Zero Waste Europe

ZWE was created in 2014, as the European regional branch of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), and throughout the last years has established itself as a key environment, circular economy, just transition, and movement-building network in Europe. Building on the initial zero waste vision and code created by the Italian city of Capannori, the ZWE network now includes 41 member organisations and alliances from 30 European countries and works with topics across the whole chain.

As a European network of communities, local leaders, and experts, we work towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. This means advocating for sustainable systems, for the redesign of our relationship with resources, and for a global shift towards environmental justice – accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet.

From product design to reusability to end-of-pipe waste management solutions, from the phase-out of plastics to waste trade and municipal zero waste strategies, our scope has significantly expanded but our mission and vision remain the same – a zero waste, fairer, inclusive, circular Europe for all (and planet, too, while we’re at it).