What Zero Waste Europe does

Zero Waste Europe is a Brussels-based non-profit association (AISBL) founded in 2010 that coordinates a network of 41 member NGOs across more than 25 European countries to advance zero waste policy and practice. It operates as the European chapter of GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives), giving it access to a global alliance of 800+ organizations in 90+ countries, and also coordinates the European Break Free From Plastic movement including the Rethink Plastic alliance. Its core activities span three pillars: EU policy advocacy (on Extended Producer Responsibility, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, the EU Circular Economy Act, chemicals policy, and incineration-related EU ETS treatment), technical support and certification for municipalities pursuing zero waste strategies (notably through its pioneering Zero Waste Cities Certification), and network coordination/capacity building for member organizations.

The organization does not sell commercial products or services; its outputs are policy recommendations, research reports, best-practice guides, events, and membership services. Its core technology stack is non-existent in a conventional sense — it is an advocacy, research, and coordination body, not a software or platform company. Revenue derives from EU LIFE Programme operating and project grants, foundation grants (Adessium, European Climate Foundation, MAVA, Laudes, OAK, Plastic Solutions Fund, Sigrid Rausing Trust, 11th Hour/Schmidt, Kristian Gerhard Jebsen, GMH-DUH, UMI), annual membership fees from its 41 member organizations, and individual donations. Mission Zero Academy (MiZA), launched in the 2020s, operates as a semi-distinct sub-brand offering training, consultancy, and performance certification to municipalities and businesses, representing a move toward fee-generating service activity within the non-profit structure.

Name

Zero Waste Europe

Legal name

Zero Waste Europe AISBL

Website

https://zerowasteeurope.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zero Waste Europe is a Brussels-based non-profit network coordinating 41 European NGOs to advance zero waste policy at the EU level and support municipal zero waste implementation. It operates as the European chapter of GAIA and the Break Free From Plastic movement, funded by EU grants and foundation philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. EU Grants and Project Funding: Zero Waste Europe operates as a non-profit organization funded through multiple streams: EU grant agreements (LIFE Programme operating grants, project grants for BIOBEST, Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine, LIFE4EPR, SMP-Nudge Against Food Waste), foundation/philanthropy funding (Adessium Foundation, European Climate Foundation, Laudes Foundation, MAVA Foundation, OAK Foundation, Plastic Solutions Fund, Sigrid Raising Trust, 11th Hour/Schmidt Foundation), membership fees from member organizations, and donations from individuals.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees paid by 41 member organizations across Europe who join the ZWE network.
3. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals who support the organization's mission to help Europe transition towards zero waste.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zero Waste Europe is a Brussels-based non-profit network organization (AISBL) that coordinates 41 local and national member NGOs across Europe to drive systemic change toward a zero waste future. It advocates for ambitious EU environmental legislation, provides technical assistance and Zero Waste Cities Certification to municipalities, and operates the Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) training and consultancy spin-off for municipalities and businesses.

Product overview

Zero Waste Europe is a non-profit network organization (AISBL) based in Brussels, Belgium, that coordinates a network of 41 local and national NGOs across Europe to advance zero waste strategies and policies. The organization functions as an advocacy and policy coordination body rather than a commercial product company. Its activities include EU policy advocacy, network coordination, campaign management, research publications, and supporting zero waste municipalities. The organization does not offer commercial software products or services; instead, it provides advocacy, policy recommendations, knowledge resources, and movement-building support to its member organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mission Zero Academy (MiZA): A spin-off initiative of Zero Waste Europe providing training, consultancy, and certification services to accelerate the transition to zero waste in municipalities and businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41 member organizations coordinated across Europe
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero Waste Europe is the European chapter of GAIA, a worldwide alliance of more than 800 grassroots groups, NGOs and individuals in over 90 countries. ZWE coordinates with other GAIA regional offices (Asia Pacific, Africa, North & South America) on shared goals including plastic pollution, climate, waste trade, and alternatives to incineration.
• Break Free From Plastic (BFFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZWE coordinates the European chapter of the Break Free From Plastic movement, including the Rethink Plastic alliance. The partnership focuses on reversing the trend of single-use plastic production and consumption to stop plastic pollution in ecosystems.
• Member Network Organizations (41 NGOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZWE coordinates with 41 member NGOs including Zero Waste Austria, Zero Waste Belgium, Zero Waste France, Zero Waste Italy, Zero Waste Romania, Friends of the Earth affiliates, and other national zero waste organizations across Europe. These members promote zero waste in line with the zero waste hierarchy and engage with decision-makers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RREUSE: Brussels-based European network representing social enterprises active in reuse, repair, and recycling. Closely analogous to ZWE in organisational model (network of national members), mission area (zero waste / circular economy prioritising reuse), and Brussels EU policy engagement — ZWE's Reuse Systems Manager even sits in adjacent reuse-policy coalitions with RREUSE.
• ClientEarth: Brussels- and London-based environmental law charity that uses strategic litigation and regulatory engagement to drive EU and national environmental policy. Comparable as a high-impact EU-focused environmental NGO that complements ZWE's advocacy with legal action on overlapping topics (air quality, chemicals, circular economy, climate).
• Friends of the Earth Europe: European federation of 30 national Friends of the Earth organisations based in Brussels, advocating on EU environmental policy. Directly comparable pan-European NGO federation structure, member-based funding model, and EU policy advocacy focus, with overlapping work on circular economy and plastics regulation.
• GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives): ZWE's parent/global coordinating network of 800+ groups across 90+ countries working on zero waste, anti-incineration, and waste-to-energy policy. Functionally the closest peer and counterpart global organisation running the same zero-waste advocacy model ZWE applies at European level.
• Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe: Brussels-based coalition of 200+ civil society organisations working on EU climate policy. Comparable pan-European network advocacy model with member-driven structure, Brussels-based secretariat, and EU policy specialisation — ZWE's climate-related waste and incineration work overlaps CAN's policy coverage.
• European Environmental Bureau (EEB): Largest federation of environmental citizens' organisations in Europe, also based in Brussels and operating a pan-EU policy advocacy model coordinating 150+ member NGOs on EU legislation. Directly comparable to ZWE's network-coordination advocacy model, with overlapping Brussels policy dossiers (Circular Economy, chemicals, waste) and member-driven governance.
• Circle Economy Foundation: Amsterdam-based impact organisation that publishes the influential Circularity Gap Report and supports cities, businesses, and policymakers on circular economy transitions. Directly comparable mission (advancing circular economy) with adjacent deliverables (measurement, city programmes, policy advisory) that overlap ZWE's Zero Waste Cities work.
• ECOS (Environmental Coalition on Standards): Brussels-based international NGO coalition advocating for environmental standards that support sustainable production and consumption. Similar Brussels-based, member-coordinated advocacy model focused on EU technical/regulatory files (including packaging and circular-economy standards) that overlap ZWE's packaging and product-design policy work.

Regional players

• WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme): UK-based climate-action NGO working with governments, businesses, and citizens to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and accelerate the circular economy — including operating the Plastics Pact and Courtauld Commitment. Similar zero-waste / circular-economy mission and applied city/business engagement, but geographically concentrated in the UK rather than pan-European.

Emerging players

• Plastic Soup Foundation: Dutch non-profit dedicated to stopping plastic pollution, focused on advocacy, awareness campaigns, and corporate accountability. Smaller and more single-issue than ZWE, but overlapping European plastics-policy advocacy and member of the broader Break Free From Plastic Europe ecosystem alongside ZWE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zerowasteeurope
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqMnEtOQI168gv3iBLJtf3g
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZeroWasteEurope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zero-waste-europe
• Instagraminstagram.com/zero_waste_europe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zero Waste Europe