European Environmental Bureau

🔥 We’re told that innovation only happens when the economy grows. That if we just cut the red tape and get out of the way, big ideas will flourish. But what actually grows in that environment? Profits for a few. Pollution for the rest of us. 🧪 Real innovation doesn’t come from deregulation or endless expansion. It comes from working within limits, meeting real needs, and building things that last. From community energy to long-living tech and regenerative farming, the most meaningful solutions aren’t chasing growth. They’re rooted in care, purpose, and resilience. 📉 Strip away environmental protections, and what you get isn’t progress. It’s a race to the bottom. 💡 Innovation can and should do better. Not to scale up for markets, but to show up for people and the planet. 👇 Let’s rethink what progress means and who it should serve. #FundOurFuture #GreenTransition #Degrowth #ClimateJustice #SystemChange #WellbeingEconomy

♻️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 Plastic recyclers are under pressure. Europe produces far more plastic waste than our systems can handle — and recycling alone cannot solve this crisis. Hazardous substances in plastics make recycling unsafe and uneconomical, while harming human health and the environment. The way out of this crisis is making less, safer and longer-lasting plastic. This week, at a roundtable with European Commissioner Jessika Roswall and stakeholders from across the plastics value chain, we made it clear: measures to support the recycling sector must also help us achieve our long-term goals - a safe, circular economy aligned with EU climate and zero pollution objectives.   Here’s how we can get there 👇 1️⃣ Redesign plastic packaging and products for reuse, repair, a longer lifespan - and high-quality recycling. 2️⃣ Phase out hazardous substances in virgin and recycled plastics, and ensure strong alignment between chemicals, products, and waste legislation. 3️⃣ Introduce taxes and incentives to reduce virgin plastic production - including in overlooked areas like synthetic textiles - while promoting reuse and high-quality recycling. 4️⃣ Direct public funding to waste prevention, reuse, and quality recycling. #CircularEconomy #Plastics #ZeroPollution #Ecodesign #Recycling Zero Waste Europe Rethink Plastic Alliance EU Environment and Climate

👻 Some Cities Boo It Better Boo! 👻 This Halloween, we’re turning fear into fuel. From EU leaders haunted by their own climate inaction to civil society fighting back against a creeping chill in democracy, this edition is packed with tricks, treats, and a few environmental scares.    We call out those ghosting their climate duties, spotlight the threats facing NGOs, and celebrate cities proving the movement for people and planet is very much alive. And speaking of life -it’s alive! -the EU’s first-ever Soil Monitoring Law has come into existence, a rare green victory in an age of rollback.   Our newsletter drops every Friday - make sure you’re signed up: https://lnkd.in/ePbXinCn

𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗲-𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁⚠️ New Eurostat figures reveal a troubling trend: Europe’s appetite for ever more electronics keeps growing, while collection and recycling lag far behind — fuelling mountains of e-waste across the EU. 📊 The facts: 🔹 Over 14.4 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment were sold in the EU in 2023 — up 89% since 2012. 🔹 The highest per-capita consumers were the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy, with 33.3–45.4 kg per person. 🔹 Collection rates remain alarmingly low, with the worst performance in Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Hungary. This wasteful trend depletes critical materials like lithium and copper, drives energy use, and harms both people and planet. That's why we are calling on the European Commission to make the revised EU e-waste law truly impactful, with binding measures to: ☑️ Address overconsumption ☑️ Prevent waste ☑️ Promote reuse, repair, and proper collection ☑️ Hold producers accountable for their products’ full life cycle Read our joint press release with Deutsche Umwelthilfe and ECOS in the comments. #ewaste #electronics #weee #circulareconomy #waste

Europe’s heating transition shows signs of recovery ⬇️ 📈 According to the European Heat Pump Association, sales grew by 9% in early 2025 - the first signs of recovery after a dramatic 32% drop last year. 🥨 Germany, once the epicentre of disinformation campaigns against heat pumps, is now driving the rebound: sales are up 50%, and heat pumps have finally overtaken gas boilers. 💸 This recovery isn’t just about “technology acceptance”, it’s about smart policy and fair pricing. Countries where electricity is still taxed more than gas are holding back the clean heating revolution. 🏡 In the Netherlands, studies show most homes don’t even need renovations to go full heat pump, just better incentives and less grid congestion. Fresh data from the European Heat Pump Summit 2025 point to a structural shift towards clean heat across Europe. Our Davide Sabbadin was there to catch the latest trends and policies accelerating the heating transition across Europe 👉 More in the comments.

🚨Europe’s water is choking on pollution - and it might just get worse EU countries are still breaking the #NitratesDirective, and the results are alarming: 🌊 81% of marine waters and over 30% of rivers, lakes and coasts are eutrophic - killing animal lives due to lack of oxygen 🐄 Livestock farming remains the main source of nitrate pollution Instead of tightening controls, the European Commission now plans to loosen the rules, allowing nearly 50% more nitrogen from manure on fields which surely will enter our water way and worsening the quality. This would make it even harder to meet EU water protection goals. Yes, replacing synthetic fertilisers with manure can help - but only if farming stays within ecological limits. In regions with too many animals and too much manure, we need less pollution, not more. We call on Commissioner Jessika Roswall to withdraw the proposal and ensure proper impact assessment and public consultation. #Agroecology #SustainableFarming #WaterProtection

🔥 As South Africa leads the G20 for the first time in history, Europe must face a hard truth: inequality is spiralling out of control. In the EU today, the richest 1% own nearly a quarter of all wealth, while half of Europeans share just 3%. In just the first six months of 2025, billionaires gained €400 billion as one in five Europeans struggles to make ends meet. For decades, tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations have hollowed out public services, widened inequality, and weakened our democracies. Now, under African leadership, the G20 offers a historic opportunity to rewrite the rules of the global economy if Europe has the courage to act. It is time to tax extreme wealth for people, for the planet, for democracy. #BeOurChampion #TaxTheSuperRich

🏢 Europe’s housing crisis is urgent, and it is a marker of social and environmental injustices. The upcoming EU European Affordable Housing Plan (EAHP) can change this - but only if it goes beyond “build more” and tackles root causes: social housing, fair rents, reuse of vacant buildings, sustainable construction, and aligned EU policies. Homes are not just buildings - they’re the foundation of a fair, green Europe. 🌍💚 #AffordableHousing#HousingForAll #Sustainability Read more in our joint statement with social and environmental NGOs: ACR+ | Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management, ECOS, European Community Land Trust Network, European Environmental Bureau, European Youth Forum, FEANTSA, Habitat for Humanity International, HouseEurope! and REScoop.eu 👉 https://lnkd.in/dn5A7d9Y

📣 𝟭𝟯𝟴 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝘀. 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺. 🌿 The EU’s pesticide rules are meant to put health and the environment first. But despite overwhelming scientific evidence of pesticides’ harm to people's health (particularly farmers, farm workers and people living in rural areas), wildlife, soil, and water, implementation still falls short. It’s time to make these protections real - strong, consistent, and enforced. 🥕🌾🐞 The shift toward sustainable pest management is long overdue. Integrated Pest Management - focused on prevention, ecological balance, and cutting the use of dangerous synthetic chemicals - can and must become the norm, not the exception. Across Europe, farmers are proving that plentiful, healthy food can be grown without harmful pesticides. Their success shows what’s possible when policy supports the transition. 🤰🏼🍀🐝 People across Europe are increasingly concerned about the harm caused by these toxic substances - and they are saying NO. The health of people, nature, and future generations depends on bold action now. European Commission, the people of Europe are watching - it is time to step up. Ursula von der Leyen - Christophe Hansen - Jessika Roswall - Olivér Várhelyi. See the letter and signatories in comments ⬇️ Press Release and EUobserver OpEd below (Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe) 👇 #RulesToProtect #HandsOffNature

🌀 "𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝘆". 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁. 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁. With ever-evolving technologies, companies are finding new ways to manipulate us into buying more than we need. From psychological tricks to misleading promotions and “buy more to save more” tactics, we are living in a digital space designed to fuel overconsumption.   The result? 💸 Excessive spending and debt 🏠 Unwanted clutter 🧠 Mental strain 🤢 Mountains of waste and pollution   While consumer protection laws are slowly catching up, digital innovation is moving much faster. It’s time for fair rules that protect both consumers and the planet.   The Digital Fairness Act is a crucial opportunity to close this gap. How? Read our position and discover our member Naturskyddsföreningen (SSNC)'s campaign in the comments. #DigitalFairness #ConsumerProtection #Overconsumption #CircularEconomy #SustainableConsumption #GreenTransition