As the network of social enterprises active in re-use, repair and recycling, RREUSE is expecting the implementation of the SPI with anticipation. We believe that developing resource efficiency requirements for products through ecodesign will be a milestone in the...
RREUSE’s initial reflections on the updated EU’s Industrial Strategy
On 5 May 2021, the European Commission updated the EU’s Industrial Strategy, originally adopted in March 2020. The document seeks to further spur the green and digital transitions and take stock of the impacts and challenges faced by different sectors due to the...
Putting second-hand first to create local jobs: Guidance for municipalities to develop local re-use strategies
RREUSE and the Zero Waste Cities Programme by Zero Waste Europe partnered to create a briefing aimed at providing support to local municipalities to help design effective and ambitious local re-use strategies. Despite good progress in recent years with increasing...
Job creation in the re-use sector: Data insights from social enterprises
The Circular Economy Action Plan estimates that the number of jobs linked to the circular economy in the EU grew by 5% between 2012 and 2018[1]. Yet, there remains gaps in research and in public understanding regarding how the circular economy can provide quality and...
Achieving a fair and inclusive circular transition through the EU Social Economy Action Plan
The COVID-19 recession has further exacerbated existing inequalities and highlighted the interrelation between social problems and precarity, as well as the drawbacks of the current economic model. However, the crisis could also serve as a catalyst to redesign our...
Stakeholders Call for Delivery of EU Strategy for a Sustainable Built Environment
31 signatories, representing a diverse range of stakeholders, call for delivery of EU Strategy for a Sustainable Built Environment in a letter addressed to European Commission’s executive vice president Frans Timmermans, and commissioners Thierry Breton and Virginijus...
Urgent call to improve WEEE treatment, collection, logistics and preparation for re-use in Europe
This joint position co-signed by 12 environmental NGOs and representatives of waste treatment operators calls for setting new European legal requirements to improve collection, logistics and preparation for re-use of e-waste and electronic equipment (WEEE). A revision...
RREUSE Feedback on EU Strategy for Sustainable Textiles Roadmap
On 5 January 2021, the European Commission published its roadmap on an EU Strategy for Sustainable Textiles. With over half of RREUSE’s 27 members working with used textiles, garment, leather and footwear (TGLF) and collectively managing 257 000 tonnes across Europe...
RREUSE comments on the European Semester 2020
Introduced in 2010, the European Semester is a multi-annual exchange between the European Commission and Member States, providing a structure to coordinate macroeconomic policies across the EU. The goal of the European Semester is to ensure macroeconomic stability and...
Joint statement on the European Council Conclusions on public procurement of 25 November 2020
Getting the most out of public money in support of Europe’s recovery As representatives of social, environmental, business and trade union organisations, we welcome last week’s Conclusions from the European Council on how efficient public procurement rules and...
Extended Producer Responsibility and the role of social economy re-use operators: Implementing a socially inclusive waste hierarchy
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a tool placing responsibility on producers, importers and retailers to financially and/or physically manage the post-consumer phase of certain goods. EPR aims to prevent the unnecessary production of waste, manufacture better...
Social enterprises to help put new EU Circular Economy Plan into action
On 11 March 2020, the European Commission published one of the main pillars of its Green Deal: the new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). Within days of publication, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented health, economic and societal challenge. The crisis...