What is European Waste Reduction Week (ERW)?

Every French citizen produces an average of 590 kg of household waste. That has doubled in 40 years. Against this background, the European Waste Reduction Week, established in 2009 and coordinated in France by the Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe), aims to highlight good production and consumption practices and raise awareness of waste among Europeans. The aim is to publicize the European Union's policy on waste prevention, promote initiatives and best practices, and encourage European citizens, in their professional and private lives, to take concrete action.

All business stakeholders (local authorities, administrations, associations, schools, hospitals, etc., but also individuals) have the opportunity to participate by offering awareness-raising actions aimed at the general public or a more targeted audience: employees, elected officials, school or student audiences, etc.

Theme of the 2023 edition: packaging

This 2023 edition focuses on reducing the amount of packaging at the source. Through our purchases and consumption habits, it is possible to favor products with less packaging. In addition re-use of packaging must be a priority to extend their lifespan and preserve the natural resources needed to manufacture new packaging.

Can we do without packaging? The awareness-raising campaign is organized around behaviors to be favored, each citizen-consumer can act on a daily basis by adopting eco-responsible, sustainable consumption gestures and behaviors:

• give preference to reusable or reusable containers in retail stores;
• drink tap water;
• say no to advertising material;
• prefer cardboard to plastic;
• if plastic is present, use recycled plastic;
• follow sorting guidelines and prioritize recycling;
• re-use packaging.

You will find the following themes during the activities and workshops offered:

• waste prevention (eco-design, overpackaging, disposable products, etc.);
• prevention of hazardous waste;
• prevention of food waste;
• promotion of composting;
• reuse/repair/reuse.