New ERA General Assembly

New ERA held its annual General Assembly on 28 March 2025 in Barcelona, gathering members and sector leaders to reflect on progress, tackle challenges, and shape the way forward for the reuse industry in Europe. The event marked a key moment for the association, reinforcing its role as the voice of reuse and reaffirming its commitment to scaling circular systems.

Eva de la Torre, President of New ERA and representative of Corplex, opened the event with a speech highlighting the growing importance of reuse in the global sustainability movement. Participants reviewed New ERA’s 2024 achievements and got a glimpse of the organisation’s plans for 2025.

A key session focused on the future of New ERA, addressing updates to the Statutes and By-Laws, including membership categories and the fee structure. These changes reflect the organisation’s growing influence and adaptability to evolving member needs. The assembly also approved the 2024 annual accounts and the 2025 budget.

MiZA – Mission Zero Academy, an organisation offering tailored Zero Waste strategies for cities and businesses across Europe, led a session outlining their services, including training and certification schemes like Zero Waste Business and Zero Waste Cities.

A workshop led by the Global Plastics Policy Centre (GPPC) of the University of Portsmouth explored the relationship between Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and reuse, the role of government in policy implementation, and the challenges of monitoring policy effectiveness. Key discussions focused on overcoming the dominance of single-use packaging and the need for better policy integration, clearer enforcement, and stronger monitoring systems.

The General Assembly followed the Zero Waste Festival, co-organised by Rezero and Zero Waste Europe, which created an inspiring backdrop for the gathering. The festival promotes sustainable production, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative solutions for a waste-free society, aligning closely with New ERA’s mission.

As New ERA moves forward in 2025, this Assembly highlighted the unity and strength of the reuse community and set the stage for future progress.