PACKAGING
79.7M
tonnes of packaging waste generated in Europe in 2023 (177.8 kg per person). 19.8% was plastic.
Where we produce less, repair more, and reuse everything we can.
Containers are collected, cleaned, and reused instead of thrown away.
Items are designed for repair, not replacement.
Resources are kept in circulation instead of becoming waste.
Plastic has made it cheap and easy to produce more than ever before. From fast fashion and single-use packaging to disposable electronics, products are increasingly designed to be thrown away. This system drives ever-rising levels of consumption and waste.
tonnes of packaging waste generated in Europe in 2023 (177.8 kg per person). 19.8% was plastic.
tonnes of electronics sold in the EU in 2023 — an 89% increase since 2012.
tonnes of clothing discarded every year. Most never reused or recycled.
The path forward is clear: reduce plastic production and scale reuse systems.
This is how we can stop waste from growing and end plastic pollution.
The reuse economy — a system in which products and packaging are designed to accomplish multiple trips within their lifespans — is growing. That means we can keep materials and packaging in circulation and:
Explore how the reuse economy works, what's already happening across Europe, and how you can be part of it.
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The reuse economy — a system in which products and packaging are designed
We are always looking for inspiring stories from across Europe that showcase what reuse systems look like in different countries, regions and communities.
