plan aims to increase demand for recycled metals while preventing valuable resources from flowing to third countries
Plastic recycling conveyor belt
Europe’s plastic recycling industry is ‘at a breaking point’
By
Beth Jones
| 20 March 2025 |
Plastics Recyclers Europe warns of plant closures and falling domestic production as imports rise and economic pressures mount
EU packaging label prototype
EU harmonised waste sorting labels face design challenges
By Resource |
11 March 2025 |
JRC consultation reveals competing priorities for packaging and waste receptacle labelling as 2026 implementation deadline approaches
Waste landfill
€3.19B waste funding 'falling short' for decarbonising parts of Europe
By
Beth Jones
| 11 March 2025 |
Zero Waste Europe analysis finds current budget allocations insufficient for central and eastern European countries, despite 39 per cent increase in waste management funding
Granulated black mass from battery recycling piled in the foreground of a industrial recycling facility
EU classifies black mass as hazardous waste in updated list
By Resource |
7 March 2025 |
New requirements for battery-related waste aims to keep critical materials within European economy
Material Recycling Facility
EC’s Clean Industrial Deal paves way for 2026 Circular Economy Act
By
Beth Jones
| 26 February 2025 |
Commission’s plan highlights role of critical material recycling, remanufacturing, and investment in infrastructure as key goals 
Waste shipment
EuRIC calls for EU to postpone new waste shipment regulations
By
Beth Jones
| 11 February 2025 |
European recycling body proposed an extension to waste shipment deadlines as non-OECD countries are expected to struggle with compliance
Appliance technician working on a front load washing machine in a laundry room
EU study sets out reparability scores for electronics and household appliances
By
Beth Jones
| 21 January 2025 |
Preliminary research identifies which products have the most potential to reduce waste through repair
Plastic bottles in production
Plastics industry calls for stricter European rules on imports
By
Beth Jones
| 19 December 2024 |
Producers are urging EU policymakers to support domestic market for recycling as Europe’s share of global production falls
on-pack labelling
EU reveals vision for packaging waste labels
By
Beth Jones
| 11 December 2024 |
Harmonised labelling scheme aims to boost packaging recycling, address diverse waste systems and consumer behaviour across member states
Food waste in hands
EU report highlights importance of cross-sectoral collaboration to tackle food waste crisis
By
Beth Jones
| 14 November 2024 |
Waste prevention strategies need to overcome barriers to knowledge transfer and be adapted to local characteristics if Europe is to achieve reduction targets
Food waste
Two-thirds of EU states risk missing recycling targets as food waste collection falls short
By
Charles Newman
| 5 November 2024 |
New study reveals massive untapped potential in bio-waste capture with only 26 per cent of food waste currently collected separately
Excavator bucket in pile of construction waste
European Commission puts forward end-of-waste standards for construction and demolition
By
Beth Jones
| 28 August 2024 |
New research report identifies potential quality protocols for key materials such as aggregates, concrete, fired clay bricks and gypsum
European Union flags outside European Commission building
EC study calls for harmonised waste data reporting
By
Charles Newman
| 13 August 2024 |
National electronic registries and standardised waste composition analyses proposed by JRC
Waste to power plant and artificial ski slope in Copenhagen
ZWE propose full inclusion of waste incineration emissions in EU Emissions Trading Scheme
By
Charles Newman
| 26 June 2024 |
New report recommends also including biogenic emissions when EU considers adding municipal incineration into ETS, ‘as atmosphere does not distinguish between fossil and non-fossil CO2 in terms of its response to emissions’