New ERA General Assembly
The New ERA General Assembly held in the stunning Townhall of Haar on October 11 & 12, 2023, marked another transformative chapter in our journey. Over 30 dedicated members, project leaders, and passionate advocates, including local authorities like Andreas Bukowski (mayor of Haar) gathered to share knowledge, ideas, and shape the future of reuse across Europe.
Day 1: Laying the foundation for the future
The first day set a collaborative tone with a warm welcome by Fernando Rodríguez-Mata, Director General of New ERA, who shared an update on the association’s progress, followed by an overview of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The afternoon focused on financial sustainability, funding strategies, and a workshop on the organisation’s future. The day ended with a visit to the “Return Anywhere” Infopoint project, showcasing reuse in action, with special thanks to Eckhard von Münchow for his support and good humour.
Day 2: Delving into innovation and collaboration
The second day highlighted innovative reuse projects. Elena Rabbow from GIZ (German Development Agency) presented Circular City Labs, focused on reducing emissions through reuse systems. Henriette Schneider (Pro Mehrweg) and Tobias Bielenstein (Arbeitskreis Mehrweg) detailed Annex VI of the PPWR and its impact on reuse. Tilmann Walz and Fabian Dill (ReFrastructure) discussed digital infrastructure’s role in enhancing reuse systems. After a break, Manon Sennéchael (Inoff Plastic) introduced the European Reuse Barometer, followed by Etienne Cabane’s (Food Packaging Forum) presentation on the Understanding Packaging Scorecard. The day concluded with a reuse rally and panel discussion with local policymakers in Munich.
The unstoppable spirit of the reuse Revolution
As the Assembly concluded, there was a palpable sense of accomplishment and a deep determination to continue driving the reuse revolution forward. The vision of reuse is now an ongoing reality, and we are more committed than ever to making it happen.