RREUSE joins partner EU networks of social economy and social service providers in submitting proposals for better State Aid rules for social economy actors and social service providers in the recent public consultation for the future version of the SGEI de minimis Regulation opened by the European Commission.
The construction and demolition sector is one of the most material-intensive industries and one of the largest contributors to waste production in the EU. In fact, it has become the largest waste stream in Europe, accounting for more than a third of all waste generated. To increase circularity in the sector while creating social employment, some social enterprises from the RREUSE network have been active in the re-use of building components. This briefing outlines the importance of these activities carried out by social enterprises.
RREUSE welcomes the possibility to give feedback on new product priorities under the upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. As an organisation that promotes the reuse and repair of products, we believe that mandatory eco-design requirements can play a key role in reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle, while also creating major savings for European households.
The first-ever International Day of Zero Waste, held on March 30, 2023, brought attention to the need for sustainable consumption patterns and highlighted the work of social economy enterprises in re-use, repair, and recycling. Re-use, rather than recycling, can often be the better environmental solution, saving materials, energy, money, and time.
RREUSE finds the existing voluntary approach to foster social and environmental considerations in public purchases insufficient to encourage using public procurement to achieve key policy objectives.
Waste prevention is at the top of the waste hierarchy, and the positive impacts of reuse are further multiplied when reuse activities and second-hand sales take place locally. Re-using textiles locally is the most sustainable way to close the textiles loop as well as to deliver local jobs for the circular and just transition.
Our study “Putting people and skills at the core of the circular economy: 18 stories from social enterprises” is officially released today! Through this collection of stories and the extraction of conclusions from them, this report highlights the vital role that social enterprises can play in upskilling and reskilling workers for a more circular economy, and reveals that without a clear understanding of the skills needed in a circular economy, it will be difficult to tailor training programs that ensure a balanced labor supply and demand.
RREUSE is enthusiastic to announce the submission of its first pledge as part of the Transition Pathway for the Proximity and Social Economy ecosystem, which aims at addressing capacity and skills gaps within the circular economy.
In the context of the consideration of the European Parliament’s draft report on the EU Strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, RREUSE, together with 6 civil society organisations recalls the necessary actions to make the textiles strategy an effective tool to shift the sector towards circularity as well as environmental and social sustainability.
RREUSE, the International network representing social enterprises active in re-use, repair and recycling, welcomes the call for evidence on reviewing rules on the Services of general economic interest (SGEI) de minimis Regulation.
RREUSE believes that Member States should make use of the current window of opportunity for updating Value Added Tax (VAT) rules to create a better taxation framework for social enterprises active in the circular economy. Reduced VAT rates and exemptions on the basis of social and environmental activities are an essential instrument to acknowledge social enterprises’ large contribution to fostering work integration opportunities, green skilling, and the objectives of a circular economy, in line with the EU Social Economy and Circular Economy Action Plans.
RREUSE greatly welcomes the Commission’s proposal for the 2023 European Year of Skills which also acknowledges the social economy’s decisive role as a proponent of a socially fair and inclusive twin transition including in the field of upskilling and reskilling.