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.

On November 30, the Commission released its proposal for a new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation as part of its second Circular Economy Package, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of packaging by removing its usage where unnecessary while also making packaging more reusable and recyclable.

RREUSE has recently contributed to a report lead by Unpackaged and commissioned by the Rethink Plastic Alliance aiming to outline conditions, criteria, and recommendations for scaling up re-usable packaging systems in line with a just transition.

E-waste is a unique waste stream because it contains both precious materials and hazardous substances, creating a concrete threat of environmental degradation if illegal actors motivated by the prospect of high profits engage in improper disposal.

This article aims to showcase how social enterprises contribute to an inclusive and just circular transition. It does so in three key areas: job creation, reskilling and upskilling, and provision of affordable essential goods for vulnerable individuals.

As the international network of reuse, repairing and recycling social enterprises promoting the social and circular economies, the RREUSE network has a long tradition of contributing to the implementation of the principles of the Pillar.

12 civil society organisations call on the European Commission not to use the Product Environmental Footprint category rules (PEF-CR) for apparel and footwear “as the standalone method behind any future textile product labelling scheme, for substantiating green claims made in marketing, or in any other EU policy measures announced as part of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles”.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, on April 14, 2022, RREUSE, the European Network of Reuse and Recycling Social Enterprises, in cooperation with ENSIE, the European Network of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs), organised an online discussion among their members in the presence of representatives of the European Commission (DG EMPL, DG GROW).

RREUSE welcomes the initiative and calls on the Commission to ensure the Council Recommendation sends a clear message to Member States to promote a better national framework in support of the actors of the social economy, including social enterprises active in reuse, repairing, and recycling waste management activities.

As part of its Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission published the “EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles” on the 30th of March 2022. This communication presents the Commission’s vision for the future of the textile industry and related pieces of legislation concerning the sector. RREUSE puts forward a series of recommendations for the effective implementation of the Strategy.

Aiming at accelerating the green and digital transitions of the EU industry, the European Commission has prepared a Staff Working Document to outline possible scenarios for a transition pathway for a more resilient, sustainable, and digital textiles ecosystem. RREUSE reflected on the issues and possible output scenarios for 2030 that were presented in the Staff Working Document, and put together the response below.

So far, EU member states’ waste prevention plans do not adequately implement quantitative targets. So far, EU member states’ waste prevention plans do not adequately implement quantitative targets.