WRAP EU hold talks on Mandatory Food Waste Reporting, Textiles EPR and Circular Living in Europe

• European Commission welcomes WRAP EU as new CEO and Executive Director vow to end food waste, tackle clothing excess and expand Circular Living across the EU

WRAP EU hosted its first major event in Brussels yesterday to discuss key incoming EU policies under the revised Waste Framework Directive, and how to transform Europe towards more circular living. 

The special meeting convened members of the European Commission, senior business executives from the food, plastics and clothing sectors, bankers, NGOs, trusts & foundations and MEPs. Delegates were invited to discuss how the EU can move from a damaging linear business model of take, make and dispose to a more Circular Living model of reuse, repair and remanufacture - beginning with food, textiles, and manufactured products which account for nearly half (45%) of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting also introduced WRAP’s new CEO Catherine David and Executive Director of WRAP EU Sofie Schop.  

Catherine David, “Europe is about to undergo unprecedented change. The incoming textiles EPR will touch every member from Copenhagen to Milan and change how countries make and manage clothes for good. The EU is also committed to halving per capita food waste and reducing food losses in production and supply chains. Its Waste Framework Directive is world-leading in ambition for transformative collaborative action, underscored by its long track record of sustainable leadership. Driving Circular Living models on this scale will have a profound impact on global actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions. I am delighted to convene this meeting to show how this should be a blueprint for more action from more countries, more businesses and more governments to secure a prosperous and sustainable future for us all.”  

The urgency of the talks follows a delay to the final round of voting on the revised Waste Framework Directive. This pause means many countries are collecting growing volumes of used textiles, as mandated from January 2025, but without an effective infrastructure to manage the increasing volumes and very few national textiles EPR schemes in place to support its development or expansion. 

WRAP, which works across food system transformation - with the textiles and clothing sector - and which specialises in Extended Producer Responsibility development held talks on these crucial polluter pays levers. It shared its review of the effectiveness of different EPR policies in Europe around plastics, and its work with the Government of Ireland to develop a textiles EPR scheme ahead of the Directive. The talks also covered WRAP’s twenty-year programme of food loss and waste reduction, now expanded into a global Food Pact Network.

Hosted by WRAP’s newly appointed CEO, Catherine David and David Rogers, Director of International Development, the talks included a keynote speech from Klaus Berend Director for Food Safety, Sustainability and Innovation, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE). Laura Lourdelle, Resource Efficiency Lead, Sodexo, Paul Kerssens, Co-Founder & COO, United Repair Centre and Stéphane Leroux, Executive Director, IFWC.

Klaus Berend European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) said, ‘The forthcoming binding food waste reduction targets are ambitious but can be reached — if we act without delay, build on what we know works, and ensure all actors play their part. This is not only about achieving legal obligations. It is about creating a more sustainable, efficient, and fair consumption and production system. The European Commission stands ready to support all stakeholders in this effort.’

The meeting also introduced WRAP EU’s incoming Executive Director Sofie Schop, a global sustainability leader with over 20 years’ experience in ESG and circularity. As founder of interim sustainability leadership and advisory STUDIO SCHOP B.V., Sofie has held leadership roles at Versuni (formerly Philips Domestic Appliances), PVH, Tommy Hilfiger as well as Karl Lagerfeld, G-STAR RAW, Cascale, Schuttelaar & Partners and Fair Wear Foundation. She will head the WRAP EU team to scale and embed sustainability strategies into business operations across Europe. 

Sofie Schop, “There are big changes ahead and I can’t wait to help bring these into practice. Already through the actions of the IFWC the European food service sector – which generates 11% of our total food waste – has delivered a 27% reduction in food waste in food service, and a 36% reduction in hospitality representing a €200 million annual saving, against its 50% target. These powerful changes happen through collaboration and shared ambitions; they benefit business but most importantly they help take the heat out of climate change. This has given many businesses a strong start ahead of the new Directive, the other big factor will be effective EPR for those members and WRAP EU looks forward to supporting across governments and businesses in making this a reality.” 

WRAP EU was created through a partnership of the global environmental action NGO WRAP and the International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC). Located in the heart of the European Union, the new organisation will transform global food systems and address unsustainable production and consumption in fashion and textiles, and plastics. 

Laura Lourdelle, Resource Efficiency Lead, Sodexo, “The launch of WRAP EU Is a vital step in advancing Europe’s circular economy ambitions. Market maker in sustainability, Sodexo is proud to be part of this movement and looks forward to shaping the next chapter together”.

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