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The reuse economy for textiles

How many second-hand and vintage shops does your city have? And how many people are employed locally collecting, sorting, reselling, repairing, and upcycling garments? The textile reuse sector is growing, creating new economic opportunities for local circular businesses, entrepreneurs, and endless space to unleash creativity. Reusing garments is a central part of making textiles circular. […]
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The reuse economy for textiles

How many second-hand and vintage shops does your city have? And how many people are employed locally collecting, sorting, reselling, repairing, and upcycling garments? The textile reuse sector is growing, creating new economic opportunities for local circular businesses, entrepreneurs, and endless space to unleash creativity. Reusing garments is a central part of making textiles circular. […]
Written by Theresa Mörsen, Zero Waste EuropeMay 8, 2025
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Featured, General

From waste to worth: reuse is the global revolution

Reuse systems are gaining momentum across the globe. From zero-waste schools in Indonesia to wash-and-refill pilots across Europe, it’s clear that reuse is the key solution to reducing plastic pollution. Grantees of Oak Foundation, including Plastic Solutions Fund, PlasticDiet Indonesia, Global Reuse Alliance, GAIA, Center for International Environmental Law, and...

Oak Foundation
Electronics, Featured, Reuse in Europe

Home appliance repair – it pays off

There are a number of myths surrounding the efficiency of new household appliances: the main one being that because they are new, they must be more energy efficient and therefore better for the planet and our bank accounts.  However, there are some myths to debunk here. Evidence is stacking up...

Domantas Tracevičius
Featured, Textiles

The reuse economy for textiles

How many second-hand and vintage shops does your city have? And how many people are employed locally collecting, sorting, reselling, repairing, and upcycling garments? The textile reuse sector is growing, creating new economic opportunities for local circular businesses, entrepreneurs, and endless space to unleash creativity. Reusing garments is a central...

Theresa Mörsen, Zero Waste Europe
Featured, Packaging

The impact of the reuse economy on workers in the delivery sector

As momentum builds across Europe for systems that prioritise reuse over single-use plastics, it’s vital to ask: who’s carrying the weight of this transition? Break Free From Plastic Europe partnered with Fairwork to explore this question, focusing on the experiences and rights of delivery workers—those on the frontlines of many...

Laura Díaz Sánchez, Break Free From Plastic
Packaging

Drowning in Waste: How Reuse Can Save Us from Packaging Pollution

Every year, millions of tonnes of packaging waste are generated, with figures steadily rising. In 2018 alone, 174 kg of packaging waste was generated per person in Europe. The most recent data from 2019 reveals that paper and cardboard made up the largest share at 32.2 million tonnes, followed by...

Bethany Keeley
November 15, 2022

Open letter to EU decision-makers sends one last signal for strong reuse legislation

Ahead of the proposal of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste legislation, #WeChooseReuse reiterates the call for reuse and prevention to be at the core of EU packaging legislation.   An open letter signed by Rethink Plastic alliance, #WeChooseReuse and latest #WeChooseReuse partner ANEC sends one last strong signal to EU decision-makers that they must […]
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October 27, 2022

ANEC Chooses Reuse!

ANEC is the European consumer voice in standardisation, with members representing national consumer organisations from across 33 countries. To bring the voice of the consumer to the campaign ANEC has joined #WeChooseReuse as a supporting partner.  For consumers to be able to further reduce single-use packaging and single-use consumer products, their access to reuse systems […]
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October 18, 2022

#WeChooseReuse reiterates campaign demands in the run up to the EU revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive

Single-use packaging (including plastic, aluminum, paper) is contributing  to the triple climate, biodiversity, and pollution crisis. In 2018, the level of packaging used in Europe reached new heights, with a record of 174kg of packaging waste per person (1). To enforce and strengthen current EU policies, the European Commission is reviewing the Packaging and Packaging […]
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Packaging at the core

How does packaging relate to chemicals, food waste, waste trade and climate change? The relationship is closer than people may think. Overall production of packaging and packaging waste has steadily grown over the past 20 years.  2018 in Europe saw a record 174 kg of packaging waste per person. Between 2009 and 2019, paper & […]
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June 16, 2022

Ekologi brez meja wins support for reuse from Slovenian decision-makers

For inspiration on how to engage decision-makers, our #breakfreefromplastic Slovenian member Ekologi brez meja offers their effective engagement process, which gained support from three Slovenian MEPs for reuse – Irena Joveva, Milan Brglez and Franc Bogovič. With the right support and conditions, reuse can thrive in Europe, and lead to a much needed effective reduction […]
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